Northern Conference Wins Dodge CHL All-Star Game 12-9
January 23, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release
The Northern Conference Rams fell behind 2-0 early to the Southern Conference Vipers in the 2004 Dodge CHL All-Star Game, but scored the next five goals en route to a 12-9 victory in the Central Hockey League's mid-season classic. A CHL All-Star Game record crowd of 10,152 in Albuquerque's Tingley Coliseum saw Indianapolis left winger Jason Baird net Most Valuable Player honors with a three-goal, one assist performance.
Also standing out for the Northern Conference were two-time defending CHL M.V.P. Don Parsons from the Memphis RiverKings, with two goals and a pair of assists, and Colorado forward Greg Pankewicz, with a goal and three assists. Baird's game worn jersey, as well as the stick used by Pankewicz to score the game-winning goal, will be shipped to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario. Registering three point nights for the Northern Conference were New Mexico's Mike Oliveira and Chris Richards, Colorado's Ryan Tobler, Fort Worth's Chad Woollard, and Bossier-Shreveport's Chad Spurr. Laredo forward Patrik Nilson paced the South with two goals and two assists in the contest, while Odessa's Sebastien Thinel scored and added two assists.
Prior to the game, the Comcast Skills Competition took place, with the Northern Conference prevailing 8-6. Laredo's Brent Cullaton won the Fastest Skater event with a lap time of 14.28, while teammate Nilson was victorious in the Accuracy Shootout, needing just six shots to hit all four targets. Memphis' Derek Landmesser was the winner of the Hardest Shot contest with a 92 mph blast, while Wichita's Nathan Grobins took home Top Goaltender honors by stopping 14 of 15 shots in the Rapid Fire and Breakaway Relay events.
Wednesday evening, the CHL All-Star Banquet took place at the Santa Ana Star Casino with special guest speaker and Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Esposito. In addition, the 2005 All-Star Game logo was unveiled by CHL President Brad Treliving and Laredo Bucks owner Glenn Hart, while Odessa GM Monty Hoppel was honored as the 2004 recipient of the HRH Insurance N. Thomas Berry Commitment Cup for long standing dedication to the CHL.
The Central Hockey League is in its 12th season of play, with 17 current teams (including the expansion Colorado Eagles and Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees) in eight states. The CHL continues to lead all "AA" North American professional hockey leagues in attendance, currently with a per-game average of 4,303 through 335 games played.
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Central Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2004
- Eagles defeated by Mudbugs in shootout, 3-2 - Colorado Eagles
- Beez Comeback 4-2 Over Rayz, Back In Second - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Indianapolis one better than 'Kings in Shootout - Mississippi RiverKings
- Jacks get by Brahmas - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Oilers Sign Enforcer Roach - Tulsa Oilers
- Fort Worth Brahmas Slapshot - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Northern Conference Wins Dodge CHL All-Star Game 12-9 - CHL
- CHL All-Star Game Notes - San Angelo Saints
- Parsons, Landmesser Come up big at Dodge CHL All-Star Game - Mississippi RiverKings
- Northern Conference Edges South 12-9 - Tulsa Oilers
- Baird Nets CHL All-Star MVP Honors - Indianapolis Ice
- Corpus Christi @ Rio Grande Valley Preview - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Woollard Shines in CHL All-Star Game - Fort Worth Brahmas
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