CHL Central Hockey League

Shots from the Point for October 19, 2012

Published on October 19, 2012 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


Three Things You Need to Know

1.) Opening Weekend- The CHL's 21st season begins on Friday night with three games including Rapid City at Bloomington, Tulsa at Wichita and Missouri at Denver. On Saturday night, Arizona travels to Allen with the Rush and Blaze, Oilers and Thunder and Mavericks and Cutthroats each playing a second weekend game. The Sundogs and Americans are the lone game on Sunday and the Fort Worth Brahmas and the Quad City Mallards are both idle beginning play next weekend. Be sure to catch all of the LIVE action on CHL-TV, powered by America ONE Sports (www.americanonesports.com).

2.) Getting Fishy in Denver- The CHL's lone expansion team, the Denver Cutthroats, begin play in the historic Denver Coliseum on Friday night against the Missouri Mavericks. The Coliseum is celebrating its 60th anniversary opening in 1952. The Cutthroats investment group is led by John A. Hayes who is President and CEO of the Broomfield-based Ball Corporation. Denver is coached by former NHL player Derek Armstrong.

3.) High Five for Rush- The Rapid City Rush begin their fifth anniversary season on Friday night when they travel to Bloomington to play the Blaze in the first of back-to-back games. The Rush won just 22 games during their expansion season in 2008-09 but have since rattled off 121 wins (more than 40 wins a season average) winning the 2010 CHL Championship. Rush Head Coach Joe Ferras is sixth on the league's all-time wins list with 303 victories, 16 behind Bill McDonald for fifth place (319 wins).

By the Numbers

729: The total number of points that Missouri's Sebastien Thinel has scored in his nine-year CHL career. The veteran has 258 goals (13th all-time) and 471 assists (sixth all-time) with his 729 points sitting one behind Riley Nelson (730) for sixth on the league's all-time points list. Thinel also has 76 post-season points (23-53=76) in 68 career CHL playoff games. Thinel and the Mavs visit Denver for two games this weekend. Thinel finished last season on an eight-game point streak with 15 points over that span.

One-Timers

-With the NHL's season hampered by a lockout, three NHL players have signed in the CHL to keep sharp during negotiations. The Arizona Sundogs have signed defenseman David Schlemko and forward Kyle Chipchura, both of the Phoenix Coyotes and the Denver Cutthroats have inked Detroit Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey.

-The Wichita Thunder return as the CHL's regular season champs (Bud Poile Governors' Cup) and will jump right into things with a pair of games against their longtime rivals, the Tulsa Oilers. The teams will be meeting for the 226th time on Friday night with Wichita owning 116 wins and Tulsa owning 109 wins in the all-time series.

-Aside from Derek Armstrong in Denver, the CHL features three coaches who are new to their teams this season including Allen's Steve Martinson, Bloomington's Brian Gratz and Quad City's Terry Ruskowski. David Lohrei begins his first full season with the Arizona Sundogs as he joined the team late in the 2011-12 campaign.

-The Arizona Sundogs and the Tulsa Oilers both take long road losing streaks into Opening Weekend with the Sundogs and the Oilers each sitting on 11-game losing slides away from home, dating back to last season. The Sundogs have not won a road game since February 18, 2012 and the Oilers are winless away from home since January 28, 2012. Arizona plays in Allen on Saturday and Tulsa is in Wichita on Friday.

-Rapid City's Tim Boron finished last season as maybe the hottest goaltender in the CHL winning eight of his final 10 decisions. IN those eight victories, Boron allowed just 14 goals and he finished the year with a sparkling 24-11-2 record, a .925 save percentage and a 2.44 GAA.

-Denver's Sean Zimmerman will miss the team's first three games with a three game suspension stemming from a boarding major penalty in the preseason.

-CHL-TV is back with a new look, powered this season by America ONE Sports. New packages are now available with new lower prices and better options including season and monthly passes that give you access to all games. Individual games can be purchased for just $8.00. Visit www.americaonesports.com for ordering information.

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Central Hockey League Stories from October 19, 2012


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