COLORADO EAGLES NAMED CHL FRANCHISE OF THE YEAR
Colorado and Rio Grande Valley Lead the Way at CHL Awards Banquet

The Central Hockey League (CHL) concluded its 2008 Summer Conference on Saturday night culminating three days of meetings, events and training with its annual Summer Conference Awards Banquet.  The Colorado Eagles and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees each received four awards leading the way for all franchises.  The conference took place at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Eagles stole the evening with the final award presentation earning the CHL’s Franchise of the Year, given to the franchise that exemplifies excellence in all business aspects as well as their accomplishments on and off the ice.  Colorado also earned honors collecting the Ticket Sales Franchise of the Year as well as earning two individual awards.  Gavin Riches was named the Corporate Sales Executive of the Year and Chris Augusto was named the Ticket Sales Executive of the Year.

Rio Grande Valley showed why they are considered one of the top franchises in the CHL by earning three team honors coupled with team owner Troy Nelson being given the CHL Leadership Award.  The team honors for Killer Bee General Manager Grant Buckborough and his staff include Game Operations Franchise of the Year, Community Relations Franchise of the Year and Group Ticket Sales Franchise of the Year. 

The reigning Ray Miron President’s Cup Champion Arizona Sundogs took home two awards with former President Brent Thiessen winning the Brad Treliving Executive of the Year award (accepted on his behalf by his wife, Nicki).  Thiessen resigned from the Sundogs in May joining the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers.  The Sundogs also collected the Communication’s Executive of the Year with Shane Ferraro being singled out for the individual honor.

The Oklahoma City Blazers won the Marketing Franchise of the Year and the Merchandising Franchise of the Year and were nominated as one of the three finalists for the CHL Franchise of the Year.

The Ralph Backstrom Soul of Service Award was given to former Mississippi RiverKings Head Coach Kevin McClelland who resigned as the head coach of the team just prior to the start of the conference. 

The Rocky Mountain Rage were nominated in several categories and took home the trophy in one of those with the “Voice of the Rage”, Brian Clark, wining the Broadcaster of the Year.

The Laredo Bucks were the top corporate sales earners during the season hence winning the Corporate Sales Franchise of the Year.

Two additional awards that were presented in March were recognized as Chris Stewart of the Colorado Eagles accepted the Rick Kozuback Award and Scott Muscutt was recognized as the CHL Coach of the Year.

All 15 of the CHL Awards presented on Saturday are listed below:

Ralph Backstrom Soul of Service Award – Kevin McClelland, Mississippi RiverKings
Merchandising Franchise of the Year – Oklahoma City Blazers
Marketing Franchise of the Year – Oklahoma City Blazers
Game Operations Franchise of the Year – Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Ticket Sales Executive of the Year -  Chris Augusto, Colorado Eagles
Group Ticket Sales Franchise of the Year – Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Ticket Sales Franchise of the Year – Colorado Eagles
Community Relations Franchise of the Year – Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Broadcaster of the Year – Brian Clark, Rocky Mountain Rage
Communications Executive of the Year – Shane Ferraro, Arizona Sundogs
Corporate Sales Executive of the Year – Gavin Riches, Colorado Eagles
Corporate Sales Franchise of the Year – Laredo Bucks
CHL Leadership Award – Troy Nelson, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
CHL Brad Treliving Executive of the Year – Brent Thiessen, Arizona Sundogs
CHL Franchise of the Year – Colorado Eagles