The Central Hockey League’s 13th season of play is underway, with 17 clubs beginning their attempt at capturing the 2004-2005 Ray Miron President’s Cup. The bulk (76%) of season-opening rosters remain Canadian, with Americans making up 20.7%. 82 of 313 players (26.1%) of CHL rosters are made up of Ontario-born players, while hockey hotbeds Michigan (6.3%, 15 players) and Minnesota (3.8%, 12 players) are the most highly represented US states. The average CHL player this season stands 5’11.9 feet tall, weighs 197.05 pounds, and is 25.57 years old.

The youngest player to begin the CHL season is Colorado Eagles left winger David Svagrovsky, a 4th Round Selection by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft who turns 20 on December 21st, while two-time CHL Most Valuable Player Don Parsons of the Memphis RiverKings is the CHL’s elder statesman, celebrating his 36th birthday this January. Austin goaltender Matt Barnes, a two-time Most Outstanding Goaltender recipient, is both the shortest (5’4) and lightest (150 pounds) player in the CHL this season, with teammate Dallas Anderson, Fort Worth left winger Jay Banach and Rio Grande Valley left winger Ryan Shmyr the tallest at 6’6. Anderson and Tulsa Oilers defenseman Mario Joly are the heaviest participants, each listed at 240 pounds.

The defending champion Laredo Bucks are the youngest team in the CHL with an average player age of 23.56, while Tulsa is the oldest at 26.44. Laredo is also the heaviest CHL club, averaging 206.94 pounds per man, while Odessa is the lightest at 190.11 pounds per player. Tulsa and the Fort Worth Brahmas are the CHL’s tallest teams, averaging 6’1.1 each, with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs the shortest, at an even 5’11 per player.

Nationality Breakdown
238 - Canadian
65 - American
3 - Czech Republic
2 - Latvia
2 - Slovakia
2 - Slovenia
1 - Tanzania

By Canadian Province
82 - Ontario
41 - Alberta
29 - Saskatchewan
28 - Quebec
25 - Manitoba
23 - British Columbia
5 - New Brunswick
2 - Newfoundland
2 - Prince Edward Island
1 - Northwest Territories

By US State
15 - Michigan
12 - Minnesota
7 - Massachusetts
6 - New York
4 - Illinois
3 - Wisconsin
2 - Colorado
2 - Connecticut
2 - Ohio
2 - Utah
1 - Alaska
1 - California
1 - Maryland
1 - Nebraska
1 - New Hampshire
1 - Oklahoma
1 - Pennsylvania
1 - Rhode Island
1 - Texas
1 - Washington

Average Team Ages
1 - Laredo - 23.56
2 - Lubbock - 24.59
3 - Oklahoma City - 25.13
4 - Wichita - 25.17
5 - New Mexico - 25.22
6 - San Angelo - 25.39
7 - Corpus Christi - 25.56
8 - Topeka - 25.61
9 - Austin - 25.71
10 - Colorado - 25.76
11 - Amarillo - 25.89
12 - Rio Grande Valley - 25.89
13 - Fort Worth - 25.94
14 - Bossier-Shreveport - 26.22
15 - Odessa - 26.24
16 - Memphis - 26.29
17 - Tulsa - 26.44
CHL Average - 25.57

Average Team Weight (Pounds)
1 - Laredo - 206.94
2 - Tulsa - 201.50
3 - Rio Grande Valley - 200.66
4 - Amarillo - 199.42
5 - Colorado - 199.00
6 - Topeka - 198.66
7 - New Mexico - 198.05
8 - Fort Worth - 197.88
9 - Corpus Christi - 196.00
10 - Austin - 195.94
11 - San Angelo - 195.66
12 - Lubbock - 194.82
13 - Memphis - 194.73
14 - Wichita - 194.72
15 - Bossier-Shreveport - 193.94
16 - Oklahoma City - 191.27
17 - Odessa - 190.11
CHL Average - 197.05

Average Team Height (Inches)
1 - Fort Worth - 73.11
1 - Topeka - 73.11
3 - Laredo - 72.88
4 - Rio Grande Valley - 72.77
5 - New Mexico - 72.44
6 - San Angelo - 72.41
7 - Austin - 72.35
8 -Memphis - 72.32
9 - Wichita - 72.17
10 - Colorado - 72.10
11 - Corpus Christi - 72.05
12 - Lubbock - 71.94
13 - Tulsa - 71.80
14 - Amarillo - 71.74
15 - Odessa - 71.33
16 - Oklahoma City - 71.22
17 - Bossier-Shreveport - 71.00
CHL Average- 71.96