While most of the attention on the Central Hockey League is currently
focusing on on-ice performance, the CHL’s two confirmed expansion clubs (in Colorado and the Rio Grande Valley) for the 2003-2004 season are working diligently to prepare for their inaugural seasons.
In Northern Colorado, the Colorado Eagles have already announced their name and logo, and have secured former San Antonio Iguanas bench boss Chris Stewart as their Head Coach for the coming season. The club will play home games in the currently under construction Budweiser Events Center, a major component of the 243-acre Fairgrounds and Events Complex development. When completed, the facility will host approximately 5,100 hockey fans for CHL contests. Most significantly, the club has received tremendous response from Northern Colorado sports fans, and has already topped the 2,000 season ticket mark. Interested fans can visit the Colorado Eagles online at www.coloradoeagles.com.
In South Texas, Rio Grande Valley Professional Hockey will unveil their team name and logo Wednesday, December 11th, following a highly successful name-the-team contest sponsored by the McAllen Monitor and myrgv.com. Over 1200 entries were cast, and five finalists were selected. Wednesday evening, the team will officially become either the Rio Grande Valley “Conquistadors”, “Killer Bees”, “Revolution”, “River Hawks” or “Southern Freeze”. The club will play at the Rio Grande Valley Event Center located in Hidalgo, which will have an estimated capacity of 5,500 once arena construction is completed.
“The Central Hockey League could not be more pleased with the support that our two newest members have received thus far,” said CHL President Brad Treliving. “With two outstanding ownership groups and two tremendous new arenas being completed, we are highly optimistic both teams will enjoy very successful inaugural campaigns.” The Laredo Bucks, a 2002-2003 CHL expansion club, are averaging 6,806 fans through eight home games at the new Laredo Entertainment Center, and sit in second place in the CHL’s Southeast Division with a record of 12-06-03 through 21 games.
