The Central Hockey League’s 2003 Spring Conference concluded Wednesday
evening in Phoenix, Arizona, with the annual Awards Banquet completing four days of meetings, special events and social functions at the scenic Pointe Hilton, Tapatio Cliffs in Phoenix. The awards banquet was highlighted by the naming of the Laredo Bucks as the 2002/2003 CHL Franchise of the Year following a remarkable inaugural season both on and off the ice. The Bucks, under Coach Terry Ruskowski, posted a record of 41-17-6 and advanced to the Southern Conference Finals, while also averaging 6,683 fans per game, second only to the Oklahoma City Blazers, who led all North American minor pro hockey with an average attendance of 8,988.

Also confirmed during this week’s meetings was the Conference and Divisional alignment for the 2003/2004 season. The CHL alignment for 2003/2004 will feature four divisions and 17 teams, including the CHL’s two expansion teams for the coming season. The Colorado Eagles have been placed into the Northwest Division, while the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees will join the Southeast Division.

2003/2004 CHL Conference and Division Alignment

Northern Conference

Northwest Division
Colorado Eagles
New Mexico Scorpions
Oklahoma City Blazers
Tulsa Oilers
Wichita Thunder

Northeast Division
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Fort Worth Brahmas
Indianapolis Ice
Memphis RiverKings

Southern Conference

Southwest Division
Amarillo Gorillas
Lubbock Cotton Kings
Odessa Jackalopes
San Angelo Saints

Southeast Division
Austin Ice Bats
Corpus Christi Rayz
Lared Bucks
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

Operationally, the CHL will implement two significant rule changes for the coming season. Both the “tag-up offside” rule and automatic icing will be adopted when the CHL begins play this October. Additionally, the CHL Board of Governors ratified maintaining the playoff format used in the 2002/2003 season, with eight teams again qualifying for post-season play. The playoff format will also maintain the number of games in each series, with the opening round a best of five games series, and both the Conference Finals and President’s Cup Finals played in a best of seven games format.

Wednesday afternoon, expansion clubs Colorado and Rio Grande Valley each selected five players in the 2003/2004 CHL expansion draft. Colorado selected defenseman James Sheehan from the Lubbock Cotton Kings with their first choice, while Rio Grande Valley took defenseman Luch Nasato from the two-time defending champion Memphis RiverKings with their first pick.

2003/2004 Central Hockey League Expansion Draft Results

Colorado Eagles
1 - James Sheehan (Defenseman - Lubbock)
4 - Denis Desmarais (Defenseman - Odessa)
6 - Josh Tymchak (Forward - El Paso)
8 - Michal Stastny (Forward - Memphis)
10 - Jorin Welsh (Defenseman - Tulsa)

Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
2 - Luch Nasato (Defenseman - Memphis)
3 - Peter MacKellar (Forward - Tulsa)
5 - Andrew Taylor (Forward - Indianapolis)
7 - Jason Abel (Forward - San Angelo)
9 - Derek Stone (Defenseman - Oklahoma City)

2003/2004 CHL Spring Conference Banquet Award Winners
Franchise of the Year - Laredo Bucks
Executive of the Year - Corey MacIntyre, Tulsa
Most Improved Franchise of the Year - Amarillo Gorillas
CHL Soul of Service Award - Harold Fuller, Odessa
Ticketing Director of the Year - Rodrick Evans, Lubbock
Ticket Sales Franchise of the Year - Oklahoma City
Group Ticket Sales Franchise of the Year - Indianapolis
Public Relations Executive of the Year Award - Josh Evans, Oklahoma City
Broadcaster of the Year Award - Glen Norman, Austin
Marketing Franchise of the Year - Indianapolis
Game Operations Franchise of the Year - Memphis
Merchandise Executive of the Year - Pam Jordan, Laredo
Corporate Partnership Sales Executive of the Year - Jay Lakin, Okla. City