The Central Hockey League Annual Spring Conference has concluded, highlighted by the Awards Banquet recognizing the top franchises and individuals from the recently completed 2003-2004 season. The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees were honored as the CHL Franchise of the Year after enjoying a remarkable inaugural season of play in all departments. The award is “presented annually to the CHL franchise which best exemplifies operational excellence under the CHL system.” The 2004 CHL Spring Conference welcomed over 300 participants, including franchisees, staff members, guest speakers, partners and vendors to Phoenix for the three-day event.

Also determined during the Spring Conference were several structural changes for the coming season. The CHL will remain in a two-conference, four-division alignment for the coming season. The Southern Conference will remain as in the past year, with Austin, Corpus Christi, Laredo and Rio Grande Valley in the Southeast Division, and Amarillo, Lubbock, Odessa and San Angelo in the Southwest Division. In the Northern Conference, Colorado, New Mexico, Topeka and Wichita will comprise the altered Northwest Division, while Bossier-Shreveport, Fort Worth, Memphis, Oklahoma City and Tulsa will make up the revised Northeast Division. The 60-game 2004-2005 CHL schedule will begin as early as Thursday, October 21st, 2004 and will conclude on Sunday, March 20th, 2005. The Ray Miron President’s Cup Playoff format has also been modified slightly. Eight teams (all four division winners plus two wild card teams from each conference) will again qualify for the post-season, but all three playoff rounds will now be best-of-seven game series. Last year, the opening round was played in a best-of-five game format.

Additional changes for the coming season include revised veteran and rookie rules. Each CHL team will permitted to carry a maximum of four veterans on their roster who have participated in 260 or more regular season professional games. The rookie rule has been replaced with a developmental player rule, requiring each team to have a minimum of five players on their roster at all times who have participated in 128 professional regular season games or fewer. The CHL’s salary cap and roster size remain the same, although a maximum of 17 of each team’s 18 players can dress per game. All CHL players and on-ice officials will be required to wear visors this season in an effort to reduce eye and facial injuries.

The Central Hockey League is currently preparing for its 13th season of play this October, and once again led all North American professional “AA” leagues in average attendance during the 2003-2004 regular season, welcoming 4,501 fans per contest this past year. The Central Hockey League is operated by Global Entertainment Corporation through its WPHL, Inc. subsidiary. Global (OTCBB: GECO) is a diversified sports management, arena development and licensing company. Its subsidiary companies include: International Coliseums Company, a project manager for arena development and responsible for management agreements associated with arena facility operations; Global Entertainment Marketing Systems that pursues licensing and marketing opportunities related to the Company’s sports management and arena developments and operations; Global Entertainment Ticketing (GetTix.net), an in-house ticketing company for sports and entertainment venues; and Cragar Industries, Inc., the licensor for CRAGAR, its nationally recognized, branded automotive wheels and products.

2004-2005 CHL Alignment

Northwest Division
Colorado Eagles
New Mexico Scorpions
Topeka (Name TBA)
Wichita Thunder

Northeast Division
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Fort Worth Brahmas
Memphis RiverKings
Oklahoma City Blazers
Tulsa Oilers

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

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

2003-2004 CHL Spring Conference Award Recipients

CHL Soul of Service Award
Chris Presson, Oklahoma City Blazers
Presented annually to the Central Hockey League executive who has best demonstrated the qualities of excellence and dedication to providing outstanding customer service.


Merchandising Franchise of the Year
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Presented annually to the Central Hockey League franchise which has best exemplifies the quality of excellence in the field of team merchandise.


Corporate Partnership Sales Executive of the Year
Brent Thiessen, Colorado Eagles
Presented annually to the Central Hockey League executive who has best demonstrated excellence and leadership in the area of Corporate Partnership Sales.


Game Operations Franchise of the Year
Memphis RiverKings
Presented annually to the Central Hockey League franchise which has consistently produced the most entertaining and well planned in-arena events during the course of the season.


Marketing Franchise of the Year
Austin Ice Bats
Presented annually to the Central Hockey League franchise which best exemplifies the qualities of excellence, creativity and imagination in the areas of promotion and marketing.


Broadcaster of the Year
Denis J. Puska, Amarillo Gorillas
Presented annually to the Central Hockey League broadcaster who best exemplifies the qualities of excellence and professionalism in the broadcasting field.


Public Relations Executive of the Year
Jeff Bowerman, Fort Worth Brahmas
Presented annually to the Central Hockey League public relations executive who best exemplifies the qualities of excellence and professionalism in the public relations field.


Group Ticket Sales Franchise of the Year
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Presented annually to the Central Hockey League that generates the highest overall group ticket revenue over the course of the season.


Ticket Sales Franchise of the Year
Colorado Eagles
Presented annually to the Central Hockey League ticketing department that demonstrates the highest level of efficiency, productivity and creativity over the course of the season.


Ticketing Executive of the Year
Kit Preston, Laredo Bucks
Presented annually to the Central Hockey League ticketing executive that demonstrates the highest level of efficiency, productivity and creativity over the course of the season.


Most Improved Franchise of the Year
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Presented annually to the Central Hockey League franchise which best demonstrates the largest overall improvement in all facets of operation over the course of the season.


Executive of the Year
Brad Lund, Oklahoma City Blazers
Presented annually to the Central Hockey League executive who best exemplifies the qualities of excellence and professionalism in a leadership role.


CHL Leadership Award
Doug Frank, Corpus Christi Rayz & New Mexico Scorpions
Presented annually to the Central Hockey League franchise owner who has most distinguished himself in the area of franchise development and overall contributions to the CHL.


Franchise of the Year
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Presented annually to the Central Hockey League franchise which best exemplifies operational excellence under the CHL system.