The Central Hockey League

The CHL is looking forward to its 22nd season that begins in October, 2013. 

Over the past three years, the CHL has celebrated 153 sellouts (the most during any three-year period in the 21-year history of the league) led by the 2011 and 2012 CHL Franchise of the Year winner, the Missouri Mavericks, who have 53 combined regular season sellouts in the 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. 

The Wichita Thunder welcomed the largest crowd of the 2012-13 season on the final day of the regular season with an attendance of 10,264.  The Thunder won the season attendance crown that weekend as well finishing with an average of 5,599 (Missouri was second with 5,522).

The CHL has had 114 call-ups to the American Hockey League over the past three seasons with former CHL players such as Brian Foster (Florida Panthers), Jordie Benn (Dallas Stars) and Ryan Garbutt (Dallas Stars) all making their National Hockey League debuts joining the likes of David Schlemko (Phoenix Coyotes), Keith Aucoin (Washington Capitals), Andrew Desjardins (San Jose Sharks), Joel Martin (New York Islanders) and many others as former CHL players that made it to the NHL. 

The league has also developed non-hockey personnel for higher leagues with former CHL President Brad Treliving currently serving as the Vice-President of Hockey Operations/Assistant General Manager of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes.

There are currently six former CHL full-time officials under NHL contracts: David Brisebois, Gord Dwyer, John Grandt, Mark Lemelin, Frederik L'Ecuyer and Jon McIssac.      

Arguably the most significant change over the past 22 years came in May of 2001, as the Central and Western Professional Hockey Leagues joined forces at a press conference in Oklahoma that combined the top markets within both organizations under the CHL banner. 


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Central Hockey League Mission Statement
“To reward the interests of Central Hockey League fans and stakeholders through our dedication to continued improvement and excellence, while providing unparalleled service and performance as industry leaders in professional sports.”