Local Sports
Archives
| Arts & Entertainment
| Audio/Video
| Business
| Classifieds
| Columns
| Food
| Forums
| Health & Fitness
| News
| Obits
| Opinions
| People
| Politics
| Science/Technology
| Search
| Sports
| Subscribe
| Travel
| Weather
Published
by the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. CLICK FOR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY
Wednesday, July 11, 2001
CHL releases conference, division alignment
Shuffle means closer road games and new rivalries for IceRays
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times
Henry
|
It's been more than a month since the merger between the Western Professional Hockey League and Central Hockey League. Now the rivalries can finally begin.
Tuesday, the new CHL released its conference and divisional alignment for next season, which splits 16 teams into two conferences and four divisions.
The Corpus Christi IceRays, one of eight teams in the Southern Conference, will be part of the Southeast Division with the Austin Ice Bats, San Angelo Outlaws and San Antonio Iguanas.
Kurt Wickenheiser, who re-signed with the IceRays last week for a third season, said the alignment suits both the teams and league.
"When I was in Europe, a lot of the teams in the leagues were close by, which made it great," the veteran forward said. "The last couple of years I'd joke with the guys about San Antonio being in a different league. I couldn't believe that. This makes everything a lot easier."
At nearly 400 miles, San Angelo is the farthest of Corpus Christi's divisional opponents. Last season, the IceRays traveled as much as 900 miles for a divisional game.
CHL realignment
NORTHERN CONFERENCE
Northwest Division
Amarillo Rattlers
Oklahoma City Blazers
Tulsa Oilers
Wichita Thunder
Northeast Division
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Fort Worth Brahmas
Indianapolis Ice
Memphis RiverKings
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
Southwest Division
El Paso Buzzards
Lubbock Cotton Kings
New Mexico Scorpions
Odessa Jackalopes
Southeast Division
Austin Ice Bats
Corpus Christi IceRays
San Angelo Outlaws
San Antonio Iguanas
|
IceRays head coach Dale Henry said the proximity of teams throughout the league will allow fans to follow the teams on the road.
"There's been a lot of talk since the end of the WPHL playoffs that there would be some great rivalries in the new league," Henry said. "Teams aren't too far away. I'm sure we will have a great following when we go up to play San Antonio. When they come down they'll have their following. This is going to be an exciting year for us.
The Southern Conference's Southwest Division includes the El Paso Buzzards, Lubbock Cotton Kings, New Mexico Scorpions and Odessa Jackalopes, all former WPHL teams.
In the Northern Conference, the Amarillo Rattlers, Oklahoma City Blazers, Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder make up the Northwest Division. The Northeast Division consists of the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, Fort Worth Brahmas, Indianapolis Ice and Memphis RiverKings.
League officials are working to finish the 512-game schedule. Each team will play a 64-game schedule, with 32 home and 32 away games.
The season will begin as early as Thursday, October 18, and finish Sunday, March 17, followed by the playoffs.
Contact Javier Becerra at 886-3734 or becerraj@caller.com
| Talk
about this story | Next Story | Home
|
© 2001,
a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.
|
 |
 |
|
