Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - WPHL, CHL to merge today

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Wednesday, May 30, 2001
WPHL, CHL to merge today
New league will foster new rivalry between IceRays and Iguanas
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times
The Western Professional Hockey League will merge with the Central Hockey League for the 2001-02 season, league officials will announce today.
   The merger, which will be announced at a press conference, will create an instant South Texas rivalry between the WPHL's Corpus Christi IceRays and the CHL's San Antonio Iguanas.
   The merger affects 24 teams in both leagues.
   "This is a very exciting time for us," said Steve Cherwonak, director of communications for the WPHL. "There are still some outstanding issues that need to be resolved, but we wanted to make it happen for this year. It's going to be a positive for everybody involved."
   Among the details to be worked out over the next few weeks, Cherwonak said, are issues including the new league's salary cap, division makeups, schedules, league name and which of the 24 teams will be included in the merger.
   The WPHL, which just completed its fifth season, is comprised of eight franchises in Texas, three in Louisiana and one each in New Mexico and Mississippi.
   The 11-team CHL is in its ninth season and has franchises in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Indiana, Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.
   There had been speculation since early February of a possible merger between the two organizations. In late February, the CHL issued a press release saying the two leagues were close to finalizing a merger.
   Talks continued as both leagues went on with their seasons. Cherwonak said it was the WPHL's objective to have a deal complete for the upcoming season.
   "We would like to have had it done sooner, but it's quite a procedure," Cherwonak said. "It was going to happen any day now. We're still on our timetable."
   Corpus Christi IceRays general manager Taylor Hall said he was told two weeks ago that the two sides were nearing an agreement.
   "They were very positive about how things were going, but nothing is done until it's done," Hall said. "If they're going to make an announcement, I'm assuming it's going to be about some form of relationship. I think by working together, it's going to strengthen both leagues."
   Each league experienced the closings of franchises last season; the WPHL lost the Tucson Scorch and Central Texas Stampede, while the CHL lost the Border City Bandits and Topeka Scarecrows.
   The Scarecrows, however, filed an injunction to allow the team to finish out last season, which it did.
   The Scorch, the only new team added to the WPHL last season, folded just before the start of play because of business problems, including weak season ticket sales.

IceRays Prospective Division
Here's a look a a potential divisional alignment for the IceRays after the WPHL and CHL merger is complete:
Austin Ice Bats
Corpus Christi IceRays
Fort Worth Brahmas
San Angelo Outlaws
San Antonio Iguanas

   A WPHL-CHL merger could create an All-Texas division of Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, San Angelo, Lubbock, El Paso, Fort Worth and Odessa. In addition, franchises in the Rio Grande Valley and Laredo are expected to open in 2002.
   "It's exciting to be able to have some new teams in close proximity," Hall said. "San Antonio is a natural rivalry. Until they make the official announcement, I don't want to say a whole bunch, but it's nice to be able to take some of the best hockey programs and put them all together."
   Also in question is the status of the 2001-02 WPHL all-star game, which has been awarded to Corpus Christi.
   Cherwonak said the CHL did not name a site for its all-star game, which likely means the event will stay in Corpus Christi.
   "Our plans remain to be in Corpus Christi," Cherwonak said. "What all teams will be there, we don't know yet. We hope to find out in the next couple of weeks."


Contact Javier Becerra at 886-3734 or becerraj@caller.com

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