[truebluefan]

Colorado Eagles Establish New Highs in Weekly CHL Coach's Poll

For the fourth time in eight weeks, the Colorado Eagles have been ranked the top club in the Central Hockey League in polling among all CHL Coaches. The Eagles established new poll highs this week, receiving 15 first place votes and 158 total poll points after increasing their winning streak to six with a pair of wins last week. The Memphis RiverKings remain solidly in second position 14 second place votes along with a pair of first place votes.

The top five positions in the poll remain unchanged from last week, while the #6 through #10 rankings have all been adjusted. The Lubbock Cotton Kings jump four spots from #10 to #6, while the Corpus Christi Rayz advance from #9 to #7. The Tulsa Oilers slide from #6 to #8, and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees slip from #7 to #10. The Arizona Sundogs rejoin the top 10 in #9 position after a two week absence from the poll.

Each week throughout the season the CHL will release the results of the Coaches Poll. Each first place selection earns 10 points, second place earns 9 points, etc. Coaches cannot vote for their own team, creating a potential perfect score of 160 points should one club receive all 16 possible first place votes. Previous week results listed below current week.

Central Hockey League Coaches Poll - Top 10

December 20, 2006

# Last Week Team Record Poll Points 1st Place Votes

1 1 Colorado Eagles 17-4-0 158 15
2 2 Memphis RiverKings 16-4-3 146 2
3 3 Oklahoma City Blazers 14-6-2 121 -
4 4 Laredo Bucks 14-8-2 107 -
5 5 Youngstown SteelHounds 12-6-5 104 -
6 10 Lubbock Cotton Kings 11-9-2 68 -
7 9 Corpus Christi Rayz 12-10-4 65 -
8 6 Tulsa Oilers 10-7-4 49 -
9 NR Arizona Sundogs 11-10-1 30 -
10 7 Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 11-11-2 26 -

Biggest Gain
Lubbock Cotton Kings (From #10 to #6)

Moved Into Top 10
Arizona Sundogs (Into #9)

Dropped out of Top 10
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (Were # 8)

 

[truebluefan]

RiverKings win fourth straight, 4-3 over Oklahoma City

SOUTHAVEN --- Derek Campbell scored a pair of goals to lead the Memphis RiverKings to a 4-3 win over the Oklahoma City Blazers Tuesday night at the DeSotoCivicCenter. It was the RiverKings' fourth straight win as they increased their lead to six points over the idle Youngstown Steelhounds in the Northeast Division. The RiverKings will now play the next seven games on the road starting Friday night at Bossier-Shreveport at 7:05.

The visiting Blazers took the early advantage on a Jared Dumba goal 1:26 into the contest. After that goal, the RiverKings took charge, as they came out and dominated play the rest of the first period. The pressure applied by the RiverKings in the Blazers zone was directly responsible for both of the team's goals in the period.

On the first goal, scored by Rick Kozak at 6:05, fore-checking by Kozak and Ryan Campbell led to Travis Banga taking a shot from the slot that Blazers goalie Sean Connors knocked down with his glove, but could not control. The rebound went to Kozak who deposited it for his sixth of the season and his fifth in the last four games.

The goal that gave the RiverKings the lead was the result of the pressure applied by the line of Tyler McGregor, Ryan Held and Derek Campbell. Held forced a turnover, fed McGregor for a shot in the slot that Connors got most of, but had it sneak underneath and behind him. Campbell reached behind the searching goalie for his sixth of the season.

The RiverKings expanded their lead to 3-1 at 9:57 of the second. Jason Tessier fed a lead pass to the odd-man rushing Phil Aucoin and Travis Banga. Aucoin slipped a pass to Banga with Banga converting the two-on-one for his team-high-tying 12th of the season.

The two teams would exchange goals in the second half of the second period. Gio Flamminio cut the RiverKings' lead to 3-2 at 12:33 only to have Derek Campbell answer for his second of the night and his career high seventh of the season.

With the RiverKings holding the 4-2 advantage in the third, Mike Burgoyne scored the only power play goal of the game at 14:49 to again pull the Blazers within one. Goalie Larry Sterling and the Memphs penalty kill would keep Oklahoma City out of the net the rest of the game, sealing the 4-3 win.

Sterling, making his 17th straight start, won his CHL leading 15th game, denying 27 of 30 shots. Connors lost for the second time this season to the RiverKings after stopping 32 of 36. He fell to 6-3-2 on the season.

The win for the RiverKings gives them a 6-0-1 record in their last seven home games. For the Blazers, it was just their second loss in regulation on the road this season.

Following Friday's game at Bossier-Shreveport, the RiverKings travel to Wichita for a game Saturday, return to Bossier Tuesday and then will head to Youngstown for a pair on December 29 and 30. The seven game road stretch will end with games at Oklahoma City and Tulsa on January 5 and 6, respectively.

######################## RiverKings tickets make great Christmas gifts. Flex Plan packages start at only $88 for 8 Red Level Coupons that can be used for any home game. Ticket Gift Certificates are also available. Call 662-342-1755 for more information.

Don't miss the next Kevin McClelland Show on Tuesday, January 2 LIVE from Beef O' Brady's in Southaven from 6-7 on Sports 56 WHBQ.

RiverKings Single-Game Tickets for all 2006-2007 home games are on sale now at the DeSoto Civic Center box office and at all TicketMaster locations.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Tuesday, December 19 --- WMC TV Channel 5 CheerStix to first 1,500 fans; Sunday, January 7 --- Post Game Skate with Players; Tuesday, January 9 --- WMC TV Channel 5 CheerStix to first 1,500 fans; Friday, January 12 --- Darrell Stoddard Mini Bobbleheads to the first 1,500 fans; Post Game Skate

After every RiverKings home game, the party heads to the new Buffalo Wild Wings on Airways in Southaven, the official Post Game Hang-Out of the RiverKings.

 

[truebluefan]

Tonight's Eagles Game Postponed

WINDSOR, CO- The Colorado Eagles-Wichita Thunder game tonight has been postponed due to weather conditions. The game will be played Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. at the Budweiser Events Center. All tickets from tonight's game will be honored tomorrow night at the Budweiser Events Center.

"We were concerned about the safety of our fans," said Eagles President and General Manager Ralph Backstrom. "The weather is getting worse and we want our fans to be safe."

The Eagles will now play three consecutive games in three nights at the Budweiser Events Center. Colorado will take on the Thunder on Thursday night, the Arizona Sundogs on Friday night ant the Rocky Mountain Rage on Saturday.

For more information, please call 970.686.SHOT or visit coloradoeagles.com: Home.

 

[truebluefan]

Tomorrow's Rage Home Game Postponed Due to Weather

Broomfield, Colo. - Tomorrow's Rocky Mountain Rage game versus the Lubbock Cotton Kings has been post poned due to blizzard conditions in the Denver Metro Area. Poor road conditions have prevented the Cotton Kings from travelling. The Central Hockey League has rescheduled the game for Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 7:05 p.m. at the Broomfield Event Center.

For fans planning to attend tomorrow's game, tickets dated for Dec. 21 will be valid for the new date. For further information, contact the Broomfield Event Center box office at 303-410-TIXS.

The Rage is scheduled to play their next game on Saturday (Dec. 23) at the Budweiser Events Center against the Colorado Eagles. Fans can listen online at Rocky Mountain Rage or over the radio live on AM Z560.The pre-game show begins at 6:50 p.m.

Single game tickets for the next home game and every other Rage home game are on sale now with prices ranging from $15-$40 per seat. Tickets may be purchased online at broomfieldeventcenter.com: Home, by calling 303-410-TIXS, or at the Broomfield Event Center box office (11450 Broomfield Ln., Broomfield, 80021). Season tickets, mini-packs, and group plans are also available for the 2006-07 season by calling 303-439-RAGE. For more information, visit Rocky Mountain Rage.

 

[truebluefan]

Tonight's game postponed

WINDSOR, CO- The Wichita Thunder game tonight at the Colorado Eagles has been postponed due to weather conditions. The game will be played Thursday at 8:05 p.m. Central Time at the Budweiser Events Center.

"We were concerned about the safety of our fans," said Eagles President and General Manager Ralph Backstrom. "The weather is getting worse and we want our fans to be safe."

The Thunder will now play three consecutive games in three nights. The Thunder will travel to Tulsa on Friday, then return home on Saturday to host the Memphis RiverKings at 7:05 p.m.

Thunder season ticketholders can get additional tickets for Saturday night, as well as all home games in December for just $7 each. To order tickets or for more information, call the Thunder office at 264-GOAL or visit our website at The OFFICIAL 2006-07 Wichita Thunder HOME Page.

 

[truebluefan]

Tom Wilson Signs Five Game Tryout

Columbus, Ga.- The Columbus Cottonmouths announced the signing of former defenseman Tom Wilson to a five-game tryout. Wilson is expected to play for the Snakes this weekend.

The Toronto, ONT., native has had several stints as a Cottonmouth, having been a member of the Snakes throughout their inaugural season in 1996-97 and during their CHL championship season in 1997-98. Wilson played for the Snakes for three seasons (1996-99) before moving around to several other teams. His most recent stint with the team came last season when defensemen Brent Toews went down with a head injury and Nick Harloff was called up to a higher level. Wilson played 19 games for the Cottonmouths during the 2005-06 season, registering one assist and 119 PIM.

Wilson has made Columbus his home and currently works at Columbus Fire and EMS. The addition of Wilson will alleviate some of the workload for the Cottonmouths' defensemen, who have been playing shorthanded as Snakes Jeff and Daryl Moor are serving suspensions.

"Tom is a big, strong defenseman," head coach Jerome Bechard said. "His presence on the ice will be a great asset for our team. We're short-handed right now and looking for him to step up and play a big role for us these next few games."

In addition to Wilson, another member of the Snakes' 1997-98 championship team will be in the Snake Pit this weekend. Former Snakes defenseman Brad Prefontaine will be on hand Saturday, Dec. 23 to sign autographs on the concourse during the game. Prefontaine, like Wilson, was a member of the Cottonmouths from 1996-99.

The Cottonmouths host the Fayetteville Fire Antz this Thursday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m. It is $1 Dog Night, with hot dogs on sale for just $1 at the concession stand. It's also Hollywood Nights, sponsored by Carmike Cinemas. Take your Cottonmouths ticket stub to any Carmike Theater and get a movie ticket at the child's price, with the purchase of an adult ticket. .

For tickets or additional information, call the Cottonmouths office at (706) 571-0086 or visit our website at Columbus Cottonmouths Professional Hockey Team, Columbus Georgia.