Odessa keeps strangle hold on CHL Poll

Press Release from the Central Hockey League Website: www.centralhockeyleague.com

Keeping their hold on the #1 spot in the Yellowbook CHL Coaches Poll, the Odessa Jackalopes (35-6-4) earned all 14 first place votes they could receive maintaining their position as the top team in the CHL All season long. Thus far, the Jacks have been the #1 team in each poll this season. Odessa has a 23 point lead on the #2 Rapid City Rush (28-10-3) who moves up 1 from the #3 spot. The Jacks have not lost a game in regulation since January 8 and their 10-0-1 since then.

Once again, the tightest race is between the #2 and #4 spots with the Rush earning 117 points, the #3 seed Colorado Eagles (27-9-5) earning 114 points and the #4 seed Allen Americans (29-10-3) getting 112 points in the most recent poll.

Two new teams have moved up this time, the Corpus Christi Icerayz (18-19-6) making their first appearance on the poll sitting at #9 and the Tulsa Oilers (20-19-2) moving back in at #10 after a short time out. Dropping out this time were the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and the Missouri Mavericks, despite the Mavericks getting back into the playoff picture.

We had some teams that flipped spots as the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs and Texas Brahmas flipped for the #5 and #6 spots, while the Laredo Bucks and Mississippi Riverkings flipped the #7 and #8 spots.

The only other team that earned a first place vote was the Colorado Eagles and that's because the Jackalopes can't vote for themselves.

In the start of the season, the Southern Conference took charge of the CHL Coaches Poll, but recently the Northern Conference has been catching up with the strength of the Rapid City Rush and Colorado Eagles this season. Also but the tight battles been involved with teams like the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, Mississippi Riverkings and the Missouri Mavericks who have been fighting it out.

To no one's Surprize, the only team not to be on the poll at least once this season is the Wichita Thunder as the Thunder have won just 5 games all season.

Here's the newest poll.

1 (1). Odessa Jackalopes (14) (35-6-4) 140 PTS

2 (3). Rapid City Rush (28-10-3) 117 PTS

3 (2). Colorado Eagles (1) (27-9-5) 114 PTS

4 (4). Allen Americans (29-10-3) 112 PTS

5 (6). Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (23-14-4) 81 PTS

6 (5). Texas Brahmas (21-17-5) 67 PTS

7 (8). Mississippi Riverkings (22-17-4) 61 PTS

8 (7). Laredo Bucks (19-15-7) 56 PTS

9 (NR). Corpus Christi Icerays (18-19-6) 35 PTS

10 (NR). Tulsa Oilers (20-19-2) 22 PTS


Also Getting Votes: Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (14 PTS), Missouri Mavericks (5 PTS), Amarillo Gorillas (1 PTS)

Dropping out of the Poll: Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (14 PTS), Missouri Mavericks (5 PTS)