Symbols are placed in states where
minor-league hockey is played.
Alaska
(See map left)
Maine
Wash.
Ore.
Ore.
Mont.
N.D.
Minn.
Vt.
Mich.
Wyo.
Photo courtesy
Central
Hockey League
1
Nev.
Calif.
Kan.
Colo.
17
Ariz.
8
7
N.M.
15
2003-04 expansion teams
Central Hockey
League teams
1 Colorado Eagles
■ Colors:
Purple, gold,
red and white
■ General
manager:
Ralph
Backstrom
■ Established: 2003-04
■ Home facility name:
Budweiser Events Center
■ Capacity: 5,350
(estimated)
■ Projected conference:
Northern
■ Projected division:
Northwest
■ Distance from Fort Collins:
12 miles
■ Coach: Chris Stewart
Tenure with team: Inaugural
Northeast Division
3 Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
■ Colors: Red, teal,
purple and black
■ General
manager: Jason
Rent
■ Established:
1997-98
■ Home facility name: CenturyTel
Center
■ Capacity: 12,500
■ Conference: Northern
■ Division: Northeast
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 1,123
miles
■ Coach: Scott Muscutt
Tenure with team: In third season
■ Colors: Purple,
black, white and
green
■ General
manager: Mike
Barack
■ Established:
1997-98
■ Home facility name: Fort Worth
Convention Center
■ Capacity: 11,200
■ Conference: Northern
■ Division: Northeast
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 993
miles
■ Coach: Todd Lalonde
Tenure with team: In third season
(started midway through 2000-01)
2 Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
■ Colors: Dark
teal, yellow and
white
■ General
manager:
Unofficially Trey
Medlock, Killer Bees general partner
■ Established: 2003-04
■ Home facility name: Rio Grande
Valley Event Center
■ Capacity: 5,500 (estimated)
■ Projected conference: Southern
■ Projected division: Southeast
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 1,326
miles
■ Coach: Still unnamed
Tenure with team: Inaugural
2002-03 through Jan. 1
Oklahoma City
128,045
Laredo
87,218
Tulsa
76,750
New Mexico
72,148
El Paso
71,950
Wichita
■ Colors: Green,
blue, gold and
black
■ General
manager: Robin
Costa
■ Established: 1992-93 (One of CHL
original six)
■ Home facility name: DeSoto Civic
Center
■ Capacity: 8,444
■ Conference: Northern
■ Division: Northeast
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 1,180
miles
■ Coach: Doug Shedden
Tenure with team: In third season
64,755
Lubbock
59,727
Odessa
57,370
Indianapolis
55,106
Amarillo
54,970
Austin
51,458
San Angelo
48,973
Bossier-Shreveport
46,241
Corpus Christi
46,133
■ Colors: Purple,
black, silver and
white.
■ General manager:
Larry Linde.
■ Established: 199900.
■ Home facility name: Pepsi
Coliseum.
■ Capacity: 8,200.
■ Conference: Northern.
■ Division: Northeast.
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 1,142
miles.
■ Coach: Ken McRae.
Tenure with team: In first season.
Fort Worth 38,195
2
Md.
East Coast
Hockey League
Tenn.
S.C.
Planned
expansion for
2003-04 includes
absorption of the
West Coast
Hockey League
and new teams in
Georgia, Nevada
and Texas.
3
Miss.
Ala.
La.
Fla.
Northwest Division
CHL’s all-time leading
scorer, Joe Burton of the
Oklahoma City Blazers
(1992-present)
11 Austin Ice Bats
■ Colors: Red,
grey, black and
white
■ General
manager: Grant
Buckborough
■ Established: 1996-97
■ Home facility name: Amarillo Civic
Center
■ Capacity: 4,986
■ Conference: Northern
■ Division: Northwest
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 496
miles
■ Coach: Joe Ferras
Tenure with team: In second season
Team
2001-02
2000-01
1999-00
1998-99
283,194
134,926
138,676
151,465
129,133
N/A
130,782
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
117,036
N/A
100,436
69,736
158,009
148,012
144,153
135,376
118,503
114,145
109,615
2,183,197
512
4,264
32
318,394
174,542
168,319
154,057
152,644
132,205
126,371
119,000
117,208
108,737
68,740
66,531
N/A
N/A
N/A
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
1,706,748
410
4,163
35
329,456
169,902
186,164
174,201
162,399
174,710
109,204
130,390
112,142
113,291
N/A
79,928
N/A
N/A
N/A
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
1,741,787
385
4,524
35
318,511
N/A
171,604
127,619
173,089
167,788
136,310
148,723
134,122
126,002
N/A
95,088
N/A
77,565
N/A
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
N/A
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
1,676,421
385
4,354
35
* Did not play a complete season.
Ontario, Manitoba,
New Brunswick
and Newfoundland.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
West Division
Houston Aeros
Utah Grizzlies
San Antonio Rampage
Milwaukee Admirals
Chicago Wolves
Central Division
Grand Rapids Griffins
Rochester Americans
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Cleveland Barons
Syracuse Crunch
South Division
Norfolk Admirals
Hershey Bears
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Philadelphia Phantoms
Southwest Division
■ Colors: Blue,
red, gold and
black
■ General
manager:
Charles Newman
■ Established: 1996-97
■ Home facility name: Travis County
Expo Center
■ Capacity: 7,000
■ Conference: Southern
■ Division: Southeast
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 1,120
miles
■ Coach: Brent Hughes
Tenure with team: In fourth season
■ Colors: Blue and
gold
■ General manager:
Terry Ruskowski
■ Established:
Inaugural season
■ Home facility name: Laredo
Entertainment Center
■ Capacity: 8,000
■ Conference: Southern
■ Division: Southeast
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 1,146
miles
■ Coach: Terry Ruskowski
Tenure with team: In inaugural
season
■ Colors: Maroon,
gold, black and
white
■ General
manager: Bill
Davidson
■ Established:
Since 1996-97
■ Home facility name: El Paso
County Coliseum
■ Capacity: 5,600
■ Conference: Southern
■ Division: Southwest
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 776
miles
■ Coach: Craig Coxe
Tenure with team: In first season
16 Odessa Jackalopes
■ Colors: Red and
black
■ General
manager: Monty
Hoppel
■ Established:
1997-98
■ Home facility name: Ector County
Coliseum
■ Capacity: 5,131
■ Conference: Southern
■ Division: Southwest
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 763
miles
■ Coach: Don McKee
Tenure with team: In fourth season
EASTERN CONFERENCE
East Division
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Hartford Wolf Pack
Springfield Falcons
Binghamton Senators
Albany River Rats
North Division
Manchester Monarchs
Providence Bruins
Worcester IceCats
Portland Pirates
Lowell Lock Monsters
Canadian Division
Hamilton Bulldogs
Manitoba Moose
Saint John Flames
St. John's Maple Leafs
East Coast Hockey League
■ Colors: Maroon,
blue and white
■ General
manager: Corey
MacIntyre
■ Established: 1992-93 (one of CHL
original six )
■ Home facility name: Tulsa
Convention Center
■ Capacity: 7,111
■ Conference: Northern
■ Division: Northwest
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 816
miles
■ Coach: Garry Unger
Tenure with team: In seventh season
(four season hiatus from 1997-98 to
2000-01
■ Colors: Blue,
black and silver
■ General
manager: Bill
Shuck
■ Established:
1992-93 (one of CHL original six)
■ Home facility name: Kansas
Coliseum
■ Capacity: 9,686
■ Conference: Northern
■ Division: Northwest
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 576
miles
■ Coach: Jim Latos
Tenure with team: In second season
NORTHERN CONFERENCE
Northeast Division
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
Greensboro Generals
Richmond Renegades
Roanoke Express
Reading Royals
Trenton Titans
Charlotte Checkers
Northwest Division
Toledo Storm
Peoria Rivermen
Cincinnati Cyclones
Johnstown Chiefs
Lexington Men O'War
Dayton Bombers
Wheeling Nailers
17 New Mexico Scorpions
13 San Angelo Saints
■ Colors: Black,
gold and white
■ General
manager: Daniel
Chaput
■ Established:
1997-98
■ Home facility name: San Angelo
Coliseum
■ Capacity: 5,260
■ Conference: Southern
■ Division: Southeast
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 811
miles
■ Coach: Brent Scott
Tenure with team: In second season
■ Colors: Red,
black and gold
■ General
manager: Dan
Burgers
■ Established:
1996-97
■ Home facility: Tingley Coliseum
■ Capacity: 11,571
■ Conference: Southern
■ Division: Southwest
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 511
miles
■ Coach: Bill McDonald
Tenure with team: Started in
December.
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
Southeast Division
South Carolina Stingrays
Columbia Inferno
Pee Dee Pride
Florida Everblades
Greenville Grrrowl
Columbus Cottonmouths
Augusta Lynx
Southwest Division
Mississippi Sea Wolves
Louisiana IceGators
Arkansas RiverBlades
Jackson Bandits
Pensacola Ice Pilots
Baton Rouge Kingfish
18 Lubbock Cotton Kings
14 Corpus Christi IceRays
■ Colors: Black, blue,
teal and silver
■ General manager:
Taylor Hall
■ Established: 199899
■ Home facility name: Memorial
Coliseum
■ Capacity: 3,800
■ Conference: Southern
■ Division: Southeast
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 1,171
miles
■ Coach: Al Sims
Tenure with team: Inaugural season
■ Colors: Blue,
black and gold
■ General
manager: Mark
Adams
■ Established:
1999-00
■ Home facility name: Lubbock
Municipal Coliseum
■ Capacity: 7,050
■ Conference: Southern
■ Division: Southwest
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 620
miles
■ Coach: Tracy Egeland
Tenure with team: Started in
December.
Central Hockey League regular season attendance history
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Indianapolis
Tulsa, Okla.
San Antonio, Texas
Wichita, Kan.
Topeka, Kan.
Memphis, Tenn.
Columbus, Ohio
Fayetteville, Ark.
Macon, Ga.
Border City, Okla. *
Huntsville, Ala.
Dallas
Fort Worth, Texas
Nashville, Tenn.
Odessa, Texas
San Angelo, Texas
Austin, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Bossier-Shreveport, La.
New Mexico (Albuquerque)
Amarillo, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
El Paso, Texas
Annual CHL totals
Total games
Average attendance
Home games in each season
(not shown)
American Hockey League
15 El Paso Buzzards
12 Laredo Bucks
■ Colors: Black,
white, red and
yellow
■ General
manager: Chris
Presson
■ Established: 1992-93 (one of CHL
original six )
■ Home facility name: Ford Center
■ Capacity: 18,170
■ Conference: Northern
■ Division: Northwest
■ Distance from Fort Collins: 735
miles
■ Coach: Doug Sauter
Tenure with team: In eighth season
Canadian
Provinces:
A glimpse at the
minor leagues in
the United States
Southeast Division
7 Amarillo Gorillas
American
Hockey League
Note: Some states have teams from more than
one league.
Photo by David Allen
10 Wichita Thunder
6 Indianapolis Ice
Memphis 38,446
14
12
9 Tulsa Oilers
5 Memphis RiverKings
5
11
8 Oklahoma City Blazers
4 Fort Worth Brahmas
Va.
Ky.
Ga.
Texas
13
United
Hockey League
Del.
West Coast
Hockey League
W.Va.
Ark.
4
16
N.J.
N.C.
9
Okla.
18
6
Ind.
Mo.
10
Wash.
Ohio
Ill.
Utah
R.I.
Pa.
Iowa
Neb.
N.H.
Atlantic Coast
Hockey League
N.Y. Mass.
Conn.
Wis.
S.D.
Idaho
Central
Hockey League
1997-98
330,878
N/A
175,840
Suspended
176,026
N/A
148,302
163,806
139,554
131,853
N/A
109,325
N/A
73,813
70,821
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
N/A
WPHL
WPHL
WPHL
N/A
WPHL
1,520,218
350
4,343
35
1996-97
1995-96
1994-95
1993-94
321,765
N/A
160,230
96,512
159,534
N/A
143,237
142,011
N/A
120,156
N/A
123,700
N/A
115,551
67,361
N/A
N/A
WPHL
N/A
N/A
WPHL
WPHL
N/A
WPHL
1,450,057
330
4,394
33
306,074
N/A
174,819
189,137
150,741
N/A
149,247
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
111,551
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1,081,569
192
5,633
32
330,532
N/A
211,968
181,879
215,344
N/A
151,759
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
83,486
130,657
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1,305,625
231
5,652
33
334,023
N/A
209,417
N/A
193,040
N/A
175,513
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
91,979
128,571
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1,132,543
192
5,899
32
Sources: Central Hockey League, Coloradoan research
1992-93 Team attendance Total games Average per team/
league total
234,835
N/A
166,419
N/A
134,224
N/A
167,709
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
132,824
147,602
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
983,613
180
5,465
30
3,107,662
479,370
1,763,456
1,074,870
1,646,174
474,703
1,438,434
703,930
503,026
600,039
68,740
474,572
308,289
902,346
138,182
100,436
69,736
158,009
148,012
144,153
135,376
118,503
114,145
109,615
14,781,778
332
102
332
235
332
105
332
173
140
173
25
173
95
262
68
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
3,167
9,360
4,700
5,312
4,574
4,958
4,521
4,333
4,069
3,593
3,468
2,750
2,743
3,245
3,444
2,032
3,139
2,179
4,938
4,625
4,505
4,231
3,703
3,567
3,425
4,667
ECHL will absorb the WCHL in
2003-04 and add:
Gwinnett Gladiators
Las Vegas Wranglers
Texas Wildcatters
Awaiting completion of arena:
Jacksonville Lizard Kings
New Orleans Brass
West Coast Hockey League
Idaho Steelheads
Bakersfield Condors
San Diego Gulls
Long Beach Ice Dogs
Fresno Falcons
Anchorage Aces
United Hockey League
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Missouri River Otters
Rockford Ice Hogs
Muskegon Fury
Quad City Mallards
Kalamazoo Wings
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Port Huron Beacons
Adirondack IceHawks
Fort Wayne Komets
Flint Generals
Elmira Jackals
Atlantic Coast Hockey League
Cape Fear Fire Antz
Jacksonville Barracudas
Knoxville Ice Bears
Macon Trax
Orlando Seals
Winston-Salem Parrots
Darrell Blair, Kirk Alberts/The Coloradoan