ODESSA, Texas – It’s hard to argue that the two teams resting atop the 
Pro Hockey News Power Ranking Poll do not deserve their positions. But this week the Colorado Eagles now sit in the top spot on the strength of an excellent defensive effort this season. Through this week’s games the Eagles have yielded a stingy 57 goals. Only the Allen Americans are close with 61 goals against. The Eagles are second only to the Odessa Jackalopes with 90 goals scored (Odessa has scored 104 goals).
The expansion Americans are hot on the tail of the Jacks with a 17-5-1 record and trail Odessa by only 4 points (as of 12/17). As with any good team, they have defended home ice with an 8-2-0 record.
Meanwhile up North, the Rapid City Rush is not giving the Eagles much room to feel comfortable. The Rush is tied with the Eagles for the lead in the conference. Head coach Joe Ferras has his club running smoothly on all cylinders, winning their last 10 games in a row.
Disappointingly, the Tulsa Oilers have fallen on hard times and have dropped off the pace in the Northern Conference. They find themselves in third but challenged by three other clubs for the playoff positioning in the conference.
Watch as December separates the players from the pretenders in the CHL.
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Contact jeff.reed@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer les.stockton@prohockeynews.com
