ODESSA, Texas – The Colorado Eagles and Rapid City Rush are in a dog-fight over first place in the CHL’s Northern Conference. As this week’s Power Ranking Poll was developed, the Rush had assumed first place. But on Wednesday the Eagles clipped the Amarillo Gorillas 6-3 to retake the conference lead.
The Eagles hold a game in hand on the Rush as well.
Elsewhere in the CHL, the Allen Americans remain one of the stronger teams in the league. In any other season they may well have been in first place. But the Odessa Jackalopes are the best team in the league this season and hold a commanding 10-point lead over the Americans.
With 102 goals against, the Americans have yielded the fewest markers this season. The Gorillas find themselves at the polar opposite of this stat with 166 goals against.
Photo by Les Stockton
Importantly, for the teams in the playoff hunt, the races have meant success at the gate as well. The Rush is now averaging 4,805 fans a night in Rapid City, second to the Eagles’ 5,289 a night. In Tulsa and Independence, the fans are coming out to new buildings and a new team (Missouri) with roughly 4,700 fans at the turnstiles every night.
Despite their unfortunate season, Wichita Thunder fans continue to support their club with an average of 4,343 fans coming out each night. Kudos to the fans in Wichita in what has become a nightmare of a season.
Stay tuned to Pro Hockey News for next week’s poll as the CHL shakes itself out heading to the post season.
Contact jeff.reed@prohockeynews.com
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