The Central Hockey League Report

TEMPE, Ariz. – It was a relatively quiet week for the Central Hockey League save the announcement of some supplier partnerships for the upcoming 2012-13 season. On Monday, the league announced that three companies will serve as the exclusive sticks, pants and gloves options for league teams including Sher-Wood Hockey, Inc., Easton Sports and new to the CHL’s supplier pool – Warrior. And on Thursday, it was announced that Sportstape/Canadian Technical Tape, Ltd. (Cantech) and the CHL has extended their partnership for two more seasons (through the 2013-14 season). The partnership makes Cantech the exclusive sports tape and skate lace supplier of the CHL. In other news around the league: Allen Americans The Americans had a quiet week as well, except for “A Night Out With The Ludwig’s”, as Trevor, Tyler and father Craig joined Americans broadcaster Tommy Daniels to discuss the high expectations for the upcoming season, and how sharing hockey with family can be such a great experience. Former Dallas Stars defenseman Craig Ludwig is one of the new co-owners of the Americans Franchise. Son Trevor has signed on the the upcoming campaign, while his twin brother Tyler played for the franchise last season. Both play defense. Arizona Sundogs The Sundogs added their 4th player this week – 6′ 2″, 210-pound rookie defenseman Zack Firlotte. Firlotte spent the last five seasons playing in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS), a regional membership association for Canadian Colleges. During the 2011-12 season, he played for Dalhousie University where he tallied two points and 62 penalty minutes in 26 games. Prior to that, he played for the Acadia University for four seasons, collecting 22 points and 142 penalty minutes. In 2009 he was named the Axemen’s hockey defensive player of the year. Forward Daymen Raycroft has signed across the pond with the Belfast Giants (EIHL). Defenseman Tyler Butler, who captained the Sundogs for the past two seasons has signed with the Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL). Bloomington Blaze The Bloomington Blaze has signed forward Kyle Bocheck and re-signed defenseman Ryan Palmer to their 2012-13 roster.

Bochek, who played under Blaze Coach Brian Gratz for the Dayton Gems, competed in 117 games including three playoff contests, racking up 57 points (21 goals, 36 assists) and 261 penalty minutes. In addition to playing for he Gems, the Port Severn, Ontario native was also a member of the Missouri Mavericks in 2009. Palmer contributed two goals, five assists and 72 penalty minutes in 64 games with the Blaze last season, and was voted the team’s Defensive Player of the Year. Before coming to Bloomington last season, Palmer played in Colorado, Laredo, Odessa, Muskegon, and the Quad Cities during his seven-year career. The Blaze will host the the first of two exhibition games with their in-state rivals, the Quad City Mallards. The first game will be held on Friday, October 12th in Bloomington at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The second game will be hosted by the Mallards on Saturday, October 13th. Denver Cutthroats The CHL’s newest franchise announced today they have entered into an affiliation agreement with the National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche.  Under the agreement, the Cutthroats become an additional resource for player personnel and development needs for the Avalanche and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters. Under the agreement, Avalanche players and prospects can be assigned to the Cutthroats throughout the 2012-13 season for developmental purposes. The Avalanche also have the option of promoting Cutthroats players to their NHL and AHL clubs. Armstrong will work alongside Craig Billington, the Avalanche’s Vice-President of Player Development/Minor League Operations, in determining those decisions and working with the team’s prospects. Missouri Mavericks The Missouri Mavericks announced on Thursday the addition of three more players to their roster, including the team’s leading scorer from last season, Sebastien Thinel. The Mavericks have also re-signed goaltender B. J. O’Brien and the club added defenseman Jamie Vanderveeken. The Mavericks now have 10 players under contract for the 2012-13 season, the second most in the CHL. Thinel, 31, led the Mavericks in scoring and set a franchise record for points in a season in his first season with the team with 82 points (23 G, 59 A) in 65 games played.  O’Brien, 26, returns to the Mavericks for his second pro season. The native of Lakeville, Minnesota played for five different teams in three different leagues during his rookie campaign, but finished his season with the Mavericks.  He played in two games for Missouri, both wins, and stopped 63 of 69 shots in his two starts. VanderVeeken, 26, returns to the CHL after playing one season overseas in Italy and England.  The 6′ 2″, 215-pound defenseman enters his sixth pro season and fourth in the CHL, where he previously played for the Rapid City Rush and the Arizona Sundogs. He most recently played for the Cardiff Devils in England where he accounted for 30 points on seven goals and 23 assists in just 29 games. Goaltender Charlie Effinger has signed with the Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL). Quad City Mallards With just one player announced (returning defenseman Darren McMillan), things have been somewhat quiet this week for the Mallard except for the announcement of a pair of exhibition games they will be participating in with their in-state rivals, the Quad City Mallards. The first game will be held on Friday, October 12th in Bloomington at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The second game will be hosted by the Mallards on Saturday, October 13th. Forward Brandon Marino, who spent his first three professional season with the Mallards has signed with the Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL). Forward Jared Brown has signed with GKS Katowice in Poland. Rapid City Rush The Rush bolstered their roster with two tough men this week as they announced the signings of Garrett Gruenke and Mike Sgroi. Gruenke returns for his second season with the Rush and fifth overall as a pro, all in the CHL. For 2011-12, the 6′ 5″, 210-pound defenseman picked up three assists and an impressive plus-11 rating and 77 penalty minutes despite appearing in just 37 regular season games. Sgroi spent last season with the Evansville IceMen where he totaled nine points (5 G, 4 A) and 103 penalty minutes in 51 games. He is entering his 13th professional season and brings a physical style and 6′ 5″, 230-pound frame to the Rush lineup. In all, Sgroi has suited up on 530 professional games where he has potted 85 goals and 95 assists for 177 total points and amassed a whopping 1,682 penalty minutes. Texas Brahmas The Brahmas’ silence has kept them under the radar this off-season and that suits head coach Dan Wildfong just well. Wildfong has long been a proponent of keeping his acquisitions quiet; this year however, the team has broken its own record for the longest stretch without announcing a signing. While fans are antsy to know what’s going on, insiders are aware of a solid group of returnees coupled with some rookie talent that will no doubt, once again make the Brahmas a contender. Tulsa Oilers The Oilers didn’t add anyone to their roster last week, but the franchise did announce that some of the most legendary names in Oilers history are reuniting in Tulsa next month for the fourth annual Alumni Game. Two teams of former Oilers greats will go head-to-head on Saturday, August 25th at the Oilers Ice Center
The Alumni Game, which did not take place last year due to renovations at the Oilers Ice Center, is a highlight of the Oilers off-season for both the returning players and the fans.
Each team will have a celebrity coach and this year, the Oilers are pleased to welcome back former Channel 8 Sports Director Chris Lincoln who has a 2-0 record behind the bench. Wichita Thunder The Thunder turned their attention to the blue line on Friday, announcing the re-signing of defenseman Travis Wight and the addition of defenseman Dave Inman to their roster. Wight is entering his seventh pro season and third in a Thunder uniform. The Fannystelle, MB native was an ironman last year as he played in all 66 regular season games and an additional 16 in the team’s post-season run. Overall, Wight has appeared in 332 games as a professional, accumulating six goals, 57 assists and 168 PIM. Inman played for the Laredo Bucks last season. The 6′ 0″, 200-pound native of San Diego finished fourth in the CHL in goals scored by a defenseman with 13 and also tallied 14 assists. Contact the writer at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com