ODESSA, Texas – The chorus remains the same for this week’s Pro Hockey News Power Ranking Poll; Jacks and Eagles in the lead. Odessa and 
Colorado have battled all season for the top spot in our poll and this week sees the two teams jockeying over the narrowest of margins in our assessment.
With four games in hand on the Jacks, the Eagles reside in our number two position with 44 points in their conference to the Jacks’ 53. For the Eagles, the Rapid City Rush remains just a single point behind and putting on the pressure. Indeed, the Eagles must be feeling something unfamiliar. The Rush is one of the few teams in memory that have challenged the club for supremacy in a divisional or conference race. Rush head coach Joe Ferras deserves credit for keeping his troops focused.
In the Southern Conference, the Allen Americans remain on the heels of the Jackalopes, but not nearly close enough to threaten the Jacks at this point. After the Americans, the Jacks are distant memories for the rest of the conference. The Texas Brahmas have 37 points to the Jacks’ 53 and have not gathered enough traction under their wheels to make a run at the top spot.
In the North, the Mudbugs have made some noise of late. They still sit eight points out of the top spot but have played two more games than the Eagles.
What remains a mystery in the CHL is the dreadful season in Wichita where the Thunder have gathered up all of nine points on the season and remain with only three victories on the season. The question is whether or not the Thunder has the character necessary to complete the season with their heads up and be competitive on the for their loyal fans.
The interesting statistic in this week’s poll is the goal differential. The top four teams in our poll have positive goal differentials but the rest of the league fall in the negative range.
It’s the middle class of the CHL where the battles are taking place, as usual. There are the four top teams and the bottom five with the rest of the league competing for precious few post season berths.
Contact the author at jeff.reed@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com
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