Texas Brahmas challenge the Colorado Eagles for Governor’s Cup

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — The hunt for the Central Hockey League Governor’s Cup has just gotten more interesting. Awarded to the team ending the regular season with the highest point total, the Colorado Eagles have led the race since the beginning of the season. But slowly and steadily, the Texas Brahmas crept up on them, finally taking the lead on February 21^st after defeating the Oklahoma City Blazers on home ice.
 

Many believe that these two teams are likely opponents for the 2009 Ray Miron President’s Cup Championship series to be held in May. But as head coaches Dan Wildfong and Kevin McClelland would agree, there’s still a lot of hockey to be played before that. So in the meantime, now tied at 77 points, the two teams are in a dead heat for the regular season championship.
 
Last season, the Brahmas and the Eagles met in the Northern Conference Finals. The Brahmas lost the first two games and then mounted a comeback, eventually forcing a game seven showdown, only to lose by one goal.
 
This season, the Brahmas moved to the Southern Conference as a result of an off-season divisional realignment. At 36-12-5, they have a comfortable lead in the Southeast Division, currently 15 points ahead of the Laredo Bucks, who had previously won the last five straight Southeast Division titles.
 
The Brahmas have extended their Southern Conference lead over the Odessa Jackalopes by seven points. Odessa had led the conference all season until the Brahmas pulled ahead after defeating the Eagles 4-1 at home on February 6th. That was the only regular season game scheduled between the two teams this season.
 
The Brahmas have an amazing 18-3-2 record since the first of the year, and under the leadership of head coach Dan Wildfong, have put together what may be their best season since entering the league in 1997.
With a league best 22-3-1 home record and 13 straight wins at the NYTEX Sports Center, home ice throughout the playoffs, something that the Governors Cup guarantees, would be a huge advantage for the Brahmas.
 
The Eagles (37-12-3) have seen their dominant play falter as of late, having lost seven of their last 10 games, including three or the last five played at the Budweiser Events Center. With 11 games left in the regular season, Colorado has another team to worry about. The Mississippi RiverKings are only four points behind and closing fast, having won 10 of their last 11 games, including a two-game sweep of the Eagles at the BEC. Unless things get back on track for the Eagles, people may be talking about a possible RiverKings-Brahmas championship series.
 
Contact the author at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com