The Missouri Mavericks will play in the Northern Conference in a realignment of the Central Hockey League announced this week.
With the Oklahoma City Blazers and the New Mexico Scorpions suspending operations last week, the league is left with 15 teams.
The CHL’s Board of Governors approved the alignment on Tuesday.
The Mavericks, the Independence-based team that will start its inaugural season in November at the Independence Events Center, will be one of seven teams in the Northern Conference.
Joining the Mavericks in that division will be the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, Colorado Eagles, Mississippi RiverKings, Rapid City Rush, Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder.
The eight teams in the Southern Conference will be the Allen Americans, Amarillo Gorillas, Arizona Sundogs, Corpus Christi IceRays, Laredo Bucks, Odessa Jackalopes, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and Texas Brahmas.
The CHL Board of Governors also announced a new playoff format. A total of 10 of the 15 teams – five from each conference – will advance to the postseason.
The first round, which will be a best-of-three format, will feature the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds facing off for a spot in the best-of-seven conference semifinals.
The No. 1 seeds will play the winner of the opening round in the conference semifinals and the No. 2 and 3 seeds will meet.
The winners of the conference semifinals will meet in the best-of-seven conference finals for the right to advance to the best-of-seven Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals championship series.
The Mavericks’ 2009-10 schedule is expected to be released in August. Season tickets are now on sale starting at $352. For more information on ticket sales, call the Mavericks’ front office at 816-252-PUCK (7825) or visit the Web site at www.MissouriMavericks.com.
CHL realignment
Here are the new conferences as voted on the Central Hockey League’s Board of Governors:
NORTHERN CONF. (7) SOUTHERN CONF. (8)
Missouri Mavericks Allen Americans
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Amarillo Armadillos
Colorado Eagles Arizona Sundogs
Mississippi RiverKings Corpus Christi IceRays
Rapid City Rush Laredo Bucks
Tulsa Oilers Odessa Jackalopes
Wichita Thunder Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Texas Brahmas
