Jacks 2010-2011 Schedule Released!

Hello fellow Jackalope fans! It is a warm, breezy day here in the Permian Basin, and the Central Hockey League released it's 2010-2011 schedule today. You can read the article from the CHL at: http://centralhockeyleague.com/pressroom/news/index.html?article_id=4757

I was pretty happy with the Jacks schedule overall, although there are a few things that kind of make you scratch your head. The Jacks will see plenty of Allen, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, and especially Rio Grande Valley. The Jacks will play the Killer Bees more than any other team this season, with ten games played between the Southern Conference foes. The Jacks will play Colorado more than they play Laredo, which is a little bit strange, but it will be great to see more games between the Jacks and Eagles. The Jacks also play Rapid City five times this season, with three of those games taking place at the Ector County Coliseum. Both Rapid City and Colorado are two Northern Conference powerhouses, so those games will be big tests for the Jacks.

Something that I found a bit strange with the Jacks schedule is that they will not play Mississippi at all this season, even though they are in the same conference. Also, the Jacks only play the Mudbugs three times this season, and once again these two teams are in the same conference. I would have liked to see the Jacks play the 'Bugs more, but I won't complain too much. The Jacks will also open up the season on the road way up North. They open the season against Missouri, then play three former IHL teams in a row. Those teams are Quad City, Bloomington, and Dayton respectively. It will be great to see the Jacks show the IHL teams how the big boys play in the CHL! The only former IHL team that the Jacks will see at the ECC is the Bloomington Prairie Thunder for a pair of games in the middle of March.

Those are just a few of my initial observations when it comes to the Jack's 2010-2011 season. Here is a breakdown of who the Jacks will see in the upcoming season, and how many times they will play each other:

• Rio Grande Valley - 10 total (4H 6A)


• Texas - 9 total (4H 5A)


• Arizona - 8 total (4H 4A)


• Allen - 7 total (3H 4A)


• Colorado - 7 total (3H 4A)


• Laredo - 6 total (4H 2A)


• Rapid City - 5 total (3H 2A)


• Tulsa - 4 total (3H 1A)


• Bossier - 3 total (2H 1A)


• Bloomington - 3 total (2H 1A)


• Wichita - 1 total (1H 0A)


• Missouri - 1 total (0H 1A)


• Quad City - 1 total (0H 1A)


• Dayton - 1 total (0H 1A)


• Evansville - NO GAMES


• Ft. Wayne - NO GAMES


• Mississippi - NO GAMES

Now that we have discussed the schedule, lets move on with some player news. The Jacks announced a couple of days ago that All-Star Dominic Leveille will return to the Odessa Jackalopes for the 2010-2011 season. This is another big signing for the Jacks, and the Jacks will definitely be a force to be reckoned with next season. And no, Mr. Benway, the Jacks do not cheat the salary cap as you suggested in your last blog posting. Grow up a little, and get over the Jacks beating the Bucks a couple of seasons ago in the playoffs. Here is the full article from the Jackalope's website pertaining to the signing of Dominic Leveille: http://jackalopes.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=464:07story07&catid=69:newstory&Itemid=119

Until next time Jackalope fans all I have to say is GO JACKS GO!!! and bring it on CHL!!!

2010-2011 CHL Playoff Format a Joke?

Hello fellow Jackalope fans! It is a beautiful day here in the Permian Basin, and we have found out over the last couple of days what the CHL conference alignment will be, how many games each team will play next season, and also the playoff format for next season.

So, since the title of my post mentions the playoff format, lets start there shall we? This season's format will be a format that sees sixteen out of eighteen teams make the playoffs. In other words, only one team from each conference will not make the post-season. How stupid is that? The whole point of the playoffs is to showcase the best of the best in the CHL and have those teams battle it out to prove who is the best team in the league. Now, with this format, you will have several teams with losing records make the playoffs when they do not deserve to be there. It just does not make any sense. Now, the regular season will be vastly diluted in the sense that all you have to do to make the playoffs is to not be the cellar dweller of your respective conference. This is just unbelievable.

What were the Board of Governors thinking when they approved this format? Many are saying that this is a compromise between the IHL and CHL since the IHL will not have a 70+ game regular season, but why wouldn't they just extend the regular CHL season as opposed to making a mockery of the regular season in order to make a few extra bucks? I think I may know the answer, and I would like to see if you guys agree with me. My theory is that since many season ticket holders have already payed for their tickets or at least signed a contract with a set price for their tickets, the CHL decided that they can't just give away free tickets to the season ticket holders by making the regular season longer. The teams can, however, charge for more playoff games by allowing more teams in the playoffs since season ticket holders don't get their bills for playoff games until the season has ended. In other words, it's all about the almighty dollar. The CHL is willing to make a mockery of their regular season in order to make more money. That's the way I see it anyway. With that said, I guess we will find out how truly ridiculous this setup is once the regular season starts in October.

Lets move on to the announced conference alignment for the 2010-2011 CHL season. This is exactly how I thought the alignment would be, with the Jacks, Allen, Arizona, Bossier, Laredo, Mississippi, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, and Tulsa making up the Southern Conference. Obviously Bossier, Mississippi, and Tulsa have come from the Northern Conference to join the Southern Conference. The Northern Conference will consist of Bloomington, Colorado, Dayton, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Missouri, Quad City, Rapid City, and Wichita. Both conferences will have nine teams each, and according to the CHL website, the conferences will be given names that have to deal with the histories of both the CHL and IHL. Should be interesting. The CHL also stated that new trophies will be introduced for conference champions, regular season champions, and playoff champions. I'm curious to see these "new" trophies, and I really hope the CHL doesn't make a joke of them.

Finally, The Central Hockey League announced that there will be 66 regular season games this season, as opposed to the 64 played last season by the CHL teams. I would have liked to seen 68 or even 70 regular season games, but I won't complain about getting to watch another home game too much. The Jacks also announced that their home opener will be on the 28th of October, two weeks after the season starts. We all knew this would happen, since every other year the oil show occupies the Ector County Coliseum. Interestingly, though, the Jacks home opener will be on a Thursday which will be a little strange. They won't open on that Friday due to the OHS/PHS football game, and I can't say that I blame them. All I know is that I'm ready for some hockey! We still don't know who the Jacks will entertain on the 28th, though, since the schedule still has not been released. I'm expecting the schedule to be released either some time this week, or maybe even next week. When it does happen, I will let all of you know.

I guess I'm going to go ahead and wrap things up here. Be sure to check the blog for updates throughout the week, and feel free to comment on my posts.

Until next time Jackalope fans all I have to say is GO JACKS GO!!! and what were you thinking CHL?

All-Star Todd Robinson Joins the Jacks!

Hello fellow Jackalope fans! It is a hot day here in the Permian Basin, and the Jacks made a HUGE announcement today when they announced that former IHL MVP, Todd Robinson, has signed with the Jacks for the 2010-2011 season.

This is arguably one of the biggest signings the Jacks have ever made, as Mr. Robinson is regarded as one of the best players in all of minor league hockey. Here are just a few little facts for you pertaining to Robinson: He has tallied at least 100 points in three of his last four season; he was the top scorer in the IHL for the past two seasons; he has over fifty games under his belt in the AHL; he has championship experience; and he is known as one of the best playmakers in all of minor league hockey.

Things will definitely be interesting next season, as the Jacks now have two MVP's on their team in Todd Robinson and Sebastien Thinel. The rest of the CHL better watch out, as the Jack's second line will more than likely be better than most team's first lines. The Jacks offense is looking like it will be even more explosive than last seasons, which is saying a lot. Welcome to Odessa, Todd Robinson, and we can't wait for you to help bring that Presidents Cup to the Permian Basin next year!

Before I wrap up this post, I would also like to add that the Jacks announced a few days ago that Jeff Pierce has re-signed with the team, and Brady Leisenring has also signed with the team. We all know what Pierce is capable of. He has been a point-per-game player for the Jacks so far in his young career, and he is only going to get better as he develops. Somebody on the CHL Forum said that they could see Pierce as a franchise player similar to how Sebby is, and I couldn't agree more. I would love to see Pierce grow into one of the premier players in the CHL wearing a Jackalope sweater, but I also would not be surprised to see him eventually move up to the AHL when all is said and done. He is that good of a player.

Now lets move on to Leisenring. He is a skilled, yet physical forward that can either score the game-winning goal, or deliver a bone crushing hit to the opposition. He has spent the last couple of seasons overseas, and has also played in the AHL. He definitely looks like another great signing by the Jacks.

With that said, I'm going to go ahead and wrap things up here. Hopefully, some time this week the league will start revealing the conference alignment, the number of games for the 2010-2011 season, the vet limit, etc. So be sure to keep checking the blog for any updates!

Until next time Jackalope fans all I have to say is GO JACKS GO!!! and welcome to Odessa Mr. Robinson!

CHL's Most Outstanding Goalie Returns to Odessa!

Hello fellow Jackalope fans. It is a rainy evening here in Odessa, and the Jacks recently announced that Garrett Gruenke and Joel Martin will both return to the Odessa Jackalopes for the 2010-2011 season.

Obviously, it has been a while since I last posted, but I have been pretty busy as of late. I am in the process of attempting to write a book, so unfortunately I haven't been able to update the blog as much as I would like to. Anyway, a lot has happened both in the CHL and with the Odessa Jackalopes over the last month or so.

Lets start off with the most recent news pertaining to the Jacks, which is the news that both Gruenke and Martin will be Jackalopes next season. This is fantastic news! I haven't always been a huge fan of Gruenke's, but he has steadily progressed over the last couple of seasons, and gives it his all every time he is on the ice. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he is willing to drop the gloves with just about anybody. I'm expecting bigger and better things from Gruenke in the upcoming season, and am very happy to see him back in the Permian Basin.

Also, finding out that arguably the best goalie in the entire league is returning to the Jacks is even more great news. Joel Martin was a great goalie last season, and I think we all feel very comfortable when he is in net for the Jacks. According to a poster from the CHL Forum, at least one of our other goalie candidates will be a rookie. We all know what Juha Toivonen did during his rookie season, so I am very anxious to see this new candidate. I do, however, believe that Martin will be the starter for the Jacks next season, and I personally doubt that we will see the every-other-game rotation that we saw last season with Juha and Joel. I could be wrong, though, especially if the Jacks are able to sign another great goalie. I would like to say welcome back to both Gruenke and Martin, and we are expecting to see that Presidents Cup at the Ector County Coliseum next year!

Moving on, lets stick with more Jackalope news that has been announced over the last month or so. I'm just going to give ya'll a quick run down of what has happened, since most of this news is probably old news to most: The Jacks are still staying involved in the community as they announced that the Jacks would be playing poker for the homeless in the 2nd Annual Links West Texas Hold'Em. This is good to see that the Jacks are still doing great things for our community. The Jacks also announced that the Premium Ice Level seats will be returning next season, as opposed to the round tables with chairs that they had last season. This is also great news, as I didn't really care for the tables and chairs last season. Finally, the Jacks announced that Kenny Bernard will be returning to Odessa for the upcoming season. Great news yet again. I'm a big fan of Bernard's, and I'm really looking forward to seeing him do big things on the ice next season. The Jacks also announced that they have signed defenseman Pierre-Olivier Beaulieu. Try saying that three times quickly. In all seriousness, this guy is another big body for the Jacks blue line, as he is 6'4" and weighs 215 pounds. I'm thinking that Gillis is really wanting to add some size and toughness to next season's team since they were basically bullied out of the playoffs by the Allen Americans.

With that said, a couple of the usually "in the know" posters on the CHL Forums are claiming that some huge news pertaining to the Jacks will be revealed in the near future, so stay tuned to the Jackalope's website as well as the blog for more updates. I'm going to go ahead and wrap things up here, and will hopefully be blogging again when news related to the Jacks is announced in the future.

CHL News:

• The CHL/IHL "affiliation" will include all thirteen of the CHL teams, plus five of the IHL teams. The IHL teams that will be playing in the CHL next season include the Bloomington Prairie Thunder, the Dayton Gems, the Quad City Mallards, the Fort Wayne Komets, and a new team in the Evansville IceMen. I fully expect this "affiliation" to eventually turn out to be a full merger within the next year or so. I just can't see the IHL teams leaving a more stable league in order to attempt to revive, yet again, another version of the IHL. Not only that, but the Mallard's owner has already stated that they have signed on to play in the CHL, and that the IHL commissioner was not an owner, so he can't speak for his team. I think it's safe to say that Quad City won't be one of the teams to attempt to revive the IHL in the next couple of years, should that happen.


• Travis Clayton will be back with the Mudbugs for the upcoming season.


• Jordan Lane has signed on to play with the RiverKings for the 2010-2011 season.


• Both Scott Wray and Brendon Hodge have re-signed with the reigning CHL champions, the Rapid City Rush. Both of these guys were key players for the Rush, so I'm sure that the Rapid City faithful are very happy to see them returning.


• Finally, Derek Landmesser has re-signed with Mississippi. The former all-star would appear to be a good signing for the 'Kings, but apparently several of their fans feel differently: http://www.chlforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1401

Until next time Jackalope fans all I have to say is GO JACKS GO!!!