Inaugural Bleacher Report CHL Power Rankings

The Central Hockey League has had its share of dramatic moments. From the possible hockey strike to the emotional tribute to fallen Colorado Eagles player Les Borsheim all the way to the slugfest for possession of the top spot in the league, the CHL is no stranger to controversy.

Which is why I'm trumping their so called power rankings and unveiling my own rankings.

#16) Amarillo Gorillas (17-5-12, 10 pts)

Team Points Leader: Sam Ftorek, RW, 21 points

Team Penalties Leader: Gordon Bell, C, 35 minutes

Up Next: @ New Mexico (DH) 12/6 & 12/7, @ Odessa 12/9, @ Colorado 12/12

#15) Rocky Mountain Rage (5-10-1, 11 pts)

Team Points Leader: Colt King, LW, 16 points

Team Penalties Leader: Rob Chappell, 50 minutes

Up Next: @ Rapid City 12/3, @ Colorado 12/6, vs. Arizona (DH) 12/10 & 12/12

#14) Tulsa Oilers (5-10-2, 12 pts)

Team Points Leader: Michel Beausoleil, RW, 27 points

Team Penalties Leader: Dennis Sicard, F, 65 minutes

Up Next: @ Odessa 12/5, vs. OK City 12/6, @ Odessa 12/12, @ OK City 12/13

#13) Corpus Christi Ice Rays (6-8-1, 13 pts)

Team Points Leader: Justin Quenneville, C, 21 points

Team Penalties Leader: TJ Reynolds, D, 69 minutes

Up Next: vs. Arizona 12/4, @ Rio Grande Valley 12/5, @ Odessa 12/6, vs. Laredo 12/11

#12) Rapid City Rush (4-6-5, 13 pts)

Team Points Leader: Rich Hansen, F, 27 points

Team Penalties Leader: Kyle Sheen, F, 45 minutes

Up Next: vs. Rocky Mountain 12/3, vs. Mississippi (DH) 12/5 & 12/6, vs. Colorado 12/10

#11) Wichita Thunder (6-11-1, 13 pts)

Team Points Leader: Jason Duda, LW, 20 points

Team Penalties Leader: Jason Tessier, D, 34 minutes

Up Next: Bossier-Shreveport (Home and Home) 12/4 & 12/6, @ Oklahoma City (DH) 12/9 & 12/12

#10) New Mexico Scorpions (7-11-1, 15 pts)

Team Points Leader: Craig Macdonald, RW, 25 points

Team Penalties Leader: Aaron MacInnis, D, 45 minutes

Up Next: vs. Amarillo (DH) 12/5 & 12/6, @ Laredo 12/10 @ Rio Grande Valley (DH) 12/12 & 12/13

#9) Arizona Sundogs- Defending CHL Champions (8-11-1, 17 pts)

Team Points Leader: Joel Irving, F, 23 points

Team Penalties Leader: Karl Sellan, LW, 173 minutes (YIKES!)

Up Next: @ Corpus Christi 12/4, @ Laredo 12/5, @ Rio Grande Valley 12/6, @ Rocky Mountain (DH) 12/10 & 12/12

#8) Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (8-5-2, 18 pts)

Team Points Leader: Trevor Weisberger, LW, 19 points

Team Penalties Leader: Ryan Shmyr, F, 38 minutes

Up Next: @ Laredo 12/4, vs. Corpus Christi 12/5, vs. Arizona 12/6, @ Texas 12/9

#7) Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (10-5-2, 22 pts)

Team Points Leader: Kevin Cooper, F, 18 points

Team Penalties Leader: Neil Clark, F, 80 minutes (WTF?!)

Up Next: vs. Wichita 12/4, @ Texas 12/5, @ Wichita 12/6, @ Rapid City (DH) 12/12 & 12/13

#6) Mississippi River Kings (11-8-0, 22 pts)

Team Points Leader: Louis Dumont, C, 21 points

Team Penalties Leader: David Simoes, D, 86 minutes

Up Next: @ Rapid City (DH) 12/5 & 12/6, vs. Texas (DH) 12/12 & 12/13

#5) Texas Brahmas (11-6-1, 23 pts)

Team Points Leader: Scott Sheppard, F, 19 points

Team Penalties Leader: Lance Galbraith, F, 44 (IA) & Justin Kinnunen, D, 39 minutes

Up Next: vs. Bossier-Shreveport 12/5, vs. Laredo 12/6, vs. Rio Grande Valley 12/9, @ Mississippi (DH) 12/12 & 12/13

#4) Laredo Bucks (12-5-0, 24 pts)

Team Points Leader: Jeff Bes, C, 31 points

Team Penalties Leader: Rick Kozak, F, 45 minutes

Up Next: vs. Rio Grande Valley 12/4, vs. Arizona 12/5, @ Texas 12/6, vs. New Mexico 12/10

#3) Odessa Jackalopes (12-5-2, 26 pts)

Team Points Leader: Sebastien Thinel, F, 28 points

Team Penalties Leader: Mario Joly, D, 88 minutes

Up Next: vs. Tulsa 12/5, vs. Corpus Christi 12/6, vs. Amarillo 12/9, vs. Tulsa 12/12

#2) Oklahoma City Blazers (14-2-2, 30 pts)

Team Points Leader: Bill Vandermeer, RW, 17 points

Team Penalties Leader: Justin Sawyer, D, 68 minutes

The Blazers may be #1 in the Coaches Poll, but they're the owners of two overtime losses. They are 8-1-2 at home and 6-1-0 on the road, but they're penalty kill unit has given up 54 goals so far this season. With a showdown for first place outright on the horizon against the Colorado Eagles, the Blazers will have to continue the pressure all the way to the end of the year.

Up Next: @ Tulsa 12/6, vs. Wichita (DH) 12/9 & 12/12, vs. Tulsa 12/13, @ Colorado 12/17

#1) Colorado Eagles (15-3-0, 30 pts)

Team Points Leader: Riley Nelson, C, 27 points

Team Penalties Leader: Greg Pankewicz, RW, 68 minutes (No Surprise)

The Eagles were on a roll to start the season, but suffered their first loss on a road trip to Mississippi, followed by their second loss against Tulsa in a double header during Veterans Week. After getting shutout in Rapid City's official home opener a few days ago, the Eagles plan to bounce back on Saturday when their in-state foes Rocky Mountain come to town for another round of slap and slug hockey.

Up Next: vs. Rocky Mountain 12/6, @ Rapid City 12/10, vs. Amarillo 12/12, vs. Arizona 12/13