CHL announces its 2008-09 master schedule

Texas Brahmas pick up an extra game against division rival Laredo Bucks

The Central Hockey League released its 512-game master schedule today. As a result of changes which took place because of schedule conflicts between the Blazers and Oklahoma City's NBA franchise, the Texas Brahmas will gain an eighth match up against their division rival, the Laredo Bucks.

As in years past, the full schedule is 64 games over 23 weeks. 32 games will be at home and 32 will take place on the road. The Brahmas will see Southeast Division opponents 17 times this season.

During the 2008-09 campaign, the Brahmas will be at home for 28 weekend dates including 12 Fridays, 12 Saturdays, and four Sundays. They will round out the home slate with two Tuesday games and two Wednesday games.

The season opens on the road at Bossier-Shreveport on Friday, October 17th.

The Brahmas will have two four-game home stands and four three-game home stands.

The longest road trip will be for six games starting with two games at Mississippi followed by a three-game series at Arizona and one game against Bossier-Shreveport before returning home.

The Brahmas will haunt the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico where they will play the Scorpions on October 31st.

Fans will work off their Thanksgiving meals cheering against the Oklahoma City Blazers when they visit NYTEX on November 28th.

The day after Christmas will bring Killer Bees to North Richland Hills as Rio Grande Valley comes to town on December 26th.

The New Years Eve game will take place at NYTEX against the Corpus Christi Ice Rays.

Love will not be in the air at NYTEX on Valentines Day when the Laredo Bucks visit on February 14th.

The Brahmas will host the defending President's Cup Champion Arizona Sundogs on January 16th. This will be the first time the two teams have played each other at the NYTEX Sports Centre.

A rematch of the 2007-08 Northern Conference Finals will take place when the Colorado Eagles

come to town on February 6th.

The season will close with a three-game road trip ending in Rio Grande Valley on Saturday, March 21st.

As a result of the schedule changes, the Brahmas will add two road games against the Oklahoma City Blazers on Sunday, November 23rd at 5:10pm and on Wednesday, January 7th at 7:10pm.

The Brahmas will still have a road game on Saturday, January 10th, but will play the Mississippi RiverKings instead of the Oklahoma City Blazers.

The Brahmas will still play at home on Saturday, January 17th, but will host the Laredo Bucks instead of the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.

Two road dates have been removed from the schedule; January 9th at Mississippi and March 1st at Oklahoma City.

What do the changes mean?

• 10 games against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs instead of 11
• 8 games against the Laredo Bucks instead of 7
• 8 games against the Oklahoma City Blazers instead of 7
• 4 games against the Mississippi RiverKings instead of 5

Phew! OK, suffice it to say, are you ready for some Hockey?