CHL Sold To Team Owners

CHL Sold to Team Owners (Central Partners, LLC)

Central Hockey League Sold to Team Owners
Central Partners, LLC Set to Lead CHL to New Heights

GLENDALE, AZ (June 20, 2013) – The Central Hockey League (CHL) is pleased to make a historic announcement as the League is now under the ownership and control of Central Partners, LLC, a collection of the franchise owners in the League.

The CHL now becomes an ownership owned league as the group is excitedly making plans to carry the two decade plus history of the League to new historic success.  Wichita Thunder Co-Owner Rodney Steven II has been named the Interim Chairman of Central Partners, LLC.

“The owners of the CHL’s clubs are proud to stand arm-in-arm as we move the League forward,” said Steven.
“The passion and vision of this group will help our League grow and will help the CHL earn the status of one of the top sports leagues in North America.”

“This process has been underway for some time now and with the collection of great minds and accomplished professionals that compose the ownership groups of the League’s teams, we are confident that the sky is the limit for the heights the CHL will rise to,” said Michael Carper (Co-Owner of the Missouri Mavericks and member of Central Partners, LLC).  “Great things are set to come for the CHL’s member clubs and for the fans of the teams and League.”

The CHL’s 22nd season is set to begin in October with 10 teams participating in the 2013-14 campaign including expansion franchise in Brampton, Ontario (Beast) and in St. Charles, Missouri (Chill).

“As the Central Hockey League moves forward into a new era, we are excited to have the group of team owners take ownership of the League,” said Duane Lewis, CHL Commissioner.  “This positive step is meant to put the CHL on its best foot forward as the owners’ common goal is one of competition on the ice, but full team support off the ice.  For the fans of the CHL, the transition is a seamless one, as they will see renewed rivalries, and new rivalries emerge, and a tremendous sense of pride as the teams take to the ice and their communities for the upcoming season and beyond.  Thank you to our longtime supporters, and to the new fans who come out to support their local teams.  See you on the ice soon!”

Central Partners, LLC would like to thank the former owners’ of the Central Hockey League, the Western Professional Hockey League, Inc., in particular Jim Treliving, George Melville and Rick Kozuback, for all their work over the last 20 years in moving the league forward and for all of their efforts in making the transition to Central Partners, LLC a successful one.  Additionally, the new League ownership group is pleased that the Quad City Mallards will remain under the ownership of QCM Holdings, Inc., with Jordan Melville and Rick Kozuback as Directors.

Jim Treliving, President of WPHL Texas Holdings Inc., states, “I am very proud to have been involved in the ownership, management and operations of the Central Hockey League over the past 20 years and look forward to the continued success of the Central Hockey League under the new ownership group.”