GLENDALE, AZ  – The Central Hockey League (CHL) has released the results of the annual ‘Best of the Best’ poll as voted on by CHL players, coaches and operational staff from each CHL team (each club submitted one ballot).  The poll consists of 50 categories that cover all aspects of the league including on-ice performance, in-game entertainment as well as top venues, concessions, websites, etc.  Each team provided three top choices for each category, with first place votes counting as five points, second place votes counting as three points and third place votes counting as one point.     

Best of the Best Results (PDF)

The Missouri Mavericks were found a spot in 33 of the 50 categories and were voted first place in 13 categories, the most of any CHL team.  The Rapid City Rush were second with 23 categories and the Allen Americans were third with 19.  The Americans and the Denver Cutthroats were tied for second among first place recognitions with seven each.

Denver forward Garett Bembridge was the only player to be voted first place in three different categories earning the honor for ‘Best Overall Player’, ‘Most Valuable to His Team’ and ‘Best on Power Play’.  Several of his teammates earned first place honors with Troy Schwab being voted ‘Best Stickhandler’, A.J. Gale voted ‘Fastest Skater’ and Daniel Amesbury voted ‘Best Fighter – Pound for Pound’.     

Missouri’s 13 first place votes came with seven player categories and six team categories.  On the player side, Colt King earned first place in two categories, ‘Best Fighter’ and ‘Best Power Forward’ and so did Sebastien Thinel being named ‘Best Playmaker’ and ‘Best Shooter in Shootouts’.  Mike Ramsay was voted ‘Most Gentlemanly Player’, Matt Stephenson was voted ‘Best Defensive Defenseman’ and John-Scott Dickson was voted ‘Best Penalty Killer’.

On the team side, Missouri was voted first with ‘Best Fans’, ‘Toughest Building to Win In’, ‘Best PA Announcer’, ‘Best Team Website’, ‘Best Mascot (Mac)’ and ‘Best On-Ice Promotions’.

In the goaltending categories, Arizona’s Andrew Engelage was voted ‘Best Goaltender’ and Rapid City’s Tim Boron was voted ‘Best Goaltender in Shootouts’.

Arizona Captain Jason Morgan earned two first place honors being named ‘Best Player on Face-Offs’ and ‘Best Leader’ and teammate Sebastian Geoffrion was voted ‘Most Annoying’.

Some other major individual categories saw Allen’s Alex Lavoie voted ‘Best Rookie’, Quad City Head Coach Terry Ruskowski voted ‘Best Coach’ and Tulsa’s Kyle Bochek being voted ‘Best Bodychecker’. 

Some of the other highlights from the overall team categories include the Quad City Mallards as the ‘Hardest Working Team’ and the Rapid City Rush as the ‘Most Skilled Team’.

Wichita’s INTRUST Bank Arena earned first place as the ‘Best Arena’ and the ‘Best Locker Rooms’ while the Thunder’s fans were voted ‘Most Annoying Fans’.