RIO RANCHO, NM – The Central Hockey League has extended the deadline for three franchises in the league to report on their intentions for the 2009-2010 season.

The New Mexico Scorpions, Bossier-Shreveport MudBugs and Rocky Mountain Rage have received the extensions on their deadline to the league offices.  All three clubs have been rumored to be on the short list of franchises to go dark for the coming season.

“Dave's (Ellett) goal is to have a hockey team in Rio Rancho (NM) for the coming season.  If he is not able to secure an investor for that to happen, returning for the 2010-11 season is one option he will explore,” said a Scorpions representative.

The MudBugs organization announced the franchise was for sale shortly after the end of the regular season.  That announcement included a self-imposed deadline of the end of May to secure new ownership or the team would go dark.

In Broomfield, Colorado the Rage has found themselves out of step with the local hockey fan base.  The Colorado Eagles (also of the CHL) and the Colorado Avalanche command the lion’s share of the fan support in the area. 

For the Scorpions, the issues are deep and wide.  Fan support has lagged form that promised by previous ownership and arena management problems compounded the problems.  Principal owner, Dave Ellett, has worked hard to find an investor or group of investors with $300,000 to ice a team for the coming season. 

The economy has been used as a club to bargain by potential investors as well as the city of Rio Rancho. 

Pro Hockey News is following these developing issues in the CHL and will bring the latest news to these pages.

Contact lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com