USHL loses Battle of Rapid City

The decision has just come down from the powers that be in Rapid City: Civic center board ices USHL, chooses CHL By Scott Aust, Journal staff RAPID CITY -- Rapid City plans to welcome a Central Hockey League franchise next year. On Thursday, the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center board voted to begin negotiating a contract with the CHL instead of the United States Hockey League. Both leagues had shown an interest in putting a team in Rapid City, and board members said each is high quality. But in the end, the CHL was chosen because its local ownership group is in place while the USHL was still in the process of forming an ownership group. Brian Maliske, civic center general manager, said contract negotiations will likely begin next month. Both leagues made presentations to the board last month. The CHL is a 18-team mid-level professional hockey league headquartered in Phoenix. The USHL is a 12-team junior league based in Grand Forks, N.D., that develops players for the college and professional levels.