The Wichita Thunder captured three awards and placed in five overall categories in the Central Hockey League’s annual ‘Best of the Best’ poll.

The brand new INTRUST Bank Arena took home honors for ‘Best Arena’ and ‘Best Locker Rooms’.  The state-of-the-art facility opened early in the new year and hosted its first Thunder game on January 23rd in front of a franchise-record crowd of 13,412.

The new arena has drawn two other crowds in excess of 9,000, leading to a meteoric rise in the CHL attendance standings.  The Thunder ranked second in the league late last week after 9,074 fans watched the Thunder battle Arizona on March 1st.

The INTRUST Bank Arena also ranked third in the ‘Best Press Box’ category.  Wichita’s new press area features a unique two-level design that provides visiting broadcasters an eagle-eye view of the action.

Local Dondlinger Construction teamed Hunt Construction Group, Inc. in late 2007 to build the arena which is currently managed by SMG.

Thunder fans were voted the ‘Most Annoying’ for a seventh consecutive year, while Sonic Thunderdog finished a close second to Rio Grande Valley’s Sir-Sting-A-Lot for the league’s ‘Best Mascot’.  Thunderdog fell short by just two total points, and tied for the most first place votes.

Votes were compiled by league coaches, players, and media representatives.  You can read the full story on this year’s poll, written by Odessa Jackalopes’ beat writer Lee Scheide at www.centralhockeyleague.com.