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CHL Colorado Eagles

Chris Stewart Wins CHL's Rick Kozuback Award

March 20, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


WINDSOR, Colo. - The Central Hockey League announced today that Colorado Eagles President, General Manager and Head Coach Chris Stewart has won the Rick Kozuback Award, presented annually to the "CHL owner, front office staff member, coach or player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, determination and commitment to the game, sport and business of hockey." Stewart has not only helped to build one of the country's top minor-league organizations, but he's also won two league championships in the past three years and been a driving force in the advancement of youth hockey in Northern Colorado.

This season, Stewart has led the Eagles to within a single point of their fifth division championship in five years after undergoing major offseason back surgery. If the Eagles earn their fifth consecutive playoff bid, the team will defend their league title as the Northern Conference's second seed in the playoffs that begin next week.

In addition to his obvious contributions with the Colorado Eagles, Stewart has also been instrumental in helping to advance the Central Hockey League and youth hockey in Northern Colorado in the past year. Stewart was a key member of talks that led the league to select the Eagles as next season's All-Star Game host. He has also been recognized for his work with Northern Colorado Youth Hockey (NCYH), the NoCo Ice Center and the Junior Eagles. Stewart was the keynote speaker at the annual NCYH banquet earlier this month, where he was also given an award for his support of the organization.

Underlying all of his success, commitment and hard work this past year is the fact that Stewart was bedridden for four months after undergoing a serious back surgery that was so rare and cutting-edge it required FDA approval. Even while bedridden, Stewart helped guide the franchise (both the front office and the team) as much as he could, including the added workload he picked up when team founder Ralph Backstrom retired. With Backstrom's retirement in the offseason, Stewart took on the added titles of President and General Manager as well as the impossible job of trying to fill the hockey legend's shoes. Despite his grueling recuperation, Stewart never backed away from his ever-increasing duties, showing his strong commitment to the organization that depends so heavily on him.

Stewart, however, couldn't fight his natural desire to be involved with all aspects of his job and his love of the game and he pushed himself to return in astonishing time considering the extent of his surgery. He was back in the office by Thanksgiving, waiting for his back to allow him to handle the road trips associated with minor-league hockey. Despite the great work of Interim Head Coach, Ryan Bach, Stewart's absence behind the bench was obvious as the team stepped up their game once he returned on December 21. At the time of his return, the Eagles were in second place in the Northwest Division (battling with Oklahoma City to stay out of third) and out of a playoff spot. By March, the Eagles had overtaken the impressively improved Rocky Mountain Rage (Colorado trailed Rocky Mountain by as many as 10 points) for first place in the Division and were within reach of the Conference's second seed.

- Founder Ralph Backstrom -

"Chris Stewart's perseverance, dedication and commitment to the game are unquestioned. In addition to the Colorado Eagles, he's always concerned about the welfare of the game and providing the best entertainment for the fans, along with helping the sport grow - especially at the grassroots level - in Northern Colorado."

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