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ECHL Colorado Eagles

Colorado Eagles Earn First Victory

October 22, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


Windsor, CO – The Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League (CHL) earned their first victory in franchise history in their first road game last night. The Eagles faced the Odessa Jackalopes and were victorious with a 3-2 final score, the front office announced today.

After almost an hour delay to the scheduled 7:00 p.m. start time (a result of lighting issues in the "Jack Shack"), the Eagles took an early lead when left winger Ryan Tobler scored the first goal of the game 5:31 into the first period. Defenseman Brent Thompson and center Riley Nelson each had an assist on the goal. Eighteen minutes and thirty-two seconds into the period another left winger, Karlis Zirnis, scored a shorthanded goal assisted by defenseman Jesse Cook and, again, center Nelson.

The Eagles had a strong lead going into the second period against the Jackalopes, until, only 0:43 into the period, Odessa's center Matt Cressman scored an unassisted goal, reducing the Eagles lead to one goal. Odessa followed their early goal with another goal 7:38 into the second, scored by center Chris Gignac, assisted by right wing Scott Green and defenseman Adam Doyle, evening the score, 2-2. The Eagles broke ahead 18:13 into the second when right wing Tobler scored another goal, this time a shorthanded goal, assisted by left wing Zirnis, and defenseman Scott Swanson, regaining a 3-2 lead. The second period was jammed full of penalty minutes for both sides. Eagles defenseman Cook and right wing Fraser Filipic both served major penalties for fisticuffs as did the Jackalopes defenseman Doyle (who also served a minor penalty) and defenseman Brad Currie. Eagles right wings Phil Crowe, Greg Pankewicz, and Filipic along with defenseman Cook all also served minor penalties (2 minutes). The abundance of Eagles penalties at one point left the Eagles facing a 5 on 3.

In the third period the Eagles maintained their lead, and attained their first ever victory with a final score of 3-2, making the Eagles season record 1-1-0.

Colorado Eagles goalie, Ryan Bach, had an incredible game facing 39 shots on goal, saving 37; while Odessa's goalie, Jeff Blair, faced only 19 shots on goal, saving 16.

As a result of Tobler's remarkable play in the match up against Odessa, the right winger was awarded as one of three CHL Metal Blade Power Players (Tobler shares the title with Blair Manning of the Oklahoma City Blazers and Jared Dumba of the Indianapolis Ice).

To be placed on the season ticket waiting list contact the Colorado Eagles front office at (970) 674-SHOT. The Colorado Eagles will be offering special group rates for the season. To make your group reservations call 970-686-SHOT. Available reserved seats for all other Colorado Eagles home games are priced at $16.00 (tickets are still available for the next home game, Wednesday, October 29 against Eagles division rival, the Oklahoma City Blazers). Single game tickets are also available at Club Level for $21. To reserve single game tickets call (877) 544-TIXX, go to ComcastTix.com, or visit the box offices at the Budweiser Events Center and Fort Fun in Fort Collins.

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