CHL Colorado Eagles

Colorado Eagles Week In Review

October 19, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


Monday, October 12; Eagles Announce Preseason Cuts

WINDSOR, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced today several cuts from their preseason roster. Released over the weekend were the following players: Tyler Barr, Jeff Bieber, Baylor Dieter, Derek Hansberry, Mike Nesdill and Clay Thoring.

The Eagles' roster now stands at 22 and must be pared down to 19 players by the league's roster deadline of 2 p.m. (MST) Thursday, Oct. 15.

Monday, October 12; This Season's NoCo Show Now Airing

Fans,

The Colorado Eagles NoCo Hockey Show is back for another season! October's season-opening episode is now airing on Altitude Sports & Entertainment. The half-hour monthly show enters its third season of bringing you the best in Eagles off-ice entertainment. The Voice of the Eagles, Kevin McGlue, hosts the show that gives fans an inside look at the team on and off the ice with a mix of humorous segments, behind-the-scenes features, interviews and hockey highlights.

This months show features: an interview with former team Captain-turned Assistant Coach Greg Pankewicz and several of the original Eagles, the continuation of Ed McGrane in "Don't Quit Your Day Job" (this time working at Wendy's), a new game show segment titled "Plus/Minus" and Lauren Gardner tests several Eagles' I.Q.'s in The Lightning Round.

Below is a full list of this months airings:

Sunday, Oct. 11: 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12: 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15: 2:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16: 7:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17: 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 18: 10:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19: 10:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23: 7:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26: 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27: 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28: 7 p.m.

Be sure to check your local listings for Altitude Sports & Entertainment and additional Colorado Eagles hockey coverage!

Wednesday, October 14; CHL TV Debuts With Free Night Friday

CHL-TV Set to Debut on Friday with Free Night Pricing Packages Announced for 2009-10 Regular Season

(LEAGUE RELEASE - Tempe, Arizona) - The Central Hockey League announced today the pricing for individual games and packages for the 2009-10 season of CHL-TV. In August, the CHL announced its partnership with INSINC providing fans with the ultimate viewing experience on the brand-new CHL-TV.

All seven games on the CHL's Opening Night will be available for FREE to fans. To take advantage of this FREE offer, fans need to enter access code chltv on the CHL-TV launch page accessible at http://chltv.insinc.com .

Fans can purchase a CHL-TV Season Pass for only $299.95 which gives access to all CHL games (live and archived) from all teams throughout the regular season. As a special promotion, fans who purchase a CHL-TV Season Pass before October 30, 2009 will receive 300 CHL Loyalty Rewards points (to learn more about the CHL's Loyalty Rewards program visit www.chlpoints.com ).

Other packages available include the Monthly Complete Pass for $57.95 and the Monthly Live Pass for $34.95. The 'complete' pass gives fans access to all live and archived games for that particular month and the 'live' pass covers all live games for t

As a special reward for CHL team's season ticket holders, a Season Ticket Holder's Pass is available for $89.95 that will give fans access to all 32 of their team's road contests. This special pass is available to team's season ticket holders only.

Individual games can be purchased on a pay-per-view basis for $5.95 and all archived games are available for $3.95 per game.

About the CHL The CHL will be entering its 18th season on Friday, October 16, with 15 active member teams across nine states. The CHL saw close to two million fans attend games during the 2008-09 season and has led North American professional 'AA' hockey leagues in average attendance in six of the past eight seasons. The CHL is administered by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Global Entertainment Corporation (Global Stock Symbol: GNTP) a company engaged in sports management, multi-purpose events and entertainment center and related real estate development, facility and venue management and marketing, and venue ticketing. For more information about the CHL visit the league's website at www.centralhockeyleague.com .

About INSINC INSINC is a leading webcasting company, enabling enterprises and content owners to distribute and monetize online video which can help improve communications, increase efficiencies and reduce costs. Founded in 1997, the Company's core business is to provide live and archived video content to audiences online with integrated pay-per-view and commerce transaction processing, delivered to geographically dispersed audiences.

*SPECIAL NOTE* For Eagles games televised on Altitude Sports & Entertainment, CHL TV will be blacked out in areas within Altitude's 10-state broadcast region.

Wednesday, October 14; Norm Jones, Mark Rycroft To Handle Eagles' TV Duties Friday

WINDSOR, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced today that Norm Jones and Mark Rycroft will handle the play-by-play and color commentary duties for Friday night's Eagles game televised on Altitude Sports & Entertainment. The 2009-10 CHL season gets under way with a President's Cup Finals rematch between the Eagles and the Texas Brahmas at the Budweiser Events Center at 7 p.m.

Kevin McGlue (The Voice of the Eagles) and Ryan Bach (the Eagles' goaltending coach) will handle the play-by-play and color duties on the radio home of the Eagles, 107.9 The Bear.

Tickets for all of this season's games are on sale now and can be purchased at the Budweiser Events Center box office, www.ComcastTix.com, 1-877-544-TIXX (8499), the Eagles Office in Water Valley or through any ComcastTIX Outlet.

About Norm Jones and Mark Rycroft Norm Jones - Norm Jones has enjoyed a diverse and illustrious career in Colorado sports broadcasting, both as an administrator and announcer -- including his work with the Eagles during the 2004-05 NHL lockout season.

Jones began his broadcasting career in 1970 in Colorado Springs, where he was the radio and television play-by-play and color personality for the Colorado College hockey team for three seasons. His next stop was the Denver Spurs minor league hockey team, where he served as Director of Public Relations and radio announcer.

In 1979, Jones made the jump to the National Hockey League when he joined the Colorado Rockies as Director of Broadcasting, while also performing the dual role as television and radio announcer for the club. Prior to joining the Rockies, Norm produced radio broadcasts for the Denver Broncos and University of Colorado football games on 850-KOA between 1976 and 1979.

When "Rocky Hockey" moved to New Jersey in 1982, Jones spent the next 13 years as the ice hockey voice of his alma mater, the University of Denver Pioneer before joining the Denver Grizzles in 1994 as Director of Broadcasting and television play-by-play announcer.

Jones made a return to the NHL with the birth of the Avalanche and was a part of their broadcast crew, handling both play-by-play and color duties through last season.

Mark Rycroft - Mark Rycroft is a University of Denver alumnus (class of '01) and a former NHL player. Rycroft signed his first NHL contract with the St. Louis Blues in 2000 and made his NHL debut the following season. He eventually found his way back to Denver when he signed as a free agent with the Colorado Avalanche in 2006. After playing in 226 NHL games, Rycroft hung up his skates and has since spent his time as a studio analyst for Altitude and the Avalanche, in addition to running his own business in Denver.

Wednesday, October 14; Eagles Trim Roster, Waive Goalie Raeder

WINDSOR, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced today that they've waived rookie netminder Doug Raeder. Their roster now stands at 21 and must be pared to 19 by the league's deadline of 2 p.m. (MST) Thursday.

Raeder played in just over half of the Eagles' 3-1 preseason win last Friday, allowing the team's only goal against on a power play breakaway. He stopped 10 of 11 shots in 30 minutes, 22 seconds of ice time.

Thursday, October 15; Eagles Finalize Season-Opening Roster

WINDSOR, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced today their season-opening roster in accordance with the league's afternoon deadline. Each CHL team was required to pare their camp rosters to 19 active players by 3 p.m. (CST) in preparation for the start of the 2009-10 season on Friday.

The full Eagles roster is broken down below.

Tickets for all of this season's games are on sale now and can be purchased at the Budweiser Events Center box office, www.ComcastTix.com, 1-877-544-TIXX (8499), the Eagles Office in Water Valley or through any ComcastTIX Outlet.

Colorado Eagles Season-Opening Roster

Forwards: *Jay Birnie *Fraser Filipic Shane Foster Steve Haddon Adam Hogg *Brett Lutes Ed McGrane Ryan McLeod Riley Nelson Alex Penner Ryan Tobler Dan Welch Kevin Ulanski

Defensemen: Jason Beatty Jim Jackson Felipe Larranaga Jason Lundmark Aaron Schneekloth Brett Thurston

Goaltenders: Mike Mole Andrew Penner

* - Inactive players

Thursday, October 15; Eagles Announce Opening Night Festivities

Fans,

It's been a long offseason and it's FINALLY time for Eagles Hockey! We're kicking off the 2009-10 season in a big way with a President's Cup Finals rematch against the Texas Brahmas on back-to-back nights this Friday and Saturday.

For those of you not able to make it to the season opener Friday night, we're pleased to inform you that it will be carried live on Altitude Sports & Entertainment (available on DirecTV, Dish Network, Comcast cable and other cable providers).

For those of you attending Friday night's Budweiser Opening Night, we recommend you arrive early to enjoy all of the following festivities:

* FREE Budweiser giveaways (t-shirts and hats) handed out throughout the game

* NEW Bud Light Golden Wheat sampling stations on the concourse

* FRESH Budweiser draft products, brewed specifically the day of the game at the Fort Collins brewery

* An "Eagles" cover band (The Long Run) will be performing in the main lobby from 5:30-7 p.m.

* Player introductions will be accompanied by special pyrotechnics and a new intro video

* We'll be unveiling our Northwest Division and Governors' Cup championship banners earned last season

* A very special retirement ceremony for #89 Greg Pankewicz

* The formal introduction of the 2009-10 Pioneer Press Colorado Eagles Chicks

* This year's Chuck-A-Puck pot will start at $2,500

* Upon exit, fans will receive the annual Budweiser commemorative pint glass (redemption tickets handed out upon entrance)

Friday, October 16; Eagles Gain Point In Home Opener

LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles gained a point in a, 3-2, overtime loss to the Texas Brahmas on a night when the host team raised their sixth Northwest Division championship and third Governors' Cup championship banners in a pregame ceremony. Also prior to the game, the Eagles retired the first player number in franchise history when now-Assistant Coach Greg Pankewicz 's #89 was hung from the rafters.

As would be expected, the rematch of last season's President's Cup Finals combatants was a close contest, and it started out with an even first period as the champion Brahmas had a slight edge in both shots (11-10) and goals (1-0) after the first 20 minutes of play.

Texas got the opening goal 6:51 in on a broken play after a turnover at the Colorado blue line. The puck ended up at the center of the zone where Pete Rouleau found Grant Jacobsen stationed at the right side of the net for a one-timer tap-in.

The second period saw plenty of special teams action with eight total penalties being called and one power-play and one shorthanded goal each being tallied. The Eagles tied the game at 1 just after 36 seconds of a two-man advantage expired when Ryan Tobler found the franchise's newest captain, Riley Nelson , in the slot for a shot past Brett Jaeger 's glove at 7:38.

But just one minute later, the Brahmas got back on top after Ed McGrane was taken down behind his own net and - as he was falling - threw a desperation pass up the slot. The pass was intercepted in front of the net by Jacobsen who deposited it behind Andrew Penner for a short-handed goal and his second score of the game.

Nelson got a second goal of his own to tie the game back up at 2 in the third period when he tapped home his own rebound 11 minutes in. But neither team could score in the final nine minutes and the game went to overtime.

Anders Strome punched in a power-play goal 67 seconds into the extra frame to notch the opening night victory for the defending champs. The two teams will meet again Saturday night at the Budweiser Events Center; puck-drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, October 17; Nelson Reaches Milestone in Eagles Win

LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the President's Cup champion Texas Brahmas, 5-2, to take three of four points from their opening weekend series. Ryan McLeod netted a pair of goals and Riley Nelson recorded his 500th point in a Colorado sweater in the victory.

Colorado dominated the opening frame, building a 12-4 edge in shots, and the scoring started at 6:29 when Ryan Tobler picked up where he left of last season -- with a power-play goal. The Colorado veteran converted a cross-crease feed from Kevin Ulanski for his third point (1-2-3) of the young season.

Then, at 13:46, it took the Eagles penalty-killers just eight seconds of their first kill to net the team's first shorthanded goal of the year. McLeod won a faceoff in the left circle of his own end and Ed McGrane stormed up the ice with the puck. McLeod caught up and the two converted the rush when the first-year Eagle put home his own rebound.

The Brahmas evened play in the second period, but couldn't get a puck past Andrew Penner and the game went into the third period with Colorado up 2-0.

McLeod got his second goal of the night by smacking home a loose puck at the left side of the net just 29 seconds into the third to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead. But the Brahmas' Kevin McLeod finally got his team on the board with a shorthanded tally midway through the frame by snapping a shot high past Penner from atop the left circle.

Nelson - the Eagles' new captain - answered right back 18 seconds later with a power play blast from the high slot, giving him 500 points in his Eagles career (203-297-500). Just under a minute and a half later, AJ Gale cut the Colorado lead in half with Texas' third short-handed goal of the weekend.

Steve Haddon added an empty-netter to account for the final margin of victory and cement the home team's win. Of the 12 goals scored in the two-game set, eight came via special teams (four on the power play, four short handed).

The Week Ahead

Friday, October 23; Expansion Mavericks Make Trip to BEC

The expansion Missouri Mavericks will make their first trip to the Budweiser Events Center as the two teams meet for the first time. Missouri dropped both of their games over the opening weekend to last year's expansion club -- the Rapid City Rush. Although the uniforms will look brand new, a lot of the names and faces will be familiar as several of the players on the Mavericks' roster made the short journey from Oklahoma City with the disbanding of the Blazers (the brothers Vandermeer (Bill & Ted), Chad Hinz, Doug Groenestege and Tyler Fleck).

Notable Numbers

CONGRATS CAPTAIN - After inheriting the team's captaincy from Greg Pankewicz in the offseason, Riley Nelson made his first weekend as the Eagles' third ever captain a memorable one. In addition to scoring both of Colorado's goals in the home-opener, Nelson added an assist and a goal in Saturday night's win, becoming the first player to reach the 500-point milestone (203-297-500) in an Eagles sweater.

POWERFUL TRIO - With two power-play goals over the weekend, Riley Nelson took the franchise lead for man-advantage markers in a career with 69. He surpassed the recently-retired Greg Pankewicz (68), and both will likely be soon overtaken by Ryan Tobler (67). Tobler picked up where he left off last season -- when he led the league with 23 power-play scores -- with a power-play goal to open the scoring on Saturday night.

MAC ATTACK - It didn't take long for new Eagles linemates Ed McGrane and Ryan McLeod to start clicking together. After going scoreless with a combined -2 plus/minus rating in the season opener, the two teamed up for four points in Saturday night's rematch. McGrane assisted on both of McLeod's goals -- one on the penalty kill.

SOMETHING SPECIAL - Of the 12 combined goals in the weekend rematch of last season's President's Cup Finals, eight came via special teams (66%). Four were scored on the power play (three by Colorado) and four were shorthanded tallies (three by Texas).

THEY'RE JUST KILLER - Recent history will show that the Brahmas are a threat to score while shorthanded -- they tied the Eagles for the league lead with 19 shorties last season -- but Colorado can't be happy with the fact that Texas scored three shorthanded goals in two games over the weekend. The two shorties allowed on Saturday night matched an Eagles record for most shorties given up in a single game.




Central Hockey League Stories from October 19, 2009


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