CHL Colorado Eagles

Colorado Eagles Week In Review

October 26, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


Tuesday, October 20; Check Out the Eagles Auction Site

Eagles fans,

If you've ever checked out our auction site, you know it's a great place to find unique Eagles items (from autographed memorabilia to Zamboni rides) and benefit a great cause at the same time. All of the proceeds raised through the site benefit the Colorado Eagles Foundation and in turn, several deserving local causes. We constantly update the items throughout the season, so be sure to check back often!

If you haven't checked out our auction site...now's the time!

Tuesday, October 20; Jim Jackson Takes Flight...to Europe

WINDSOR, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced today that defenseman Jim Jackson has left the team to play in the Czech Elite League. Jackson accumulated two assists in as many games over the season's opening weekend.

Wednesday, October 21; Take Part in Our Pumpkin Carving Contest!

Fans,

Take part in our Colorado Eagles pumpkin carving contest and you could win FREE tickets to the Nov. 15 game against the Allen Americans and your work of art could be featured on the videoboard Oct. 30th.

Step 1: Download and print off one of four stencils provided by the Eagles (they can be found on our Web site)...or be creative and come up with your own hockey design.

Step 2 - Carve your pumpkin, take a photo, and submit it to the Colorado Eagles via email to tickets@coloradoeagles.com by Tuesday, October 27th. Be sure to put "Pumpkin Carving Contest" in the subject line and also include your name, age and where you are from in the email.

Step 3 - The Eagles will then feature selected pumpkin photos on the videoboard at the game on Oct. 30th.

All photos will be featured on the Colorado Eagles Web site in the photo gallery named Halloween 2009.

***All entries submitted will be entered into a drawing for four tickets to the Sunday, November 15th game vs. the Allen Americans.***

Wednesday, October 21; Eagles Trade for Defenseman Dulle

WINDSOR, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced today that they've acquired defenseman Kurtis Dulle (pronounced: doo-lee) from the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in exchange for future considerations. The trade comes just 24 hours after defenseman Jim Jackson left Colorado for the Czech Elite League.

Dulle, just entering his sixth professional season, was the 'Bees' second-highest scoring blueliner last year (trailing only All-Star Nicolas Dumoulin) and ranked second overall in power-play assists. The 5-foot-11-inch, 196-pounder has averaged nearly half a point per game in his career (133 points in 274 games).

Friday, October 23; Eagles Triple Stack Mavericks, 6-2

LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the Missouri Mavericks, 6-2, in the teams' first ever meeting. Mike Mole made a good impression in his first start in net for Colorado, stopping 27 of 29 shots in his debut against the expansion franchise.

One week after the team's former captain (Greg Pankewicz) was honored in a pregame ceremony, the current captain -- Riley Nelson -- was honored in his own; Nelson was presented with a silver hockey stick for reaching 500 points as an Eagle in their last game.

Nelson had a big hand in getting the Eagles on the board first, six minutes into the opening frame, when he took a long lead pass from Brett Thurston and streaked into the offensive zone. Doug Groenestege got his glove on Nelson's shot, but not enough to snare it, and Kevin Ulanski was able to poke it home before the Missouri netminder could smother it in the crease.

The Mavericks evened the score at 1 four minutes into the second period, just after their third power play had expired. Ted Vandermeer deflected a Chad Hinz shot, causing it to slide along the ice between Mole's legs.

But Nelson put his team back on top with a shorthanded tally midway through the second when his shot from high in the left circle pin-balled off bodies in front of Groenestege and into the net. Ryan McLeod got his third goal of the season at 18:46 after Dan Welch powered his way down the right wing and sent a pass across the ice before McLeod put a blind, spinning backhander top shelf.

Colorado made it 4-1 five minutes into the third period with a power-play goal when Ed McGrane and Ulanski worked a give-and-go down the left wing before finding Ryan Tobler alone in the low slot for an easy score. And a minute and a half later they stretched their lead even more as Nelson got his second of the night after working the puck out of the left corner and making his way to the front of the net for a backhander past the Mavericks' goalie.

Nick Sirota and Derek Pallardy combined for a pretty play at 11:21 for Missouri's second goal of the night. As Sirota made his way down the left wing, Pallardy found him with a pass from the slot, and as Sirota drove to the net he tucked his own backhander into the cage. Adam Hogg accounted for the final goal of the game -- giving the home crowd their first successful Wendy's Six Goal Shootout night of the season -- when he stretched out to nudge the puck past a down-and-out-of-position Groenestege with just over four minutes left in the game.

The Eagles will go an entire week before playing their next game against the Rapid City Rush on Friday, Oct. 30 at the Budweiser Events Center.

The Week Ahead

Friday, October 30; Rival Rapid City Makes Trip to BEC With the Rocky Mountain Rage out of the Central Hockey League, one could argue that the Rapid City Rush have become the Eagles' de-facto rival both regionally and competitively. Truth be told, the Rush built quite a rivalry with the Eagles last season -- their first in the league -- by playing Colorado tough all year long. In 12 total meetings (more than any other Eagles opponent), Colorado went 9-3-0, but the games were much more competitive than the final record shows. Three of the contests went to a shootout and five overall were decided by a single goal.

Notable Numbers

SLOW START, STRONG START - The Eagles' season is undergoing an odd start with just four total games in the first three weeks. Moreover, the team will endure a season-long homestand of five games right out of the gates. All of that, though, should help Colorado get off to a strong start as they have a .803 winning percentage all-time at the Budweiser Events Center. Their next home win will be the 150th regular season victory in franchise history (149-32-12).

CARRYING THE LOAD - The Eagles' line of Kevin Ulanski-Riley Nelson-Ryan Tobler is clicking right out of the gates, as the three players have combined for over 50% of the team's overall points (19 of 35). On top of that, Nelson and Tobler have recorded multiple points in each game so far, and Ulanski had a 4-point night on Friday.

RACKING UP THE MILEStones - After hitting the 500-point mark in his Eagles career on Saturday, Oct. 17, Riley Nelson is closing in on a couple more personal and team milestones. He is just two assists away from 300 as an Eagle, and just two goals away from tying Greg Pankewicz for the team's all-time goals mark of 207.

THE GOOD AND THE BAD - The Eagles penalty killing unit is tied for first in the league after allowing just one power-play goal through three games. Overall, Colorado has stopped 16 of 17 (94%) opposing power plays, and their past 10 in a row. The lone goal, however, was a big one since it came in overtime of the season-opener. And the PK still has some things to work on as they've allowed a league-leading three short-handed goals (all in the first two games against Texas).

RYAN McLUTCH - Eagles newcomer Ryan McLeod has showed an early knack for being at the right place at the right time, netting both of Colorado's game-winning goals on the young season (that ties him for the lead league).

Check out the Colorado Eagles Statistics



Central Hockey League Stories from October 26, 2009


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