CHL Colorado Eagles

Colorado Eagles Week In Review

Published on January 18, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


Week in Review

Tuesday, January 12; Nelson, Schneekloth Named All-Star Captains

(LEAGUE RELEASE - Tempe, Arizona) - The Central Hockey League announced today that the Captains for the 2010 CHL All-Star Game scheduled for Wednesday, January 13 in Laredo, Texas at the Laredo Entertainment Center. The game will feature a South Texas All-Star Team comprised of players from Laredo, Corpus Christi and Rio Grande Valley versus a CHL All-Star Team featuring a team of players from the remaining 12 CHL teams. The Captain for the South Texas team will be Laredo's Jeff Bes and for the CHL Team, Colorado's Riley Nelson will wear the 'C'.

Bes is playing in his fourth all-star game (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010) and is a two-time CHL Most Valuable Player (2004, 2008). The Tillsonburg, Ontario native currently leads the Bucks in scoring with 38 points (11-2738).

The two Alternate Captains ('A') for the South Texas team will be Justin Quenneville of Corpus Christi and Jesse Bennefield of Rio Grande Valley.

Nelson is playing in his third all-star game (2007, 2009, 2010) and was a member of the 2009 All-CHL Team. The Cranbrook, British Columbia native is currently second in the CHL in scoring with 48 points (18-3048) and is second with a +23 plus/minus rating.

The two gentlemen wearing the 'A' sweaters for the CHL Team will be Mississippi's Derek Landmesser and Colorado's Aaron Schneekloth.

Wednesday, January 13; Andrew Penner Receives AHL Call-up

WINDSOR, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced today that goaltender Andrew Penner has received a call-up to the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League. The Falcons are the AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers.

"This is a great opportunity for Andrew to get noticed at the next level and possibly advance his career," said Colorado Eagles president & general manager Chris Stewart. "We're proud of him and support all of our players in such a situation. At the same time, this is a great chance for Mike Mole to continue showing that he's an extremely capable goaltender, starting this weekend against the Mudbugs."

Penner has accumulated a record of 13-4-2 this season with a goals-against average of 2.95 and a save percentage of.906. Including last season, Penner's career numbers with the Eagles are 43-10-5 with a 2.77 GAA and a.912 SV%. He is one win away from setting a new franchise record for wins in a career (currently tied with Paulo Colaiacovo).

"I'm excited about the opportunity and also flattered that teams at the AHL and NHL level are looking in the CHL for talent," said Penner. "I think it speaks volumes about the Eagles organization as a whole and their reputation."

Wednesday, January 13; South Texas All-Stars win 2010 CHL All-Star Game, 9-4

(LEAGUE RELEASE - Laredo, Texas) - The host team Laredo Bucks and its South Texas partners put on a show for the fans at the Laredo Entertainment Center in the 2010 CHL All-Star Game with a 9-4 victory over the CHL All-Stars.

The South Texas squad was led by the Sher-Wood/TPS Most Valuable Player, rookie forward Sean Muncy from Rio Grande Valley who finished the game with two goals and two assists leading all players with four points. The CHL All-Star player that earned their Sher-Wood/TPS Most Valuable Player award was Odessa goaltender Joel Martin who stopped 27 of 28 shots in the first period and left the game with a 2-1 lead.

The game format featured a team of all-stars from South Texas (players from Laredo, Corpus Christi and Rio Grande Valley) taking on a CHL All-Star team.

The star of the early going was Martin who leads the CHL with a 2.26 goals against average and it showed. He made three huge saves in the games first four minutes and then at the 14:50 mark robbed hometown heroes Jeff Bes and Darryl Smith on consecutive shots. The South Texas team registered 11 of the games first 12 shots.

It was the 13th shot however that struck gold as the Colorado Eagles connection gave the CHL All-Stars an early 1-0 lead. Defenseman Aaron Schneekloth scored the goal,, as he drove the net and teammate Riley Nelson fed him for his first all-star goal and fifth all-star point in his fourth appearance. Nelson and Kevin Ulanski (Colorado) drew the assists at the 6:09 mark of the first period.

The CHL made it 2-0 thanks to a laser shot from Arizona defenseman Jon Landry, playing in his first CHL All-Star game, that beat Rio Grande Valley goaltender Andy Franck high on the glove side. For Franck, it was his third straight all-star start (a CHL record). Allens two all-stars, Bruce Graham and Justin Bowers earned the assists at the 8:05 mark.

Martin seemed invincible until there was a minute and a half remaining in the period as he turned away 25 straight shots before Darryl Smith (Laredo) beat him just under the crossbar for his second career all-star goal. Corpus Christis Kyle Peto and Justin Quenneville had the assists.

The score ended up 2-1 after the first 20 minutes with Martin stealing the show with 27 saves, some of which were acrobatic getting the crowd out of their seats. The 27 saves by Martin and 28 shots by the South Texas team both were the most in a single period since the CHL/WPHL merger.

South Texas tied the score quickly in the second period when Corpus Christis Jereme Tendler found a small opening top shelf beating Bossier-Shreveports Ken Carroll making the score 2-2. Ryan Garbutt (Corpus Christi) drew the lone helper at the 2:01 mark of the period.

Shortly thereafter, the South Texas squad took their first lead thanks to a nifty play that saw Evan Schwabe (Laredo) tuck a shot by Carroll that eventual ricochet off an opponent stick and across the line. Peto earned the only assist for his second point of the game at the 5:46 mark of the second period.

Franck left the game for the South Texas team at the midway point of the period after stopping 14 of 16 shots and sitting in line for the win.

Before the end of the period, RGVs Sean Muncy scored his first if two on the night, assisted by Peto and Quenneville, at the 18:33 mark of the second period making the score 4-2 after 40 minutes of play.

Carroll finished his all-star time with 13 saves on 16 shots.

Compared to the first two periods, the flood gates opened in the final frame as seven total goals were scored.

Muncy scored his second of the game and the eventual game winner just 1:21 into the period with Grant Goeckner-Zoeller notching the lone assist making the score 5-2. It was the first of three points in the final period for Goeckner-Zoeller.

South Texas started stretching their lead midway through the final period as a one-timer from Jesse Bennefield made the score 6-2 with Goeckner-Zoeller and Jason Tessier earning the assists.

Garbutt got into the goal game at the 11:10 mark as the blowout was on. Quenneville and Muncy drew the assists on the goal that made the score 7-2. The interesting thing about Garbutts goal is that it came on the power play as Tulsas T.J. Caig was whistled for tripping resulting in the only penalty of the game.

The two teams exchanged goals as the period wound down with Caig and Jeff Christian (Missouri) scoring goals for the CHL All-Stars and Laredos Jeff Bes and Goeckner-Zoeller scoring for the South Texas team.

Kevin Nastiuk (Corpus Christi) finished his half-game with 19 saves on 21 shots and Rapid Citys Danny Battochio finished his period of play turning aside 14 of 19 shots.

Peto (0-33), Quenneville (0-33) and Goeckner-Zoeller (1-23) all finished with three points in the game.

The final shots on goal reflected the score as South Texas out-gunned the CHL All-Stars 63-37.

Thursday, January 14; Eagles Sign Cey as Second Goalie

WINDSOR, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced today that they have signed Morgan Cey as the second goaltender on their roster, filling the spot vacated yesterday when Andrew Penner received a call-up to the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League.

Cey spent the 2008-09 season with the Eagles, posting a record of 15-9-1 with a goals-against average of 3.40 and a save percentage of.897. Since the end of last season, the Notre Dame alumnus has been working as the goaltending instructor for the Northern Colorado Youth Hockey Junior Eagles at the NoCo Ice Center.

Friday, January 15; Eagles Beat 'Bugs Again

LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles returned home for the first time in the calendar year and picked up their first win of 2010 with a 4-3 victory over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. It marked the eighth win in a row for Colorado in the series, with seven of the eight games being decided by just one goal.

The Eagles and Mudbugs skated to a 2-2 tie in the first period, but it was Colorado who carried the majority of the play, out-shooting the 'Bugs 16-5. Alex Penner put the home team on top with the opening goal at 3:20 with a tally from the doorstep. Defenseman Brett Thurston carried the puck down the right wing and sent a dish-pass to Penner in the low slot. The forward then kicked the puck to his stick and beat John DeCaro with a forehand shot from in front.

Joe Ori tied the game on Bossier-Shreveport's first shot of the period at 8:20 when he beat Mike Mole with a wraparound goal. Shawn Limpright then made it 2-1 for the Mudbugs at 16:14 on their fifth and final shot of the frame with a power-play tally. Limpright received a pass from Brett Smith and one-timed it from between the right faceoff circle and the crease.

But the Eagles tied it back up with a power-play goal of their own in the final minute of the first when Riley Nelson sent a pass from low in the right circle to fellow-All-Star starter Aaron Schneekloth pinching down the slot. The defenseman then snapped a shot top shelf past DeCaro from between the circles to make it 2-all.

Colorado scored another pair of goals in the second period to take a 4-2 lead into the third. Both goals came from the second line and each came in the first and final minute of the second stanza respectively. Brett Lutes made it 3-2 just 15 seconds in when his shot from above the left circle went into the top right corner of the net above DeCaro's left shoulder.

Both teams killed their fair share of penalties in the middle frame, as neither club was able to take advantage. And with 59 seconds left in the second, Ryan McLeod put home an Ed McGrane rebound that the 'Bugs' netminder had kicked out to his left to make it 4-2.

Travis Clayton got the final goal of the game 12:19 into the third period when he put the puck inside the far post, beating Mole's left toe with a shot from below the left circle. The Eagles held on from there, keeping Bossier-Shreveport off the scoreboard as the clock wound down.

Saturday, January 16; All-Star Jersey Auction on eBay

Eagles Fans,

The 2010 CHL All-Star Jersey auction is now running! Jerseys from each player on the South Texas All-Star and CHL All-Star teams -- including the Eagles' Riley Nelson, Aaron Schneekloth and Kevin Ulanski -- can be found on eBay.com from Saturday, Jan. 16th thru Tuesday, Jan. 26th.

The jerseys can be found here.

The minimum auction bid is $200.

For more information, please contact Tina Mansinghani with the Laredo Bucks at 956-523-6591.

Saturday, January 16; Eagles Net Another One-Goal Win Over 'Bugs

LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, 5-4, in overtime, bringing the Eagles their ninth straight win over the 'Bugs (including their playoff sweep last year). The Mudbugs forced overtime with a goal in the final minute before Ryan McLeod ended the affair with an overtime tally, marking his second game-winning goal in as many nights against Bossier-Shreveport.

The Eagles got out to a quick two-goal lead, both courtesy of Adam Hogg. The third-line center got the first just 36 seconds in with a laser, top shelf from the left faceoff dot. The second came from a similar spot, but with an opposite shot as Hogg beat Ken Carroll low at 3:10. Jay Birnie made the goal possible with a nifty entry into the offensive zone along the right wing moments earlier.

The two teams then traded power-play goals midway through the opening frame. Mark Johnson got the Mudbugs on the board at 8:49 by knocking in a rebound from the right side of the slot. Bossier-Shreveport then had a goal waived off at 11:43 when referee Peter Friesema ruled that it was kicked past Mike Mole.

The Eagles got an ensuing power play when Mudbugs Head Coach Scott Muscutt was assessed a bench minor for debating the ruling, and Jim Jackson put the home team up 3-1 with a goal on the man-advantage when the defenseman chipped home a backhander from the left side of the crease.

But the Mudbugs made it 3-2 with a goal at 15:25 when Justin Aikins sent a short feed from the left side of the crease to an uncovered David Rutherford at the opposite side of the paint for an easy tap-in.

Each club scored a goal in the second period to enter the third frame 4-3 in favor of the Eagles. Jackson got his second goal of the game at 11:19 when Brett Lutes whiffed on a McLeod pass into the high slot and the disc ended up on the defenseman's stick low in the right circle.

The 'Bugs answered just under three minutes later after a turnover at the blue line led to a rush into the Eagles' defensive zone. Several players converged at the net and Aikins was able to chip the puck past Mole on the third whack by a Mudbugs player.

Both squads played solid defense in the third period and the game looked like it would end 4-3 before the 'Bugs struck to tie it up with an extra attacker in the final minute. Mark Johnson forced overtime when his shot from the right hash marks made its way through a slew of bodies in front of the Eagles' net with 35.8 seconds remaining in regulation.

Jackson ended his three-point night by circling behind the 'Bugs net with the puck and sending a pass across the slot to McLeod at the left dot. The forward took his time and placed the puck inside the far post to secure the second point for the Eagles 2:04 into the overtime frame.

The Northern Conference-leading Eagles' next two games are both at home against the Laredo Bucks on Wednesday (Jan. 20) and Friday (Jan. 22).

The Week Ahead

Wednesday, January 20 & Friday, January 22; Eagles, Bucks Clash for Final Time This Season Colorado begins a busy week with a pair of games against Southern Conference rival Laredo. The Bucks will visit the Budweiser Events Center for games Wednesday and Friday. The Eagles are 5-4-2 all-time against the Bucks in the regular season, with a home record of 3-1-0. Laredo enters the week in fourth place in the Southern Conference, four points behind Texas and three ahead of Rio Grande Valley. The Bucks beat the Eagles 6-5 in Laredo on Jan. 8th, but have since been shutout in two of their three games played -- both against Corpus Christi.

Saturday, January 23 & Sunday, January 24; Colorado Finishes Four-Games-in-Five-Days Stretch With Pair in Amarillo Colorado will travel to Amarillo for a pair of games Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. The Eagles are 4-0-0 so far this season against the Gorillas, including two wins in Amarillo (a venue where they historically struggled). Coming into the year, Colorado was just 6-5-2 in the Amarillo Civic Center and had barely out-scored the Gorillas 39-37 all-time. Those numbers come into focus when looking at the Eagles' all-time overall record against Amarillo (22-6-4, with a goal margin of 145-87).

Notable Numbers

ON THE MOVE - The Eagles waived rookie forward Shane Foster on Monday. Foster played in just 14 games for Colorado, registering two assists, five penalty minutes and a minus-three plus/minus rating.

FOUR SCORE - The Eagles are undefeated in regulation when they score at least four goals in a game (17-0-1), but have a losing record when scoring three or fewer (6-7-2). Colorado had a similar patter last season under Kevin McClelland when their splits were 34-3-2 & 11-12-2 respectively.

BACK-TO-BACK - Colorado forward Ryan McLeod netted both of the game-winning goals in the Eagles' weekend sweep of the Mudbugs. It marked the second time this season that the first-year Eagle has scored the winner in back-to-back games (also Oc. 17 & 23). His four game-winners are tied for sixth-most in the league and place him one behind Kevin Ulanski for the team lead.

MOLE IN ONE - Goaltender Mike Mole won both starts over the weekend since assuming the lead role in net. Mole has put up great numbers all season long, and enters the week with a record of 10-3-1, a goals-against average of 2.88 and a save percentage of.908 (all are ranked in the top 10 in the league). His next win will tie him for 10th on the team's all-time wins list with Sebastien Laplante.

GETTING EVEN - Defenseman Jim Jackson had a three-point night on Saturday (2-1-3) and registered his first even strength goal of the year. Of his 20 points this year (5-15-20), 10 have come on the power play (4-6-10).

Check out the Colorado Eagles Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Central Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central