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CHL Colorado Eagles

Colorado Eagles Weekly Update

November 22, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


Week in Review

Thursday, November 18; Eagles' Holiday Store Opens Monday at Foothills Mall

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced today that their annual holiday store in Fort Collins' Foothills Mall will open Monday, Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. This year's store is in a fantastic new location just inside the west entrance (next to Buckle in zone B). The store will remain open through the holiday season, with the last day of business being Dec. 31, 2010. To reach the store directly, call (970)-225-1212.

At the holiday store, fans can purchase their favorite Eagles merchandise, as well as novelty items, clearance items, special team-used gear and even tickets! In addition, several sales and appearances (see details below) will be taking place throughout the holiday season, so be sure to stop by and let the Eagles help you give your loved ones the gift of hockey this year.

Special Offers (check back frequently):

Friday, Nov. 26; Black Friday Jersey Sale - 20% OFF all jerseys

Scheduled Appearances*:

Saturday, Nov. 27; 1-2 p.m. - Slapshot

Saturday, Dec. 4; 1-2 p.m. - Pioneer Press Colorado Eagles Chicks

Saturday, Dec. 11; 1-2 p.m. - Player Autograph Signings (Players TBD)

Saturday, Dec. 18; 1-2 p.m. - Player Autograph Signings (Players TBD)

Tuesday, Dec. 21; 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Pioneer Press Colorado Eagles Chicks

Thursday, Dec. 23; 6:30-8 p.m. - Player Autograph Signings (Players TBD) & Slapshot

* - Players and times subject to change

Friday, November 19; Eagles Net OT Win in Game Decided by Power Plays

LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the Rapid City Rush, 2-1, in overtime, taking the first game of a home-and-home weekend set. All three of the game's goals came on the power play, with Kevin Ulanski's game-winner coming 16 seconds into the extra frame. Kyle Jones stopped 30 of 31 shots in the win, improving to 6-0-1 on the year.

The Eagles and Rush played a fast-paced first period, but neither team was able to get on the scoreboard. Early on in the frame, a slew of penalties resulted in a series of man advantage play. Rapid City was awarded a full 5-on-3 power play that was cut short with 24 seconds left due to a too many men on the ice penalty. Then, during Colorado's ensuing power play, Colt King was called for hooking, giving the Eagles 35 seconds worth of their own two-man advantage. The teams combined to go 0-5 on the power play in the period.

The second period saw more excellent action, with Colorado getting the only goal of the stanza. The tally came 1:04 in when Dylan Stanley carried the puck down the right wing on a power play and found Riley Nelson skating wide open down the slot for a shot past Danny Battochio.

Scott Wray tied the game at 1 just 49 seconds into the third period after Derek LeBlanc set him up with a power-play goal from behind the net. The Eagles had a chance to win the game with time winding down when they were awarded a power play with 1:57 left in regulation, but they were unable to convert. Instead, Adam Hogg was hauled down on a breakaway in the final seconds, extending Colorado's man-advantage play into the overtime frame.

From there, it took only 16 seconds for Ulanski to end the contest. Stanley sent a pass from the top of the left circle to Ulanski stationed to the right of the net. The CHL's reigning MVP didn't get all of the shot, but he got just enough to beat Battochio and net the Eagles' second point.

Saturday, November 20; Fluky Goal Helps Rush To Win Over Eagles

RAPID CITY, S.D. - The Colorado Eagles dropped their first game of the season to the rival Rapid City Rush, 4-2, in the second of three straight meetings between the two teams. Ryan Menei had bookend goals (11 seconds into the game, and with 11 seconds left into an empty net) for Rapid City, while Daymen Rycroft had a pair of goals for Colorado, but an own-goal by Andrew Penner might have been the biggest of the night.

The Rush got off to a strong start, out-shooting Colorado 17-8 in the first period and scoring the opening tally just 11 seconds into the game. The goal came after the puck popped free between the circles for Colt King, whose rebound was put home from the right side of the net by Menei. The tally was the fastest ever scored against the Eagles to open a game (the previous fastest goal coming on Dec. 3, 2005 by Ryan Campbell of the Memphis RiverKings).

Colorado evened the level of play in the second period, tying the score at 1 just over three minutes in. On the play, Rycroft picked up the puck as he burst into the offensive zone along the right wing, cut across the point and blasted a shot past Jimmy Spratt from the high slot. But at 12:33, Rapid City would go back on top when Andrew Penner accidentally knocked a Scott Wray rebound into his own net -- off the shaft of his stick -- while trying to cover it up.

The Eagles continued to climb back into the game, out-shooting the Rush for the first time in the third period. At 12:43, Rycroft tied the score back up at 2 with his second goal of the night as he streaked through the neutral zone, picked up the puck heading across the blue line, worked his was past a Rapid City defenseman and slid home a backhander while being hooked to the ice.

And although the Eagles continued to come hard, the Rush were able to get the go-ahead goal just over five minutes later when Andrew Martin sent a shot from the high slot past Penner to make it 3-2. Menei then scored an empty-netter to account for the final margin with 11 ticks left.

The two teams will meet again -- for the sixth time this season, and the third game in a row -- on Wednesday, Nov. 24.

The Week Ahead

Wednesday, Nov. 24; Eagles, Rush Close Out First Half of Season Series

The Eagles and Rush will meet for the sixth time on the young season in a series that will see them meet a total of 12 times -- the most Colorado will face any opponent. After taking the first two games by three goals each, Colorado took the next two in a shootout and overtime respectively. They dropped the fourth meeting Saturday night, giving them their first loss in the season series. Wednesday's match-up will be the third in a row between the rival clubs.

Friday, Nov. 26 & Saturday, Nov. 27; Colorado Renews Acquiantances With McClelland in Home-and-Home With Wichita

The Eagles and Thunder will meet for the first time this season, with a home-and-home series beginning at the Budweiser Events Center on Friday. That means it will be the first chance for the Eagles and their fans to see Wichita Head Coach Kevin McClelland since his departure over the summer. McClelland coached the Eagles to a record of 87-30-11 over the previous two seasons. The Thunder enter the week in 8th place in the Turner Conference (6-6-1), and have had an up-and-down season -- losing the first four games, winning their next six, and losing their past three. Wichita's only other visit to the BEC this season will be on Feb. 26.

Notable Numbers

WIN EARLY - The Eagles are a combined 8-0-1 when scoring first, 4-0-1 when leading at the first intermission, and 5-0-0 when tied after one period of play. Conversely, when trailing after the first stanza, Colorado is 0-3-0 (accounting for each of their regulation losses).

A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA - Colorado's offense has been strong, but not stellar recently. They have not scored more than four goals in the past five games, and haven't scored more than five goals in the past nine games. On the season, Colorado is 6-0-0 when scoring four or more goals -- 3-3-1 when scoring fewer. The Eagles average of 3.54 goals-per-game ranks fifth in the CHL (they led the league last season with 4.33).

SHINING STAR(T) - Goaltender Kyle Jones is off to a 6-0-1 start with Colorado, and leads all CHL goaltenders in SV% (.939) and GAA (1.88). Only three netminders have more wins, and they've each played in more games (Chris Whitley with eight in 10 & Juliano Pagliero and Danny Battochio each with seven in 12).

JUST LET ME SHOOT - After netting both Eagles goals on Saturday night, veteran forward Daymen Rycroft leads the team with 10 -- the second-most scores in the league. The CHL's leading goal-scorer in 2007-08 has scored five goals in the past five games and is on pace to set a new personal high of 51. Interestingly, he hasn't recorded an assist since Oct. 22.

GONNA BE A GOOD WEEK - Veteran defenseman Jason Beatty must love playing against the Rapid City Rush and Wichita Thunder. In his Eagles career, the bruising blueliner has a +34 plus/minus rating overall, but he owns a team-leading +18 against the rival Rush, and a +10 against the Thunder. That means that against every other team he is a combined +6. His next-highest plus/minus against any team is a +5 against Odessa.

IT'S A RYAN THING - When Rapid City's Ryan Menei scored 11 seconds into the game on Saturday night it set a new record for fastest goal against in Eagles history. The previous record was 14 seconds, set by Ryan Campbell of the Memphis RiverKings on Dec. 3rd, 2005. Sticking with the Ryan theme, Colorado's fastest goal in any period came just six seconds in, scored by...Ryan Tobler in the third period of a game at Tulsa on Feb. 9th of this year.

Check out the Colorado Eagles Statistics

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Central Hockey League Stories from November 22, 2010


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