CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Gain Point In Home Opener

October 16, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


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 scored the Brahmas' second short-handed goal of the game 54 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.

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Central Hockey League Stories from October 16, 2009


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