CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Start Strong, Hang on Late in Win Against Bucks

Published on December 26, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles got major production from three players, and Andrew Penner got another win between the pipes as the CHL's top team defeated the Laredo Bucks, 6-4. Steve Haddon (2-2-4), Greg Pankewicz (2-2-4) and Konrad Reeder (1-3-4) all had four-point nights to help Colorado establish an early lead and solidify the victory late with an empty-net goal. Penner's 14th win -- the most in the league -- moved him into a tie with Jeff Blair for fifth place on the franchise's all-time win list.

Colorado jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead on the strength of Haddon's first career multi-goal game. The third-year pro got his first tally on the power play at 7:43 after Reeder took the puck down the left wing and sent a backhand pass from the mid-boards to Haddon crashing the net. The Sarnia, Ontario native then beat Sebastien Centomo from the low slot for his third power-play goal of the season. Haddon struck again at 11:25 when he beat the Bucks' goaltender with a backhander from just below the left circle.

The Eagles opened the second period on the man-advantage and it took the league's No. 1 man-advantage unit just 36 seconds to capitalize as Haddon returned the favor to Reeder, tapping the puck from the doorstep to the left side of the crease. Colorado almost made it 3-0 minutes later, but had an apparent goal waived off. And the game's momentum could have easily turned at 14:44 when Igor Agarunov got Laredo on the board by chipping the puck top shelf over Penner on the Bucks' third crack at a row from in front.

But the Eagles kept the pressure on, adding a goal at 16:26 of the middle frame. Reeder sent the puck up ice from his own zone and Pankewicz beat a Laredo defender and Centomo to the loose puck in the middle of their own zone. The Bucks' netminder slid at the puck and missed -- sliding out of position -- but the Eagles captain's shot was blocked by Matt Miller's desperation slide from the other direction. Unfortunately for Laredo, Miller too slid out of position --all the way to the end boards -- and Pankewicz grabbed the rebound and put it home. And with just 26 seconds left in the period, Riley Nelson made it 5-1 with a great effort when he skated hard down the right wing, made a sudden cut to the center of the ice and snapped a shot past Centomo from the slot.

Ryan Gibb came out between the pipes for the Bucks in the third and the change seemed to spark Laredo. Rick Kozak beat Penner from the right circle at 5:47 for the first of three straight Bucks goals. Erick Lizon made it 5-3 when he burst down the left wing and snapped another past Penner at 8:21. And at 11:42, Jason Dixon cut Colorado's lead to one after Alex Goupil beat Tom Reimann for a loose puck behind the Eagles' net and fed Dixon in front. But Pankewicz and Haddon teamed up again to ice the win with an empty-netter at 19:25. On the play, Haddon passed up a chance for his first career hat trick and let Pankewicz score from the neutral zone; Penner got the second assist, tying him for the franchise lead in scoring for a goaltender with four points (all assists).

Check out the Colorado Eagles Statistics

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



Central Hockey League Stories from December 26, 2008


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