CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Week In Review

Published on October 29, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


Tuesday, October 23; Backstrom Honored by NHLPA

The Colorado Eagles' founder, Ralph Backstrom, was honored by the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) for his long and distinguished career in the sport of hockey. Backstrom received a NHLPA jersey with his name and number (6) accompanied by a signed letter from the association.

Wednesday, October 24; Eagles Celebrate Home Opener, Championship, Backstrom

The CHL champion Eagles celebrated their home opener, Ralph Backstrom's career and their first win of the season with a 6-2 victory over the Tulsa Oilers. Ryan Tobler was also honored for notching his 500th professional point and 200th professional goal in the season-opening series in Arizona.

Friday, October 26; Eagles Beat Sundogs in Colorado...Again

The Colorado Eagles beat the Arizona Sundogs 3-2, as the home team continued to win every game in the history of the series. Despite again being short-handed much more often than the Sundogs, Colorado's penalty-killers stood strong, keeping the league's second ranked power play in check six out of seven times. It was the Sundogs' first loss of the season.

Saturday, October 27; Grand Opening of Inspiration Playground

Spring Canyon Community Park -- the home of Inspiration Playground -- held its Grand Opening. The playground is a universally-accessible play area for children of all abilities and ages and is the first of its kind in Colorado. In 2003, the Colorado Eagles Foundation, a component fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, pledged to donate a total of $250,000 to the building of Inspiration Playground in Fort Collins. Through the help of Hunter's Dream for a Cure, Water Valley and the Eagles' season tickets holders, sponsors and investors, the Eagles Foundation reached their goal of $250,000.

The Week Ahead

Tuesday, October 30; Eagles Visit Rage For First Time This Year

The Eagles travel to the Broomfield Event Center to take on their in-state rival for the first of 12 meetings this season. The second-year Rage are off to an undefeated start (4-0-0) and currently hold 1st place in the Northwest division. The Eagles are currently in 2nd place at 2-1-1.

Friday, November 2; Eagles Visit Rage For Second Time

The Eagles play their second game in Broomfield in three nights against their Front Range rival. The up-and-coming Rage will make their first trip of the season to Loveland on November 21.

Saturday, November 3; Eagles Play Gorillas in Amarillo

Colorado will play its third straight game on the road (in a four game road trip) when they travel to Amarillo to take on the Gorillas for the first time this year. Amarillo is currently winless on the season at 0-4-2, and ranks 4th in the Southwest division. Last year, the Gorillas won the only game between the two teams in Amarillo, while the Eagles won the other two games at the Budweiser Events Center.

Stats & Streaks

Dynamic Duo - After four games, Ryan Tobler (4-4-8) and Ed McGrane (3-5-8) are leading the Eagles in points with eight, and are currently tied for 10th in the CHL, and McGrane is currently leading the CHL in shots with 30. Across the league, only two players (Scott Wray of Rocky Mountain and Scott Sheppard of Texas) have scored more points in only four games.

Scorching Schneekloth - Defenseman Aaron Schneekloth has registered 6 points (2-4-6) in four games and is tied for 4th in the CHL among blueliners; he's also tied for 4th in goals and 5th in plus/minus (+5) among CHL defenseman. He currently leads the league among defenders who have played in 4 or fewer games. Schneekloth finished last season -- his first with the Eagles -- with 46 points (11-35-46) to rank 10th among CHL d-men.

Special Numbers - Last season, the Eagles led the league in power play percentage at 21.92, and they've carried their success into this season. Colorado is currently ranked 1st with a PP% of 33.33, converting on 7 of 21 chances with the extra man. Their penalty kill is down from last year (85.78%, 4th) at 73.33%, but is on the way up after stopping Arizona's deadly power play 6 out of 7 times in their last game.

Shooting For Your Goals - Eagles Captain Greg Pankewicz is currently tied for 4th in the CHL in shots with 25, along with registering a goal and five assists. Although his shooting percentage is low at the moment (.040), history says that the goals should come if he continues to put the puck on net so frequently; in last year's playoffs, Pankewicz lead the league in shooting percentage among players with 60 or more shots (.185).

Whoa Nelly - In 12 meetings with the Rage last season, Eagles forward Riley Nelson scored 21 points (10-11-21) and registered a +12 ranking. Twelve of his 21 points came on special teams where he scored 3 goals and 6 assists on the power play and another two goals and one assist on the penalty kill. His shooting percentage of .222 was topped in the series only by Greg Pankewicz's .375 (6 of 16) and Chip Dunleavy's .300 (3 of 10).

Check out the Colorado Eagles Statistics

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Central Hockey League Stories from October 29, 2007


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