CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Week In Review

February 25, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


Week In Review

Tuesday, February 19; Third Line Powers Eagles to Within Two Points of Rage

TULSA, Okla. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the Tulsa Oilers 6-4 on the strength of their third line of Les Borsheim, Steve Haddon and Fraser Filipic who combined for seven points (2-5-7). The victory put the Eagles just two points behind the Rocky Mountain Rage for the division lead and gave Colorado four of the possible six points from their three-game road trip. The Oilers jumped out to a quick, but short-lasting lead when the puck took an odd bounce off the boards and was corralled by Jeff Christian who hit Brendon Hodge on a back-door pass just 3:20 in. Aaron Schneekloth answered for the Eagles however at 4:12 after pinching into the low slot and converting for his 18th goal of the year - tops among CHL defensemen. Colorado took the lead just 29 seconds later when Steve Haddon scored on a cycling goal by the third line. Schneekloth made it 3-1 with a power play tally at 10:06 when he curled off the boards and beat Jeff Van Nynatten top-shelf for his second goal of the period. Tulsa out-scored the Eagles 2-1 in the second period, getting two goals off loose pucks in front of Sebastien Laplante. The first came just 1:31 in when Laplante couldn't freeze the puck and Mike Looby put it in on the Oilers' third whack. Dave Iannazzo put Colorado back up by two at 11:05 when he got the puck below the goal line and quickly back-handed it into the Oilers' net; Borsheim recorded the second assist on the play, giving him 17 points on the season - a career high. But Tulsa closed the gap to just one again at 18:07 when a Lucas Burnett shot hit traffic in front of the net and laid untouched until Paul Kelly swooped in and put the rebound past the Eagles netminder. The Oilers out-shot the Eagles 10-5 in the final period, making it interesting with a valiant effort. Borsheim got his third point of the night at 7:54 when Filipic hit him with a pass as he crashed the net to make it 5-3. But with just 73 seconds left in the period, Warren McCutcheon made it interesting, slimming the Colorado lead to just one goal as be stuffed a shot behind Laplante from in low. Seth Leonard, however, put the game away with an empty-netter at 19:39 as the Eagles escaped with a much-needed win.

Thursday, February 21; Holt Hired to do Post-Game Work for Avs on Altitude

WINDSOR, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced today that Tori Holt, the team's play-by-play broadcaster and the "voice" of the Eagles, has been hired to do some extra work for Altitude Sports & Entertainment. Holt will join the Altitude contingent to do post-game analysis for Colorado Avalanche games on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays for the remainder of the season (a full schedule can be found on the Eagles web site). The added work will not affect Holt's duties with the Eagles. "I'm excited about this opportunity. It's a great step in the furthering of my broadcasting career," Holt said. "Everyone at Altitude has been great to me and I've enjoyed everything I've done with them so far. I'd like to thank both Altitude for the opportunity and (team President and Head Coach) Chris Stewart for being so supportive." The post-game analysis is just one more aspect of Holt's branching out with Altitude; he has already broadened his horizons by doing color commentary and play-by-play for various Eagles games the past two seasons, along with hosting the Colorado Eagles NoCo Hockey Show on the network. Holt has also done some work for FOX Sports Rocky Mountain this season, filling in for Tim Neverett on select Denver Pioneer broadcasts.

Friday, February 22; Eagles Soar Past SteelHounds 7-3

LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the Youngstown SteelHounds 7-3 in Ryan Tobler's first game back since October 30. All seven of Colorado's goals came in the final two periods after being held to a season-low four shots in the first. The win runs the Eagles' record against the SteelHounds to 9-1-0 all-time in the regular season and 5-0-0 at the Budweiser Events Center. Both teams did a good job bottling up the other's attack in the first as the SteelHounds held the Eagles to a season-low four shots in a period (Tobler registered half of Colorado's with two), blocking several attempts with skates and sticks in shooting lanes. The lone goal of the opening frame came after an Eagles turnover, when Kevin Jarman snapped one of just six Youngstown shots past Sebastien Laplante from the left faceoff dot at 7:30. The second period was a different game as the teams combined for 28 shots - 18 for the Eagles - and five goals. The signs of an offensive explosion came early when Seth Leonard and Riley Nelson broke in on a two-on-one rush just 25 seconds in before Leonard rung a shot off the crossbar. Colorado got their first power-play chance of the night at 4:05 and Kris Wiebe tied the game at one just two seconds into the man-advantage. Riley Nelson won the faceoff in the right-wing circle and the puck fell below the hash-marks where Wiebe beat Andy Franck on the stick-side. Greg Pankewicz scored again just 27 seconds later on the Eagles' eighth shot after a give-and-go with Ed McGrane in the right circle; the goal snapped the longest goal-less streak in Pankewicz's Eagles career (eight games). Dave Iannazzo made it 3-1 for the Eagles at 8:07 of the second after Aaron Schneekloth kept the puck in along the left-wing boards at the blue line and hit Iannazzo streaking behind the SteelHounds' defense. Franck fought off the first shot, but couldn't stop the second as Iannazzo toppled over. Jarman helped set up the 'Hounds second goal at 16:19 when Youngstown converted a three-on-two power-play rush. Jarman chipped a shot on his back-hand from in close that slipped under Laplante's arm and fell on the goal line where Eric Przepiorka tapped it in. But Iannazzo restored the Eagles' two-goal lead under two minutes later when Leonard hit him with a cross-ice pass through the neutral zone, sending Iannazzo on a clear breakaway. The right-winger then cut to the middle of the slot and slipped a shot 5-hole on Franck for his second of the period. Colorado expanded their lead at 6:51 when the puck came out of a scrum in front of the benches at center ice and right to Steve Haddon who headed into the offensive zone on a two-on-zero break with Fraser Filipic trailing the play. Haddon swiftly beat the SteelHounds netminder for a 5-2 lead. Youngstown answered with another goal by Jarman halfway through the period after Brad Williamson fell down at his own blue line, allowing the sharp-angle chance to develop out of the left-wing corner. But the Eagles put the game away with two more goals - the seven goals-against being the most allowed by the All-Star netminder, Franck, all season. Leonard got both scores, with the sixth tally coming at 13:13 when he corralled the puck along the right-wing boards, skated into the Youngstown zone and made a power move to the middle of the ice before slipping a shot inside the far post. Leonard then closed out the scoring when he stopped a Schneekloth shot from the right point, then spun and threw the puck past Franck from the low slot.

Saturday, February 23; Eagles to Host 2009 CHL All-Star Game, Alter Format

LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced today that they will be the host of the 2009 CHL All-Star Game at the Budweiser Events Center (BEC), keeping the All-Star festivities in Colorado for the second year in a row. In addition to hosting the All-Star festivities, the Eagles and the league are planning a dramatic change in the way the game will be played by introducing an old-style-type format in which the host team plays against the rest of the league's All-Stars. The format change is reflective of the early days of professional hockey, when the Stanley Cup champions would take on the All-Star team. "We're both honored and excited to be hosting next year's All-Star event," said Eagles president, general manager and head coach, Chris Stewart. "The change in format is just one aspect of what we hope will bring the CHL All-Star Game to a whole new level of excitement and entertainment for the fans of the league and the Colorado Eagles. It will definitely be a more intense and physical game than what the current format dictates." Added Rick Kozuback, President and CEO of Global Entertainment Corporation (AMEX: GEE), which operates the CHL through one of its subsidiary companies, "The CHL All-Star Game has always generated enthusiasm and excitement for the league and its fans. With the new format of one of our premier franchises, the Colorado Eagles, playing host to the CHL's All-Stars, I know that the excitement level and fan interest will jump to an all-time high." The CHL also considered the region and the team's operational reputation in selecting the Eagles as the host team. "We are extremely pleased to name the Colorado Eagles and Northern Colorado as the host for the 2009 CHL All-Star Game," added Kozuback. "The Eagles have been a model franchise, winning our prestigious Franchise of the Year Award in the 2004-05 season." The Eagles' founder, Ralph Backstrom - a six-time Stanley Cup champion and NHL Rookie of the Year - and his wife Janet, have been selected as chairpersons of the event and will oversee all facets of the project, ensuring that every aspect of the festivities is done in top-notch fashion. "It's a great honor to be chosen as the chair of the 2009 CHL All-Star Game," said Backstrom. "I plan on using my years of experience and input to help make sure everything is done with the same high standards the Colorado Eagles organization has set to put on a show worthy of Northern Colorado and our fans." The All-Star game will be presented by Poudre Valley Health System (PVHS), one of the team's founding partners and the exclusive health system of the Eagles. PVHS jumped at the chance to sponsor the event, again showing their dedication to the organization and the region. "As an Eagles sponsor since Day One, Poudre Valley Health System is proud to serve as the presenting sponsor for the 2009 CHL All-Star Game at the Budweiser Events Center," said Pam Brock, vice president of marketing and strategic planning for PVHS. "The Eagles organization brings a huge value to this region, providing exciting entertainment that offers families fun, affordable activities and helping to make Northern Colorado a great place to live, work and play." Bob Herrfeldt, Director of The Ranch (the official name of the fairgrounds that house the BEC), said that local citizens are seeing their votes come to fruition. "Events like the CHL All-Star Game are exactly why Larimer County wanted to build The Ranch. People wanted a high number of quality events and that's what they're getting - and it all adds up to provide an economic boost to the area." Herrfeldt continued, "This is just one more big step for the Colorado Eagles at the BEC; it started with the championships and then the sellout record, and now it's the league's All-Star game."

All-Star Game History

All-Star Game formats similar to the Eagles vs. CHL match-up date back to as early as 1934 - the first ever All-Star Game involving players from the National Hockey League (NHL). Prior to 1947, when the NHL All-Star Game became an annual event, similar games occurred as "benefit games" for fallen or severely injured players. From 1947-1967 (with only two exceptions), the NHL All-Star Game pitted the defending Stanley Cup champions against a selection of stars from the league's other teams. Although prior experiments of All-Stars vs. All-Stars had resulted in a less exciting brand of hockey, the league permanently changed to such a format after 20 years when their All-Star Game was shifted from preseason to midseason (at which point the defending champions could have a totally different lineup).

Saturday, February 23; Eagles Tie Rage for First, Announce '09 All-Star Game

LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles tied the Rocky Mountain Rage for first place in the Northwest Division with a 4-1 victory on the same night they announced that the 2009 CHL All-Star Game will be held at the Budweiser Events Center. The Eagles and Rage will meet again Sunday afternoon for the second game in the home-and-home series. The Eagles used a three-goal first period to get an early jump on the Rage and coasted the rest of the way for the win. Riley Nelson got the first score with one of the Eagles' best goals of the year at 3:59. As Colorado's first power play expired, Nelson skated the puck through the neutral zone, stick-handled through two Rage defenders at the blue line along the left-wing boards and beat Reid top-shelf with a shot from the center of the left circle. Ryan Tobler then made it 2-0 with his first goal since October 26 at 8:09. Dave Iannazzo controlled the puck deep along the right-wing boards as multiple Rage players converged on him. Iannazzo then deftly sent a pass across the grain to a wide open Tobler at the left hashes, where the veteran left-winger beat Reid. Ed McGrane scored on a similar play at 17:30 with the Eagles on a 5-on-3 advantage. Greg Pankewicz sent a pass from low on the left-wing boards to McGrane at the top of the circles. McGrane unloaded, and just as the puck reached Reid, the goaltender was jostled by his own defenseman and the puck snuck through for the final goal of the period. The Budweiser Events Center crowd got an added surprise - as if they didn't have reason enough to celebrate already - when the Eagles and the Central Hockey League announced prior to the second period that Colorado will host the 2009 CHL All-Star Game. Not only that, but the format of the game will be altered. In a spin-off of old-time hockey (when the NHL champs would take on the rest of the league's all-stars) the Eagles - as the host team - will play against the rest of the CHL's all-stars. Rocky Mountain whittled the Eagles lead down to 3-1 with a goal halfway through the second period after getting several quality chances in the first 10 minutes. Three minutes in, Ladislav Kouba's shot from the point hit off Laplante's mask, then the crossbar and fell straight down where the Eagles' goalie dove back and gloved if before it could cross the line. A few minutes later, Kouba had another chance when Nathan Rosychuk hit him with a back-door pass on an odd-man rush, but Kouba pushed the puck just wide of the goal. Rosychuk took matters into his own hands at 10:07 when he scored a power play goal off a rebound just to the right of the net. The Rage did a good job keeping the Eagles to the outside of the zone for the remainder of the period, limiting their offensive chances. The Eagles returned the defensive favor in the third as the Rage tried to come back, but failed to generate many chances from in close. The score remained 3-1 until McGrane scored into an empty net with 1:29 left in the game, setting up the pivotal second game of the weekend series in Broomfield.

Sunday, February 24; Rage, Reid Retake First Place in Division

BROOMFIELD, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles fell 7-1 to the Rocky Mountain Rage less than 24 hours after beating their in-state rival to tie them for first place in the Northwest Division. Bryan Bridges and Scott Reid got the starts in the second of back-to-back games and it was Reid who helped push the Rage back into sole possession of first place by stopping 40 of 41 shots. The Eagles and Rage skated to a fairly even first period - not a surprise considering that they owned the exact same record coming into the game (31-14-5) - with Colorado out-shooting the Rage 11-10, but trailing 1-0 on the scoreboard. The Eagles had their chance to score the all-important first goal of the game with a 5-on-3 power play midway through the period, but Rocky Mountain was able to squash the chance and use the momentum to convert on the power play they were awarded moments later when Brent Cullaton fired a rocket from the right point that got by Bridges at the 10 minute mark. The game fell apart for Colorado in the second as the Rage scored four goals, tying the most allowed by the Eagles in a period all year. The period started well enough for the Eagles when Bridges absolutely robbed Trevor Weisgerber on the power play. Weisgerber was literally in the crease with Bridges down-and-out, but the goaltender flashed his glove to rob Weisgerber's top-shelf shot. Unfortunately, it was all down hill for the Eagles from that moment on. Later in the same power play, Colorado failed to clear the zone and Weisgerber sent a pass from the blue line to Nathan Rosychuk in the low slot, where Rosychuk back-handed his own rebound past Bridges for a 2-0 lead. The Eagles had a chance to answer that goal at the four minute mark with Reid out of the net, but their chance hit the post and then Daymen Rycroft knocked the net off its moorings without a penalty being called. As if to pour salt in the Eagles' wound, Weisgerber and Cullaton struck again after the ensuing faceoff when the Rage captain hit Weisgerber down low to make it 3-0. Rocky Mountain took a 4-0 lead at 9:30 of the second when Rycroft scored on a harmless-looking shot from the right point, and Sebastien Laplante replaced Bridges in the Colorado cage soon thereafter. The Eagles' luck just kept going sour at 14:10 when Riley Nelson's stick snapped while on the penalty kill and Cullaton took advantage when he skated into the center of the zone and got off a shot that beat Laplante's glove before falling to the ice. Aaron Schneekloth and Ed McGrane teamed up to give the Eagles a quick goal in the third. Schneekloth skated the puck down the left-wing boards and sent a pass from the corner to McGrane in front of the net just 56 seconds in. Ladislav Kouba made it 6-1 with another Rocky Mountain power play goal at 8:47 when he steered a Colt King pass past Laplante for another 5-on-3 tally; the 11 power plays awarded to the Rage were the most against the Eagles all season. Clay Plume added the seventh goal at 17:19 after Simon Watson hit him with a long pass through the neutral zone and King cut left across the slot before throwing a shot back across the grain and behind the Eagles goalie. The lopsided win did nothing but add fuel to the already-heated rivalry as the teams, now separated by two points, will meet one more time for another set of back-to-back games March 11 and 12 before the regular season ends.

The Week Ahead

Wednesday, February 27; Colorado Takes on Blazers for Final Time This Year

The Eagles will try and go 3-for-3 in home games against the Blazers this season, in a series that has seen the home team win all four meetings so far. Colorado is 11-1-1 all-time at the BEC against Oklahoma City.

Friday, February 29; Eagles Head to Odessa for First, Final Time This Year

Colorado will be making its first trip to Odessa since December 1, 2006. The Jackalopes beat the Eagles 7-0 on that date, the team's largest margin of defeat in franchise history. Colorado has won both meetings since then by a combined score of 9-5.

Saturday, February 24: Eagles Look to Extend History of Dominance Over Scorpions

The Eagles have an all-time record of 24-3-4 against New Mexico, with a record of 14-0-3 at the BEC. In their last meeting, February 17, Sebastien Laplante earned his first shutout as an Eagle (and the team's only shutout of the season) in the team's 6-0 win. Colorado has outscored the Scorpions 140-76 in 31 total meetings.

Notable Numbers

MISSING TIME, BUT STAYING SHARP - Eagles All-Star defenseman, Aaron Schneekloth, recently missed five games due to an injury but picked up where he left off to extend his point streak to seven games (3-9-12). He's currently in the top five among d-men in goals, points, plus/minus, shooting percentage, power play goals and game-winners.

PUTTING LEADS ON ICE - When the Eagles take a lead into an intermission break, they're almost guaranteed a win. Colorado is 15-1-1 when taking a lead into the locker room for the first intermission, and is 22-1-3 with a lead after two periods of play. All-time, Colorado's is 162-5-7 when heading into the third period on top. On the other hand, when trailing at the end of the second they are 3-12-1 this season.

EDDIE BACK ON TOP - Colorado center Ed McGrane has recently taken back his spot as the team's offensive leader in a bunch of statistical categories. McGrane leads the team in points (72), assists (45), shots (250), special teams points (27) and multi-point games (22); he's also second or tied for second in goals (27), power play goals (8) and power play assists (15).

HOME ICE ADVANTAGE- The Eagles have the longest current home win streak in the CHL at 11 games. Their 22-3 record inside the friendly confines of the Budweiser Events Center sits atop the CHL standings.

FIRST PLACE FEVER - With their 4-1 victory over Rocky Mountain on Saturday night, the Eagles tied the Rage for first place in the Northwest Division. It marked the first time Rocky Mountain wasn't in sole possession of first since October 20; the Eagles trailed the Rage by as many as 13 points at one point in the season. Unfortunately for Colorado, they lost to Rocky Mountain in the second game of the home-and-home series. Both teams have 13 games remaining with one more set of back-to-back games coming March 11-12.

Check out the Colorado Eagles Statistics



Central Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2008


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