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CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Week In Review

February 9, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


Tuesday, January 3; All-Star Game Jerseys Now on Auction Site

Fans,

Now's your chance to own a piece of CHL history! Up for bid on the Colorado Eagles auction site are authentic jerseys from the 2009 CHL All-Star Game, presented by Poudre Valley Health System. Each player who participated in the game had two authentic jerseys made. The game-worn jerseys were kept by each player as a commemorative keepsake, while the jerseys being auctioned are the second half of the pairs.

In addition, Colorado defenseman Erik Adams' game-worn jersey is also up for bid! (All other Eagles players' jerseys were auctioned off during the All-Star Game.)

All proceeds are tax-deductible and will benefit the Colorado Eagles Foundation and their efforts to assist cancer patients at the Poudre Valley Hospital Cancer Center.

Good luck, and thanks for bidding!

Tuesday, January 3; Parley, Power-less Play Prevent Eagles Win

TULSA, Okla. - A short-benched Colorado Eagles squad (just 13 skaters) lost to the Tulsa Oilers, 2-1, as the Eagles' power play continued to slump -- going 0-8 on the night -- due in part to the stellar play of Oilers netminder Davis Parley (a former 4th round NHL draft pick in 2000) who stopped 43 of 44 shots.

Tulsa ended the first period of play with a 1-0 lead after recently-acquired Martin Gascon converted a 3-on-2 rush by roofing a shot over Morgan Cey's glove at 8:06. The Eagles power play continued to struggle as it failed to score on two full chances and half of a third that would carry over into the second period. Despite the lack of results, Colorado's power play featured several close calls, none more so than Konrad Reeder's shot that rang off all three posts without going into the goal.

The second period played out similarly to the first with the Eagles failing to convert on about six minutes of power play time. Colorado continued to get good chances however -- Ed McGrane hit another post after beating Parley 5-hole on a breakaway -- and was finally able to even-up the score when Reeder backhanded a shot top shelf at 15:46.

Despite a 19-8 edge in shots -- and two more power plays -- in the final frame, Colorado couldn't solve Parley. And at 5:12, defenseman Kevin Seibel scored his first professional goal to notch the game-winner from the point.

The Eagles will finish their three-game road trip with games against Texas and Oklahoma City this Friday and Saturday respectively.

Thursday, February 5; Don't Miss the February NoCo Hockey Show

Fans,

The February edition of the Colorado Eagles NoCo Hockey Show is now airing on Altitude Sports & Entertainment. The half-hour monthly show enters its second season of bringing you the best of Eagles entertainment. The Voice of the Eagles, Tori Holt, hosts the show along with Kevin McGlue as reporters Lauren Gardner and Ben Huelsing take a look at the team both on and off the ice.

This month's show features: a look back at the successful 2009 CHL All-Star Game and Banquet, another installment of Ed McGrane in "Don't Quit Your Day Job," the Eagles' "Triple-H" line mic'd up during the All-Star Game, an interview with the center of that line, Adam Hogg, Tori Holt sits down with the Eagles' netminding duo to find out what makes them such good friends on and off the ice (plus, exclusive photos of the Penner family's KISS-tribute band) and the Voice of the Eagles also interviews Konrad Reeder and Kevin Ulanski about some of their teammates' goal celebrations -- and then shows them one of his own...you won't want to miss a minute!

Below is a full list of this month's airings:

Sunday, February 8: 10 p.m.

Monday, February 9: 6:30 p.m.

Monday, February 9: 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 10: 10 a.m.

Friday, February 13: 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 15: 10 p.m.

Monday, February 16: 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 17: 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday, February 17: 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 19: 10:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 21: 12:30 a.m.

Saturday, February 21: 6:30 p.m.

Monday, February 23: 10 p.m.

Be sure to check your local listings for Altitude Sports & Entertainment and additional Colorado Eagles hockey coverage!

Tickets for all home dates at the Budweiser Events Center can be purchased through the Budweiser Events Center box office, www.ComcastTix.com, 1-877-544-TIXX (8499), the Eagles' Office in Water Valley or through any ComcastTIX Outlet.

Friday, February 6; Jaeger Stops 41 of 42 in Brahmas Win

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas - The Colorado Eagles lost to the Texas Brahmas 4-1 in a match-up between two of the best teams -- with two of the best goaltenders -- in the CHL. Texas netminder Brett Jaeger stopped 41 shots to best Colorado's Andrew Penner who lost his first regulation game since November 1, 2008. The win -- along with Odessa's loss -- made the Brahmas the top team in the Southern Conference, and handed the Eagles their first back-to-back losses of the season.

In a fast-flowing first period, it was the Brahmas who tallied the only goal -- on their third of four opening period power play chances -- to take a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Just half a minute after Jaeger stopped a shorthanded chance between Greg Pankewicz and Ed McGrane, Travis Banga circled below the Colorado net and found Jordan Cameron in the right circle for a power-play blast past Penner.

The second period was as tightly contested as one would expect between two conference powers, but it was a tale of two halves as the Brahmas owned momentum for the first portion of the period. Through nine minutes of play, Texas had an 8-1 advantage of shots, but the Eagles would go on to post a 14-1 margin over the next 11 minutes (for a 15-9 edge in the period).

Helping the Eagles to that shot advantage were four power play chances, but their struggling unit continued to go goal-less, dropping their conversion rate to under 10 percent over the past nine games and 40 minutes.

Jay Birnie, taking the ejected Fraser Filipic's spot on Colorado's third line, got the Eagles' only goal of the game 2:43 into the third when he wrapped the puck past Jaeger from in front for his first goal of the season (not including the All-Star Game). But the Brahmas answered just 24 seconds later to take back the lead they wouldn't relinquish when Matt Burto scored after being left alone in front of Penner.

Then at 14:27, Matt Quinn sent a puck toward the Colorado cage from the left circle and Greg McConnell deflected it past the Eagles' goalie from the back door. Jason Deitsch closed out the scoring with another quick strike 69 second later.

The Eagles will finish their tough three-game road trip Saturday night in Oklahoma City.

Saturday, February 7; Cey, Eagles Snap "Skids," Beat Blazers

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Colorado Eagles ended their first losing streak of the season -- at a modest two games -- by defeating the Oklahoma City Blazers 6-3 in front of over 10,000 fans at the Ford Center. Colorado's recently-struggling power play came to life, going three for five (with two goals by Konrad Reeder), to help the CHL-leaders to their 35th win of the season.

It didn't take long for the intensity between the two Northern Conference rivals to bubble up as Jay Birnie and Josh Patterson dropped the gloves just 81 seconds after the opening faceoff. Patterson, making his return to the lineup after a long stint on the IR, continued throwing punches after the players hit the ice and the linesmen had intervened.

At 6:22, Aaron Schneekloth scored the game's opening goal with a 4-on-3 power-play marker from the right circle. It was the Eagles' first score on the power play since Jan. 31 against New Mexico. Then, after the ensuing faceoff, Fraser Filipic bloodied and battered Tyler Harder -- who was clearly overmatched -- at center ice.

The rough stuff continued just moments later when Birnie got his revenge against Patterson. After the Blazers forward put a big hit on Jason Beatty in the Eagles' zone, Birnie retaliated and returned the favor by throwing some late punches of his own, earning him an exit from the game.

And at 12:11, Colorado's power play -- which had scored just 6 goals in its past 61 chances over 10 games -- struck again when Reeder deflected Schneekloth's shot from the point past All-Star goaltender Andy Franck. It also marked the first time on their three-game road trip that the Eagles scored more than one goal.

Greg Pankewicz made it 3-0 for Colorado at 3:39 of the second after taking an Oklahoma City turnover at the Eagles' blueline and starting a rush the other way. With Reeder crashing the crease, the Eagles' captain scored on a sharp-angle shot from below the right circle.

The period's momentum would sway in the Blazers' favor midway through when three nearly-consecutive penalties were called on Colorado. The Eagles' penalty-killers withstood the first two, but couldn't keep Oklahoma City off the board when Jeff MacDermid knocked home a Justin Sawyer rebound at 12:41. Then, just over two minutes later, DJ Jelitto put home a similar score to make it 3-2 after two period of play.

After some stellar saves by both netminders during the first half of the final frame, the Eagles struck for three consecutive scores in fewer than three minutes. Reeder got his second power-play goal of the game at 11:09 when he converted a fantastic backhand pass from Steve Haddon up the slot for the game-winning goal.

Then, just over two minutes later, Adam Hogg got his fourth goal in six games by taking advantage of a Blazers turnover by snapping a shot past Franck's glove from inside the right circle. And Ryan Tobler made it 6-2, 23 seconds later, by deflecting an Erik Adams shot from the right point through a maze of bodies in front of the net after a faceoff. Jelitto scored his second goal of the game with just 1:42 left after coming out of the left corner and backhanding the puck past Andrew Penner to account for the final score.

The Eagles will return home for a President's Cup rematch against the Arizona Sundogs on Wednesday; Colorado is 4-0 against the champions this season.

The Week Ahead

Wednesday, February 11; Eagles Look to Return Sweep Against 'Dogs

After getting swept in last year's President's Cup Finals by the Arizona Sundogs, the Eagles will look to sweep the season series against the 'Dogs with a win on Wednesday. So far this season, Colorado is 4-0 against Arizona, with a pair of wins in each team's home venue. The Eagles won the first two games at the BEC by identical 7-5 scores.

Friday, February 13 & Saturday, February 14; Mississippi Makes Only Trip to BEC

The Mississippi RiverKings will make their only trip to the BEC - at least in the regular season - with a pair of games this weekend. The Eagles split the previous pair of back-to-back matches with Mississippi earlier this year with the 6-2 loss on November 1 ending their eight-game winning streak to start the season. Heading into the week, the RierKings are in second place in the Northeast Division (60), sandwiched between Bossier-Shreveport (63) in first and Oklahoma City in third (58).

Notable Numbers

IN THE 60's - Three Eagles players - Greg Pankewicz, Riley Nelson and Kevin Ulanski - all reached the 60-point plateau in Saturday night's win in Oklahoma City. Colorado is the first club to have more than two players reach 60 points this season.

POSITIVE NUMBERS - The Eagles have the top four plus-minus ratings in the CHL, led by Aaron Schneekloth's +36. Trailing the Eagles defenseman are: Kevin Ulanski (+26), Riley Nelson (+25) and Erik Adams (+22).

EARLY OFFENSE - An early lead has greatly increased the Eagles' chances of winning this season. When up after the first period of play, Colorado is 18-1-0 and when leading after two periods, they're 28-0-0. Conversely, when trailing after one, they're 5-5-0 and just 4-6-1 when trailing after two.

FEELING RIGHT AT HOME - Eagles veterans Greg Pankewicz and Ryan Tobler have produced at a much higher pace at the Budweiser Events Center than on the road this season. Of Panks' 60 points on the year, 40 (23-17-40) have come at the BEC (66.6%). Tobler's production at home is even higher (75%), as he has tallied 36 of his 48 points in Loveland.

ALL-TIME EAGLES - Two notable occurrences are about to take place on the Eagles' all-time scoring list. Captain Greg Pankewicz is two goals shy of becoming the first Eagle to reach 200 goals, and Aaron Schneekloth trails Scott Polaski by just one point (146:147) for sixth place. If he surpasses Polaski, Schneekloth will also become the second-highest scoring defenseman in team history...even though Polaski played forward until this year.

CLUTCH SINCE THE CALENDAR TURNED - Eagles forward Konrad Reeder picked up another game-winning goal on Saturday, moving him into a tie for second-most in the CHL with six. Interestingly, he's been especially clutch in 2009, registering five of those six since Jan. 7 at Rapid City - the start of four in a six game span.

Check out the Colorado Eagles Statistics

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