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CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Week In Review

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


Week In Review

Monday, March 9; Nelson Named CHL Player of the Week

(LEAGUE RELEASE) - The Central Hockey League announced today that the recipients for the Oakley CHL Player and Goaltender of the Week for the period ending Mar. 8th, 2009 are forward Riley Nelson of the Colorado Eagles and Doug Groenestege of the Oklahoma City Blazers.

Nelson, has goals in all four Eagles games last week and has moved to tied for fourth in the CHL in points with 73 points (26-47=73). The Cranbrook, British Columbia native started the week with a goal, an assist and a +2 rating in the Eagles 4-1 win at New Mexico. He followed that up with goals in each of the team's next two games (both losses) and in the final game of the week scored a goal with two assists in Colorado's win over Rapid City. Two of Nelson's goals on the week were shorthanded (he has five SHG's on the season).

In recognition of their achievement, both Nelson and Groenestege will receive a special gift from Oakley.

Oakley CHL Player of the Week Riley Nelson, Colorado Eagles Position: F (Weekly Totals) Games Played: 4 Goals: 4 Assists: 3 Points: 7 Plus/Minus: +2

Monday, March 9; Nelson, Penner, Schneekloth Up For Honors

(LEAGUE RELEASE) - The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today the five finalists for each of the four significant CHL awards as selected by the CHL front office following nominations from member clubs. Balloting will take place among CHL Head Coaches, team Communications Departments and selected media members to determine the recipients of the CHL's Most Valuable Player, Most Outstanding Goaltender, Most Outstanding Defenseman and Rookie of the Year awards.

2008-2009 CHL Most Valuable Player candidates include Odessa's Sebastien Thinel (the CHL's leading scorer), Corpus Christi's Chris Richards, Texas' Scott Sheppard, Colorado's Riley Nelson and Mississippi goaltender Kevin Beech.

Beech is also one of the finalists for the Most Outstanding Goaltender joining Oklahoma City's Doug Groenestege, Texas' Brett Jaeger, Colorado's Andrew Penner and Bossier-Shreveport's Ken Carroll.

The selected finalists to receive Most Outstanding Defenseman consideration include Colorado's Aaron Schneekloth, Texas' Kevin McLeod, Odessa's Russ Moyer, Bossier-Shreveport's Dale Lupul and Amarillo's Sam Ftorek.

Rookie of the Year honors will be determined amongst Laredo's Darryl Smith, Odessa's Jeff Pierce, New Mexico's Torren Delforte, Rio Grande Valley's Nicolas Dumoulin and Arizona's Adam Perry.

Additional awards to be determined include Coach of the Year, Equipment Manager of the Year and Athletic Trainer of the Year, as determined by their CHL peers, along with six member All-CHL and All-Rookie teams. The CHL's regular season point leader will receive the Joe Burton Scoring Champion award, while the CHL front office will determine the recipients of both the Man of the Year (for outstanding leadership and contributions to the community) and Rick Kozuback (perseverance, determination and commitment to hockey) awards based on nominations and supporting material from CHL member teams.

Tuesday, March 10; Eagles Best of the "Best of the Best"

WINDSOR, Colo. - The Central Hockey League released today the results of their annual "Best of the Best" poll, and for the second year in a row, the Colorado Eagles dominated the league-wide survey. Every year, players, coaches and team operational staffs vote on several categories relating to the league's member teams, players, cities and other related categories.

Just like the 2007-08 season, the Eagles took more honors in more categories than any other team in 2008-09. Of the 46 total categories, Colorado was voted among the top three in 24 different rankings, including 11 first place, 10 second place and six third place tallies. The Eagles' previous high for first place votes was eight in 2006-07.

The Eagles were voted first in the following categories: Best Overall Player (Riley Nelson), Best Skater (Nelson), Best Stickhandler (Ed McGrane), Best Goaltender (Andrew Penner, tied), Best Penalty Killer (Nelson), Best Defensive Forward (Kevin Ulanski), Best Offensive Defenseman (Aaron Schneekloth), Best Fans, Toughest Building to Win In, Best Team Ice and Best Cheerleaders/Dance Team.

For several of the first place winners, it was an honor they've received before. The Eagles have received top honors for Best Fans (for the fifth year in a row), Toughest Building to Win In (for the fifth year in a row) and Best Cheerleaders/Dance Team (for the third year in a row) for several successive seasons.

The Eagles were voted second in the following categories: Best Stickhandler (Nelson), Most Underrated Player (McGrane), Best on Power Play (Ryan Tobler), Best Penalty Killer (Ulanski), Hardest Shooter (Greg Pankewicz), Best Fighter 'Heavyweight' (Tobler), Best Fighter 'Pound for Pound' (Fraser Filipic), Best On-Ice Promotions, Best Arena Concessions and Best Host Hotel (Fort Collins Marriott).

The Eagles were voted third in the following categories: Best Overall Player (Pankewicz), Best Power Forward (Tobler), Best Arena, Best Broadcaster (Tori Holt), Best PA Announcer (Reed Saunders) and Best Game Notes.

Wednesday, March 11; Saturday Night is "Think Green" Night

Fans,

Show your "Green Spirit" this Saturday night, March 14, as the Colorado Eagles and Waste Management team up for the first annual "Think Green" night when the Eagles take on the Amarillo Gorillas at the Budweiser Events Center.

The first 2,500 fans through the doors will receive recycling bags courtesy of Waste Management, but that is just the beginning! The Eagles and Budweiser Events Center will be offering free parking to those driving hybrid vehicles, Waste Management will be giving away free recycled products and various facts & figures on how to lead a "greener" life will be displayed throughout the game.

Fans are encouraged to show their support by wearing as much green as possible (including body paint and head-to-toe garb). In fact, four fans will be chosen as the fans with the greatest "Green Spirit," and one of those lucky fans will be chosen by the crowd to win six (6) tickets to sit on the Eagles Fanboni during one of the first two Eagles playoff games (dates TBD).

The Colorado Eagles and Waste Management want to help you live a healthier and greener life!

Friday, March 13; Special Teams Truly Special in Win

BROOMFIELD, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the Rocky Mountain Rage, 7-3, by riding a nearly perfect special teams performance to their 41st victory of the season. Colorado went 5-5 on the penalty kill -- including killing the first four power plays of the game -- and scored three power-play goals in the second period to blow the game open on the way to going 3-4 overall on the night. Riley Nelson's stellar week continued as he put the Eagles up just 28 seconds into the game on their first shot. Ryan Tobler fed the reigning CHL Player of the Week from behind the Rage net with a backhand pass and Nelson beat Marty Magers from the low slot to notch his fifth game in a row with a goal (tied for the second longest streak in franchise history).

Nathan O'Nabigon tied the game 10:29 into the first -- a shift after being robbed by Andrew Penner's glove hand from the doorstep -- by whacking home a Jarred Mohr rebound from the same spot on the ice. Penner's 19 saves in the opening period -- several of them outstanding -- tied for second-most in team history for saves in the first (one off the record) and marked the third time this season he's stopped 19 in any period (the other two coming in the third).

The Eagles used three power-play goals in the second period -- on their first three man-advantage chances of the night -- and traded even strength tallies with the Rage to take a 5-2 lead into the second intermission. Ed McGrane continued his own productive streak to make it 2-1 at 2:17 of the middle frame, setting a new personal high with a 15-game point streak (the fifth-longest in team history). McGrane, alone on the doorstep, beat Magers after getting a pass from Kevin Ulanski below the left circle.

But Rocky Mountain tied it up again just 26 seconds later after a turnover at the Eagles' offensive blue line led to a 2-on-1 for the Rage and Ryan McLeod got his third goal in as many games against Colorado off a feed from David Morelli. The Eagles would take over the game's momentum, however, with three successive power-play goals.

The first came at 9:23 -- with the Eagles up by two men -- when Aaron Schneekloth rocketed the puck into an empty net from the point as Magers was out of position after following a Greg Pankewicz rebound and getting knocked off his feet. Scott Polaski made it 4-2 just 37 seconds later during the second penalty by scoring his first of two consecutive power-play goals from the left circle up high on the Rage netminder; his second came at 13:58. At that point, Colorado had scored five goals on 18 shots (a shooting percentage of 27.8).

McGrane got his second score of the night at 6:55 of the third after Pankewicz locked the puck up against the boards below the goal line to the right of the Rage net before sending a blind pass up the slot to the streaking forward. The Rage, however, got another quick answering goal just 37 seconds later when O'Nabigon got his second of the night from Domenic Maiani and Aaron Davis. Konrad Reeder closed out the scoring at 10:49 when he beat Magers on a wide open breakaway from the neutral zone.

The Eagles will play their final two home games of the regular season on Saturday and Sunday against the Amarillo Gorillas and Oklahoma City Blazers respectively. Both games start at 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 14; Eagles Beat Gorillas in Historic Win

LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the Amarillo Gorillas 9-0 in the biggest blowout in franchise history. Eight different players had multi-point nights, with four registering a plus-five rating, and Morgan Cey and a strong team-wide defensive game combined to provide the team's largest margin of victory ever. Cey stopped 39 of 39 shots for the 27th regular season shutout in Eagles history and Greg Pankewicz registered the 24th hat trick.

The Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first period on goals by Kevin Ulanski and Riley Nelson. Nelson helped create the first score at 8:19 by chipping the puck past a Gorillas defenseman at the right point in the Eagles' zone and rushing down the left wing on a 2-on-1 with Ulanski. Ulanski fired home his 23rd goal of the season with a one-timer from high in the right circle. Amarillo had their chances to negate Colorado's lead minutes later, but Cey made a series of stellar saves to keep the Gorillas off the scoreboard and set the tone for the night.

Then, at 15:58, Ulanski and Nelson teamed up again after Ryan Tobler entered the offensive zone along the right wing, stickhandled around a defenseman and dropped a pass to Ulanski in the right circle. The first-year Eagle then sent a pass right onto the tape of Nelson skating through the low slot and the veteran center deftly deflected the puck inside the left post. The tally gave Nelson a six-game goal scoring streak -- the second-longest in team history.

Colorado kept up the scoring in the second and Cey continued to provide timely saves to take a 5-0 lead into the second intermission. Nelson got his second goal of the game -- and the 200th of his Eagles career -- at 5:24 after he stole the puck just inside the blue line at the left point, sent a pass to Ulanski on the midboards and deposited the return feed into the top right corner of the net.

Pankewicz made it 4-0 at 7:11 when he skated down the right wing, wound up and sent a low slapshot past Gorman. Ed McGrane picked up the primary assist on the score, extending his point-streak to 16 games (tied for the fourth-longest in team history) and moving him into sole possession of fourth place on the team's all-time scoring list (past Brad Williamson). Pankewicz got his second goal in a row at 12:53 after Konrad Reeder circled the entire offensive zone and sent a pass to the Eagles' captain in front of the net for a deflection past the Gorillas' goaltender.

Pankewicz completed the natural hat trick 1:37 into the final frame when he cut across the low slot from right to left and beat Gorman on the forehand. Of the two dozen hat tricks in franchise history, it was Pankewicz's 11th and his fifth this season. McGrane made it 7-0 at 3:48 after Pankewicz caused a turnover behind the Gorillas' net and Reeder picked up the puck and fed McGrane in front.

Newly-acquired defenseman Clay Thoring got his first professional goal to make it 8-0 about two and a half minutes later when his shot from the left point got by Gorman with Reeder skating through the low slot. The Amarillo netminder was severely shaken up on the play and was replaced between the pipes by A.J. Bucchino. Colorado completed their biggest win in franchise history at 12:02 when Nelson and Ulanski teamed up again for a shorthanded marker.

The Eagles will play their final regular season game at the Budweiser Events Center Sunday evening against the Oklahoma City Blazers. They will then head on the road for the final three games of the season.

Sunday, March 15; Back-To-Back Shutouts at the BEC!

LOVELAND, Colo. - In the regular season finale at the Budweiser Events Center -- Fan Appreciation Night -- the Colorado Eagles treated the best fans in the Central Hockey League to a 3-0 blanking of the Oklahoma City Blazers. The shutout marked the first time in franchise history that the Eagles have posted back-to-back shutouts at home; Andrew Penner stopped 35 of 35 shots a night after Morgan Cey stopped 39 of 39.

The Eagles and Blazers played a fairly even first period, with Colorado having a slight 14-13 edge in shots, and both clubs getting two power play chances. The difference after 20 minutes of play was that the Eagles scored on one of their two man-advantage opportunities. Ryan Tobler added to his league-leading power-play goal total at 9:01 when he snapped a shot over Doug Groenestege's shoulder from the top of the right faceoff circle.

The Blazers' doubled up the Eagles in shots in the second period, 16-8, but it was Colorado who scored the period's lone goal to take a 2-0 lead into the third period. Adam Hogg tallied his first goal since Feb. 24 when he used a burst of speed from center ice to get behind the Oklahoma City defense and beat Groenestege with another shot over the goaltender's shoulder.

Colorado made it 3-0 with their second power-play marker of the evening at 6:36 -- and Ed McGrane kept his lengthy scoring streak alive as well -- when the Eagles' forward registered his 23rd goal of the season. The 17-game streak (25 points, 7-16-25) matches the longest in the CHL this season and ties the third-longest in franchise history.

The Eagles clamped down defensively as the period wound down, snuffing a four-minute double-minor with 48 seconds of 5-on-3 play overlapping into another two-minute penalty. Colorado went 6-for-6 on the penalty kill, making it three games in a row that they haven't given up a power-play score.

Colorado will finish the regular season with three road games in as many days, starting in Broomfield, Colo. on Thursday, followed by a pair of games in Rapid City, S.D.

The Week Ahead

Thursday, March 19; Possible Playoff Preview With Front Range Rival

The Eagles will play the Rage for the final time this season in what could be a possible playoff preview. While the Rage have the fifth and final playoff seed in the Northern Conference secured, the Eagles enter the final week of the season trying to hold onto the top spot. So far this year, the Eagles are 7-3-0 against the Rage, including 3-1-0 on the road.

Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21; Eagles End Regular Season in Rapid City

The Eagles will end the regular season the same way it began - with a pair of games against the Rapid City Rush. Colorado is 8-2-0 in the first 10 meetings against the expansion franchise, but just 2-2-0 on the road. Despite the team's differences in the standings, the games played between them this season have been tight, with the 10 total meetings being decided by a difference of just fifteen combined goals (including three meetings that took a shootout to decide).

Notable Numbers

DID I CATCH A NINER IN THERE? - The Eagles matched a season and franchise high with nine goals Saturday night against Amarillo. It was the sixth time Colorado has reached the nine-goal mark and the second time this season - the previous occasion also coming at home against the Gorillas. The 9-0 score also set a new franchise record for largest margin of victory; Colorado's previous high was eight, set three times.

DUAL DOMINANACE - Greg Pankewicz's hat trick against the Gorillas was his fifth of the season, his 11th as an Eagle and the 24th for the franchise all-time. Morgan Cey's 39-save shutout was the 27th in team history. It was the first time the Eagles have registered a hat trick and shutout in the same game.

WHAT A WEEK - Riley Nelson was not only named the CHL's Player of the Week last Monday for the previous week's play, but he was also voted the Best Overall Player in the league in the annual "Best of the Best" poll and is a finalist for the CHL's Most Outstanding Player award. Nelson also had a six-game goal scoring streak - that now ranks second all-time in Eagles history - snapped on Sunday.

STEADY EDDY - Ed McGrane is riding a 17-game point streak that not only ties for the longest this season in the CHL, but also ties for the second-longest in team history. McGrane has 25 points (9-16-25) in the streak dating back to Feb. 7.

ELITE COMPANY - Ed McGrane's two-point night on Saturday (1-1-2) moved him out of a tie with Brad Williamson on the team's all-time scoring list and into sole possession of fourth place. McGrane's 254 points (91-163-253) now trail only Riley Nelson (494), Greg Pankewicz (459) and Ryan Tobler (351).

BACK-TO-BACK BLANKINGS - The Eagles put up back-to-back shutouts for the second time in team history and the first time at the Budweiser Events Center when Morgan Cey and Andrew Penner combined to stop 74 of 74 shots on Saturday and Sunday. The previous back-to-back shutouts came on Jan. 22 and 28 of 2005 (2-0 vs. Fort Worth and 4-0 at Topeka).

PK PERFECTION - The Eagles have not allowed a power-play goal in three games and have gone perfect on the penalty kill in seven of the past 11 contests. The streak has raised their penalty-killing percentage by .6 in that span. Colorado hasn't allowed more than two power-play goals in a game since Jan. 16.

TOP HEAVY - The Eagles have four of the five top scorers in the league with Kevin Ulanski (82 points), Greg Pankewicz (80), Riley Nelson (80) and Ed McGrane (77) ranking 2-5 on the league's scoring list.

Check out the Colorado Eagles Statistics

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 16, 2009


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