CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Week In Review

Published on November 23, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


Tuesday, November 17; Third Period Rally Too Little, Too Late for Colorado

RAPID CITY, S.D. - The Colorado Eagles suffered their second regulation loss of the season as they could not overcome a 3-0 deficit in losing, 3-2, to the Rapid City Rush. The Eagles owned the third period, but could not come back from a slow start in dropping their second game in a row.

The Rush finished a fast-paced first period with a 1-0 lead that could have been much larger if not for the stellar work of Andrew Penner in the Colorado net. Penner bailed out his teammates on several occasions due to defensive zone turnovers or Rapid City breakaways. Colt King got the game's opening goal after taking several whacks at a Les Reaney rebound while stationed on the front lip of the crease.

Rapid City added two goals in the second period to take a 3-0 lead into the third. Derek Campbell sent a backhand feed from below the goal line -- with his back to the ice -- to Rich Hansen in the low slot for an easy score at 5:55. Then, at 15:15, Reaney picked up his second assist when Luke Erickson deflected his pass from below the left circle past the Eagles' netminder.

Colorado dominated the third period -- outshooting the Rush 12-5 -- with several quality scoring chances, but the three goal deficit was too much to overcome. Alex Penner picked up his first goal as an Eagle at 4:51 after a turnover deep in the Rapid City zone. The puck squirted out of the corner and he collected it to the right of the net before quickly pounding it home.

The Eagles cut the Rush's lead to one with another goal six and a half minutes later off a faceoff win in the left circle. Kevin Ulanski won the draw back to Aaron Schneekloth, who sent a shot from the point on net. Ryan Tobler then put home the rebound to make it 3-2, but Colorado couldn't find the net a third time despite several close chances as the final minutes ticket off the clock.

The two teams will meet two more ties this week with a home-and-home set this Friday and Saturday in Rapid City and Loveland respectively.

Wednesday, November 18; Help The Eagles Help "Toys for Tots"

Eagles Fans,

The Colorado Eagles are once again teaming up with the US Marines and Toys for Tots for the next four home games (Nov. 21, Nov. 25, Dec. 12 and Dec. 16). Fans are encouraged to help by dropping off new or lightly used toys (for children ages 0-14) or cash donations at the donation boxes that will be set up inside the main lobby. The donated toys will then be distributed throughout Eagles Country to help less-fortunate children in Northern Colorado have a brighter holiday season.

Thursday, November 19; Upcoming Sales & Promos at the Holiday Store

Eagles Fans,

Our Holiday Store is now open through the end of the calendar year at the Foothills Mall in Fort Collins. Fans can find the team's full line of merchandise along with clearance items, novelty items and special team-used gear!

Several sales and appearances (see schedules below) will be taking place throughout the holiday season, so be sure to stop by and let the Colorado Eagles help you give your loved ones the gift of hockey this year.

The store is located across from Lady Foot Locker and Payless ShoeSource (in zone A ). Click here to see the Foothills Mall's special holiday hours.

Special Sales and Offers: All-Day, Every-Day 2009 All-Star jerseys, Alternate Red jerseys, 5th Anniversary (V-logo) jerseys, and all Zephyr retro jerseys are just $50. Clearance Items will be sold for 20% off Visit the "$10 Table" to pick up great stocking stuffers

November 20-22 Buy a new jersey and get a hat for half price

Black Friday (Nov. 27) 20% off all new jerseys

December 5-6 Receive a FREE gift when you spend at least $100 inside the store

December 12-13 Hat Trick Sale - Buy any three items and receive a FREE 2009 All-Star hat

Scheduled Appearances*: Sunday, Nov. 22; Noon-1 p.m. - Player Autograph Signings (Riley Nelson & Aaron Schneekloth) Saturday, Nov. 28; Noon-1 p.m. - Pioneer Press Colorado Eagles Chicks Saturday, Dec. 5; Noon-1 p.m. - Pioneer Press Colorado Eagles Chicks Saturday, Dec. 12; Noon-1 p.m. - Player Autograph Signings (Players TBD) Sunday, Dec. 13; Noon-1 p.m. - Slapshot Sunday, Dec. 20; Noon-1 p.m. - Player Autograph Signings (Riley Nelson & Andrew Penner) & Slapshot

* - Players and times subject to change

Thursday, November 12; Sunday is Service Industry Appreciation Day

The Colorado Eagles announced today that this Sunday' night's game against the Allen Americans will act as Service Industry Appreciation Night. In honor of those in the service industry, the Eagles will be offering discounted tickets -- starting at just $16 -- for Sunday night's game only. Space is limited, so reserve your Service Industry Tickets today!

Tickets for all of this season's home games are on sale now and can be purchased at 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, November 13; Eagles Power Way Through Tight Contest

LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles ended a two-game losing streak with four unanswered goals in a 4-1 win over the Rapid City Rush. The Eagles' special teams loomed large in the victory as three of their goals came on the man advantage, while their penalty killing units went a perfect 10-10.

The two teams played an even first period in terms of both chances and goals as they entered the first intermission deadlocked at 1. Rapid City got on the board first just over seven minutes in when Scott Wray worked the puck off the low right wing boards and found Brendan Cook standing at the top of the crease for a tap-in.

Colorado was able to counter eight minutes later on the power play when Danny Battochio kicked out an Aaron Schneekloth shot to his right, where Ryan McLeod buried the rebound. The rivals spent a good portion of the opening period building bad blood that would spill over in the following frame.

The second stanza saw more of the same as both teams continued to play an even game and the chippiness that began in the first period increased even more. The Eagles capitalized on another power play to take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission when Kevin Ulanski pounced on a Riley Nelson rebound from the side of the cage 17 minutes in.

The Eagles' second line combined to make it 3-1 just 58 seconds into the final frame as McLeod got his second tally of the night. And at 6:19, Ryan Tobler made it 4-1 with Colorado's third power-play goal of the game -- this one coming with a two man advantage.

The bad blood will surely continue to boil over Saturday night as the Northern Conference rivals meet for the third time in five days -- this time at the Budweiser Events Center.

Saturday, November 21; Eagles, PVHS Team Up For Blood Drive

WINDSOR, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles and Poudre Valley Health System have teamed up for an important blood drive. Donated blood can be extremely valuable during the winter months with the increase in colds, flues and other sicknesses making healthy blood harder to come by. This year is no different, and the Eagles and PVHS will be conducting a blood drive on Tuesday, Nov. 24 to aid in the collection effort.

Anyone who would like to participate is encouraged to visit either the Medical Center of the Rockies (2500 Rocky Mountain Ave. in Loveland) or the Garth Englund Blood Center (1025 Pennock Place in Fort Collins) on the 24th. Colorado Eagles players will be making an appearance at both locations throughout the day (a list can be found at www.ColoradoEagles.com).

Donors should be in good health, at least 18 years old (or 17 with a parent's permission), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and will need to present a valid photo I.D.

Saturday, November 21; Rush Pick Up First Win at BEC

LOVELAND, Colo. - One night after their power play lifted the Colorado Eagles to victory over the Rapid City Rush, it was the team's inability to capitalize on the power play that contributed mightily to their 3-2 loss to Rapid City. The win was the Rush's first ever at the Budweiser Events Center (in eight tries) and it was witnessed by a contingent of hometown fans that made the trip to take in the rivalry firsthand.

The two teams played a scoreless first period -- just the fourth scoreless period Colorado has played this season -- but it wasn't for a lack of scoring chances. The Eagles couldn't capitalize on several early opportunities and went 0-3 on the power play, including 1:05 of 5-on-3 play. At the other end of the ice, Mike Mole made several solid saves to keep Rapid City off the scoreboard.

In the second frame, the Rush were able to do what the Eagles couldn't in the first, capitalizing on a 5-on-3 to jump out to a 2-0 lead with goals 35 seconds apart. The first came just nine seconds into the two-man advantage when Les Reaney sent a pass from below the goal line to Brendon Hodge in the slot, and the second came on a backhander from Colt King from in front.

Colorado continued to struggle on the power play in the second and went without a goal on two more 5-on-3's totaling one minute and 37 seconds. Ed McGrane had a goal waived off in the later of the two, but finally got the Eagles on the board at 14:21 with a wrister from the middle of the right circle.

King picked up what would prove to be the game-winner when he tallied his second goal of the game from in front at 12:31. Two and a half minutes later, Riley Nelson made it 3-2 when he beat Miguel Beaudry 's glove hand off a feed from Kevin Ulanski below the goal line.

The Eagles staged a mad rally in the closing minutes but couldn't beat Beaudry again, despite another two-man advantage (including an extra attacker with Mole on the bench) as the clock ran out.

The Week Ahead

Wednesday, November 25; Colorado Looks to Continue Winning Ways Against Amarillo The Eagles will look to stop one streak and continue another as they take on the Amarillo Gorillas Wednesday night. The Eagles have lost both of their past two home games, while the Gorillas have lost seven in a row overall. Colorado is 20-6-4 all-time against Amarillo, including 13-1-2 at the Budweiser Events Center.

Friday, November 27 & Saturday, November 28; Eagles Play Pair in Arizona Colorado will spend their Thanksgiving traveling to Prescott Valley, Arizona where they'll take on the Sundogs this Friday and Saturday. The Eagles are 4-5-1 all-time at the Tim's Toyota Center, but all four wins have come in the past four meetings there -- including both games in Arizona last season. The two previous games -- both losses -- came down to one goal each. Each team went 4-0 at home in 2006-07, the Sundogs' inaugural season.

Notable Numbers

STREAK HITS MILESTONE - Wednesday night's home game against the Amarillo Gorillas is on track to be the 200th consecutive regular season sellout at the Budweiser Events Center as the Eagles continue to increase the minor pro hockey record. Including playoff games, it will be the team's 243rd straight sellout at home.

TWO FEW - The Eagles have scored fewer than three goals three times this season, and in each instance, they've failed to walk away with two points. Colorado lost the season-opener, 3-2, in overtime, and their past two losses have also come by the same score.

IN NEED OF A WIN - The Eagles have dropped their past two home games and a loss on Wednesday would tie the longest home losing streak(s) in team history. Colorado has lost three games in a row at home two other times, just once in the same season (3/24/06-10/20/06 & 2/13/09-2/20/09). The Eagles' opponent on Wednesday will be the Amarillo Gorillas who have lost seven games in a row -- beginning with their 4-2 loss to the Eagles on November 7th.

ON THE PLUS SIDE - As a team, the Eagles have just three players with a negative plus/minus rating. Furthermore, they have five players in the league's top 10 in that category, with defensemen Aaron Schneekloth and Felipe Larranaga's +10 leading the team. Schneekloth led the entire league last season with a +38 (followed by Kevin Ulanski +37 and Riley Nelson +32).

TWO OF A KIND - Riley Nelson (82 points) and Kevin Ulanski (83 points) put up incredibly similar numbers across the board last season, and the two are at it again in 2009-10. Through 12 games, the first line forwards are tied for fourth place in the league's scoring race with 23 points and tied for seventh with a +9 plus/minus rating. Both have seven power-play points and one short-handed point.

MOVIN' ON UP - Second-year Eagles forward Kevin Ulanski has quickly moved his way up the team's all-time scoring list. In the past week, the DU alumnus passed Karlis Zirnis (103) and fellow Pioneer Erik Adams (105) in recording his 106th point with the team (32-74-106). He is just four points shy of tying Fraser Filipic (110). He's just 14 points away from cracking the team's top-10.

Check out the Colorado Eagles Statistics

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Central Hockey League Stories from November 23, 2009


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