CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Win Penalty-Filled Preseason Game

October 10, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - As snow fell outside the Budweiser Events Center -- signaling that it is indeed time for Eagles hockey season to begin -- the Colorado Eagles played their first and only preseason game before beginning the 2009-10 campaign. The defending Governors' Cup champions defeated the Arizona Sundogs, 3-1, in a penalty-filled preseason contest.

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Eagles -- and the game's referee -- donned pink jerseys that will be auctioned off during Saturday, Oct. 17's game. In addition, the ceremonial puck-droppers were Janet Backstrom and Andrew Penner, the former currently fighting the disease, the latter whose mother has successfully defeated it.

The Eagles got into penalty trouble early and often in the first period, but took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission anyway. Ryan McLeod was called for a penalty in the first minute of play, and that infraction would set an ongoing trend in the game. But shortly after the first slew of penalties expired, Dan Welch got the home team on the board when he sniped a shot into the top left corner of the net from above the left hashes.

The pace of penalties picked up even more in the second period. After penalties added up to 24 minutes in the first period (8 for Arizona, 16 for Colorado), the two teams combined for another 78 in the second (15 by the Sundogs, 63 by the Eagles).

Alex Penner and Cedric Bernier got the penalty parade started when they dropped their gloves seven minutes into the second period. In addition to the usual five minute major penalty, both received 10 minute misconduct penalties for continuing the fight once they had hit the ice.

Midway through the game both teams switched goaltenders as they continue to evaluate their respective rosters. Mike Mole exited after stopping all 17 shots faced and Kyle McNulty stopped 19 of 20; Doug Raeder replaced Mole, J.F. Perras replaced McNulty.

Ed McGrane made it 2-0 for Colorado at 14:45 with a four-on-four score as he skated through the right circle, fought off a defender and roofed a backhander under the crossbar. One minute later, defenseman Felipe Larranaga scored a shorthanded tally when he took the puck at center ice, burst into the offensive zone and roofed another shot past Perras. Jason Visser stopped the Eagles' scoring spree just 30 seconds after that when he beat Raeder with a breakaway goal from between the hashes to make it 3-1 after two periods.

The penalty trend continued in the third (with another 138 combined minutes alone), and Penner and Bernier got it started again when they went at it for a second time two and a half minutes in. For the game, the team's ended up with a total of 240 penalty minutes on 47 offenses.

The Eagles kick off the 2009-10 regular season with a President's Cup Final rematch against the Texas Brahmas on Friday, Oct. 16. Greg Pankewicz's retirement ceremony will also happen that night before the game, so fans should plan on getting to the arena early.

Check out the Colorado Eagles Statistics



Central Hockey League Stories from October 10, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central