CHL Colorado Eagles

New Eagles Help Bring 150th Home Win

October 30, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - Some old faces and some new faces helped the Colorado Eagles notch the 150th home win at the Budweiser Events Center with a 7-4 victory over the Rapid City Rush. Kevin Ulanski, Aaron Schneekloth and Riley Nelson all had at least three-point nights, while Jason Deleurme and Kurtis Dulle each got goals in their first game with the franchise.

The two teams played an even first period, but it was Rapid City that got on the scoreboard first at 5:22 after a turnover deep in the Eagles' zone. The puck was picked off along the right wing boards by Luke Erickson who sent the disc on net where Les Reaney put home the rebound from the doorstep.

The Eagles tied it up at 6:42 after a turnover deep in Rapid City's zone when Nelson found Ulanski alone in front, registering a goal on the team's first shot of the contest. Then, about three minutes later, the Rush's Brendon Hodge put his squad back up by one with a wrister from the left circle. Colorado tied it back up at 16:09 when Adam Hogg picked up a loose puck behind the Rapid City net and found Steve Haddon whose shot deflected past Miguel Beaudry to knot the score back up at 2.

The Eagles doubled up the Rush in shots in the second period, but it was Rapid City that doubled up Colorado on the scoreboard, netting two goals after Schneekloth gave the Eagles a 3-2 lead in the frame's first minute. The 5-on-3 power-play goal was the defenseman's first goal of the season, but the assist by Nelson was his 300th as an Eagle (two games after registering his 500th point in a Colorado jersey).

The Rush took a 4-3 lead with a pair of goals 35 seconds apart, starting at 17:22 of the second. The first goal came after the puck bounced around between defenseman Jason Beatty and goaltender Andrew Penner, and Brendan Cook swooped in to put it in the net. Moments later, Blaine Jarvis got his team back on top with a shot from along the goal line that snuck behind Penner's right leg.

Schneekloth and Nelson teamed up again at 3:26 of the third period to even the score up again when the defenseman circled behind the Rapid City net and found the team captain skating down the slot. Then, just over four minutes later, the recently-signed Deleurme got the game-winner with his first goal as an Eagle in his first game with the team. On the play, Ed McGrane won a faceoff in the left circle of the offensive zone and Schneekloth put a shot on net before Deleurme threw the rebound past Beaudry.

Just 44 seconds later Kurtis Dulle followed suit -- getting his first goal with his new club in his first game -- by converting a tic-tac-toe play through the offensive zone from Nelson and Ulanski. McGrane added an empty-netter in the final minute to account for the final score.

The Eagles (now 3-0-1 on the year) will have another week off before taking on the Wichita Thunder at the Budweiser Events Center. Colorado's all-time record at home sits at 150-32-12 (a winning percentage of.804).

Check out the Colorado Eagles Statistics



Central Hockey League Stories from October 30, 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