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CHL Colorado Eagles

Third Line, Nelson Lead Eagles Over Rush

November 8, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the Rapid City Rush, 3-1, tonight to improve to 9-1 on the season. The game was Colorado's first in a week, and saw the third line of Steve Haddon, Adam Hogg and Brett Hammond set the tone, and Riley Nelson set a new franchise record on his 31st birthday. The Eagles' netminding and penalty killing continued to impress as Morgan Cey stopped 28 of 29 shots and the penalty-killers successfully dispatched 9 of 10 Rapid City power plays.

The Eagles looked a little sluggish in the first period, and Rapid City contributed by constantly clogging lanes and making it difficult for Colorado to click. After both teams seemed to feel their way through the opening frame, the Rush scored a power play goal at 13:34 when Chris Lipsett deflected a Jamie VanderVeeken point shot as he skated across the crease from left to right. The Eagles had a great chance to answer with 1:13 worth of 5-on-3 play toward the end of the period, but couldn't capitalize and the period ended 1-0 Rapid City.

Colorado came out clicking on all cylinders in the second period, scoring three goals in the period to take the lead. Adam Hogg got the Eagles on the board with his first point of the season on a goal at 3:11. The play developed after Steve Haddon won the faceoff in the left circle back to Scott Polaski, whose shot from the point was steered past Lanny Ramage from the slot. Just 26 seconds later, Riley Nelson set a new franchise record as he scored from in front off a Kevin Ulanski pass from behind the net. The game-winning goal gave the Eagles' veteran forward an 18-game point streak, breaking his own record of 17 games (two other times); his current streak dates back to March 8 of last season.

The Eagles withstood an extended Rush two-man advantage as the period hit its midpoint, and Haddon made it a 3-1 lead for Colorado at 13:53 when he scored on a breakaway -- his backhand shot just sneaking through the Rush netminder and across the goal line.

The third period saw plenty of special teams play -- with the Eagles killing penalties for the final 2:25, including a 6-on-3 disadvantage when Rapid City pulled Ramage -- but Colorado stood strong, killing the final eight Rush power-plays of the game.

The Eagles will honor the military during their next game on Tuesday, November 11 -- Veteran's Day -- in the first of two games against the Tulsa Oilers in four days. The night's festivities -- in addition to a building full of military members and their families -- will include special camouflage jerseys (courtesy of Meadow Gold) worn by the Eagles, a flight simulator set up outside the arena prior to the game (courtesy of the Air National Guard), commemorative t-shirts on every seat (courtesy of Water Valley), special in-game video tributes from active military members serving overseas and other special events, including a first intermission comedy act.

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Central Hockey League Stories from November 8, 2008


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