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CHL Colorado Eagles

Vets Nelson, Schneekloth, Tobler & Beatty Returning to Eagles

September 15, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


WINDSOR, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced today that they have signed returning veterans Riley Nelson, Aaron Schneekloth, Ryan Tobler & Jason Beatty. They join the Central Hockey League's reigning MVP, Kevin Ulanski, and recently-acquired Daymen Rycroft as veterans on the roster. Each CHL team will be allowed to carry six veteran players on their roster for the 2010-11 season (veteran rules outlined below).

"These four players all bring their own area of expertise to our roster and each is arguably the best in the league in their own rights. We're very fortunate to be able to retain them as Colorado Eagles and, along with Kevin Ulanski and Daymen Rycroft, I'm extremely pleased with our veteran core heading into the season," said President, General Manager and Head Coach Chris Stewart.

Nelson -- the team's captain and the franchise's all-time leading scorer -- has been a member of the team since its inaugural season in 2003-04. In each of the past two seasons, he has been voted by his peers as the CHL's Most Outstanding Player (one of five top honors in last year's annual "Best of the Best" poll), as well as being named to the All-CHL Team at the end of each season and also being named an All-Star Game starter both years. Last year, the 5-foot-8-inch, 179-pound forward set career highs in points (94) and assists (63), while also cracking the CHL's Top-10 list for both all-time points (637) and all-time goals (251).

Schneekloth will stay in Colorado for his fifth season in a row, coming off back-to-back campaigns in which he was named the CHL's Most Outstanding Defenseman (only the second player in league history to win the award twice). Last season marked the third year in a row that "Schneeks" was named both an All-Star and to the All-CHL Team. Also in 2009-10, the Calgary, Alberta native was voted by his peers as the league's best offensive defenseman while leading the league's blueliners in points (66), goals (26) and plus/minus rating (+41), among several other categories.

Tobler joins Nelson as the only other player in franchise history remaining from the inaugural year. The one-time NHLer has been one of the CHL's best power forwards throughout the decade, being voted by his peers as such for four consecutive seasons (2003-04 thru 2006-07). He led the Eagles in game-winning goals in 2004-05 & 2005-06, and in 2008-09, the 6-foot-3-inch, 227-pounder led the entire league in power-play goal (23) and goals (tied with 38) -- both career highs.

Beatty has spent the past three years in Colorado after playing the first three seasons of his professional career mostly with the CHL's now-defunct Lubbock Cotton Kings. At 6-foot-1-inch, 215-pounds, the Sturgis, Saskatchewan native is one of the most physical defensemen in the league. Although he's known primarily for his stout defending and intimidating presence, Beatty registered career highs in points (16), assists (14) and plus/minus (+22) last year. He's topped 100 penalty minutes in four of his six seasons since turning pro, tallying 96 in 2009-10.

As announced last week, the CHL and the Professional Hockey Players' Association (PHPA) agreed to a collective bargaining agreement that allows each team to carry six veteran skaters on their rosters (goalies are exempt); one of those six must have played on the team's roster the previous season. A veteran player is classified as one who's played in 301 or more games in professional leagues outlined in the agreement.

The signings brings the number of players under contract with the team for their upcoming camp to 21 (listed below).

The puck drops on the 2010-11 season on Saturday, Oct. 9 when the Eagles take on the Odessa Jackalopes in a preseason game at the Budweiser Events Center; the regular season begins on Friday, Oct. 15. Group tickets for all Eagles home games are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Eagles' office at 970-686-SHOT (7468). Individual tickets will go on sale Saturday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. and can also be purchased by visiting the BEC Box Office, calling 1-877-544-TIXX (8499) or online at www.ComcastTix.com.

Eagles Signings To-Date

Jason Beatty (D)

Tim Boron (G)

George Bradley (D)

David Brown (D)

Braden Desmet (F)

Matthew Glasser (F)

A.J. Hau (F)

Chris Hau (D)

Steve Haddon (F)

Adam Hogg (F)

Kyle Jones (G)

Andrew Loewen (G)

Brad MacMillan (F)

Riley Nelson (F)

Andrew Penner (G)

Kyle Peto (D)

Daymen Rycroft (F)

Aaron Schneekloth (D)

Ryan Tobler (F)

Kevin Ulanski (F)

Lee Zalasky (F)

Check out the Colorado Eagles Statistics



Central Hockey League Stories from September 15, 2010


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