Eagles Continue Red-Hot Season Despite Roster Moves
The Colorado Eagles have continued to be the biggest story of
the Central Hockey League. At 27-10-2, they have 56 points and are
tied for second in the league with Amarillo.
In just the last two weeks, the Eagles had to part with their
two biggest stars to American Hockey League contracts. Still, the
Eagles have won four straight, including an amazing overtime
shootout win Friday night at a sold-out Budweiser Events
Center.
On Dec. 31 Eagles’ center Riley Nelson got a call from the San
Antonio Rampage of the AHL. He appeared in four games and although
he did not register a point, he does have four goals and 11 points
in 32 career AHL games.
“The trip was good,” Nelson said after his first game back with
the Eagles Friday. “I got into a few games and got some good
experience, but now it’s nice to be back here with the guys.”
But the reuniting of the team’s regular lineup turned out to be
short-lived, as only hours passed before the Eagles had to part
with another top forward.
This time, all-star forward Greg Pankewicz was chosen to fulfill
his AHL contract duties. The call came from the
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL, an affiliate of the
NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
Pankewicz found out about the good news over lunch with coach
Chris Stewart and general manager Ralph Backstrom.
“It has been four years since I have played at (the AHL) level,
so I am excited and curious to find out how it has changed,”
Pankewicz said.
Pankewicz and Nelson are just two of six Eagles players who are
on two-way contracts with AHL clubs. Goaltender Ryan Bach, forward
Ryan Tobler and defensemen Igor Bondarevs and Scott Swanson also
have the opportunity of being called up to the more prominent
AHL.
“This is also great for the team, Nelson and then me,” Pankewicz
said. “Moving up to the next level is what this team is about.”
So when Friday’s game against the division-rival Tulsa Oilers
took place at another sold-out Budweiser Events Center, it was a
little surprising even for Nelson when his first shift and first
shot resulted in his 20th goal of the season just 47 seconds into
the game.
“It’s good to come down and here and play a lot more minutes,”
Nelson said. “I love being a big part of a good team here.”
But another lead was squandered as the Oilers responded with two
power-play goals of their own as Lukas Sedlacek and Jason
Bermingham scored two minutes apart, tying the game 2-2 after two
periods.
“Our first period was fantastic,” Stewart said. “If we don’t
have penalty trouble in the second period, I think we would have
blown this one away.”
But after regulation and a five-minute overtime, the score was
knotted at 3, leaving only the most exciting part of a CHL hockey
game: the shootout.
After five shots for each team, it was still tied 3-3. The
referees took a brief moment to check the CHL rulebook, which
states that the coach must choose a different skater until the
entire team’s lineup has taken a shot.
It took 28 total shootout tries, including a turn through the
entire Tulsa lineup, until the unheralded, hard-hitting Eagles
forward Phil Crowe netted the game-winner for a 4-3 win.
“I don’t think I’ve gone through that many shooters ever,”
Stewart said. “They had more shots in the shootout then they did in
the whole third period.”
Crowe was chosen last by Stewart to take the 28th shot during
the wild shootout, but not only did Crowe surprise his coach, he
also showed the league his poise and determination.
“He was grinding me hard there on the bench,” Stewart said about
Crowe. “You can’t say enough about the effort he gives every
game.”
After the game the Eagles also had to part ways with forward Cam
Kuzyk. When Pankewicz was called up, the Eagles activated Fraser
Filipic and top defenseman Igor Bondarevs from injured reserve,
which meant the Eagles had to trade or waive a player to stay at
the league-required 16-man roster.
“I think he played some pretty good hockey for us,” Stewart said
of Kuzyk. “But that’s the tough part about it. When you have a
square peg trying to fit in a round hole, it doesn’t mean he’s not
capable. I think he’s an excellent skilled player.”
The Eagles are 11-1 in their last 12 and are still first in the
Northwest Division. They face the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs on
Friday at the Events Center, then again Saturday afternoon.
Saturday’s match up begins at 3:05 p.m. and will be televised on
UPN-20.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.