LAST WEEK IN REVIEW
Tuesday, November 22; Aliu Recalled From Colorado
LOVELAND, Colo. – The Colorado Eagles, proud affiliate of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets & the AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps, announced today that forward Akim Aliu (pronounced: ah-keem Al-E-ooh) has been recalled through the team’s affiliation agreement.
Aliu has played in 10 games this season with the Eagles, registering six points (2-4-6), a minus-1 plus/minus rating and 28 penalty minutes.
Wednesday, November 23; Eagles Thankful For Gutsy, OT Win
LOVELAND, Colo. – A short-benched Colorado Eagles team defeated the Idaho Steelheads, 5-4, in overtime in the first of three meetings between the teams this week. Skating with just 14 skaters for two-thirds of the game, and 13 for the final third, Colorado out-shot Idaho 38-20 in a fast-paced game at the Budweiser Events Center.
Friday, November 25; Idaho Forces Rubber Match With 7-5 Win
LOVELAND, Colo. – The Idaho Steelheads defeated the Colorado Eagles, 7-5, in the second of three games this week between the teams. Like Colorado on Wednesday, Idaho entered the contest with just 14 skaters, but they made the most of their few chances — the Eagles out-shot the Steelheads 45-20 — in netting the victory.
Saturday, November 26; Former CHL MVP/Scoring Champion Ulanski Returns to Eagles
LOVELAND, Colo. – The Colorado Eagles, proud affiliate of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets & the AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps, announced today that veteran forward Kevin Ulanski has signed with the team. Ulanski played the past three seasons with Colorado in the Central Hockey League, being voted the league’s MVP in 2009-10.
Ulanski ranks 5th on the team’s all-time scoring list with 288 points (93-195-288) in 193 games (1.5 points-per-game). In 2009-10, he won the CHL’s scoring title with 109 of those points, becoming just the second Eagles player to top the 100-point plateau in a season.
A former standout at the University of Denver, where he won back-to-back NCAA championships, Ulanski has found great success in the past when paired with Eagles captain Riley Nelson. In their three seasons together — in addition to helping each other win successive CHL MVP awards — they have combined for 557 points (an average of 93 points per player, per season).
Saturday, November 26; Ulanski Nets Winner in Return; Eagles Top Steelheads, 6-3
LOVELAND, Colo. – The Colorado Eagles defeated the Idaho Steelheads, 6-3, taking two out of three games in their Thanksgiving Week mini-series. Aaron Schneekloth scored two first period goals and Kevin Ulanski netted the game-winner after signing with the team earlier in the day.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Friday, Dec. 2, Saturday, Dec. 3 & Sunday, Dec. 4; Eagles Play Home-and-Home Set With Utah
The Eagles and Grizzlies will face-off three times in as many days this weekend, traveling between Utah and Colorado after Friday night’s game. The three meetings will be the first of seven between the teams in December, including each of the Eagles’ four home contests. The teams met three times in November, with the Eagles taking three of six possible points. Utah enters the week three points ahead of Colorado in the Mountain Division.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
RIGHT ON CUE – Veteran forward Kevin Ulanski re-signed with the Eagles Saturday morning. Saturday night, the player who ranks 5th on the team’s all-time points list showed he hadn’t lost his former MVP touch as he scored the game-winning goal and recorded an assist. Incredibly, 24 of Ulanski’s 94 goals as an Eagle have been game-winners (over 25%).
LIKE FISH IN A BARREL – The Eagles had their way when it came to shots-for and -against last week versus the Steelheads. In the three games, Colorado out-shot Idaho 129-67, nearly a 2:1 margin. In the process, the Eagles set new season highs for shots in a game (46) and in a period (18), and tied a season low for shots allowed in a period (4).
WE’VE GOT ANOTHER WINNER – When Andrew Penner earned the victory against Idaho on Saturday, it marked the first time this season that an Eagles goalie other than Kyle Jones recorded a win. Jones had been in net for each of the team’s previous eight wins, which ties him for 4th in the ECHL. The win was Penner’s 34th in the ECHL (his first since the 2007-08 season when he was playing with the Johnstown Chiefs) and his franchise-leading 64th.
MUST BE THE ‘STACHE – Defenseman Aaron Schneekloth had quite a month of November, highlighted by his strong play against Idaho last week. The veteran blueliner recorded 10 points (6-4-10) in as many games on the month, five of them in three games against the Steelheads. Entering the week, he leads all ECHL d-men in points (16), goals (8), power-play goals (5) & shots (46); he recorded 10 of those shots on Saturday alone.
UN-BEAR-ABLE – Colorado’s power play has struggled mightily against Utah’s top-ranked penalty-killing unit (88.6%) so far this season, going just 1-20 (5%) in three contests. Their lone man-advantage marker came at home, while they went 0-10 at the Maverik Center. That’s a big reason why the Eagles have the worst road power play in the league (12.9%).
NOT JUST FOR FOOTBALL – When the Eagles host the Grizzlies this Sunday, it will mark the first of just two Sunday games on the team’s schedule this season (the only one at home). It will be just the 11th Sunday regular season home game in the franchise’s nine year history.
OTHER HAPPENINGS
Holiday Store – With the holiday season upon us, we’ve once again opened a seasonal store at the Foothills Mall in Ft. Collins, giving Eagles fans another place to purchase team merchandise, tickets, and more for their loved ones this year. The store (located in the old Lady Foot Locker location) is open now and will close on Dec. 31. (http://www.coloradoeagles.com/news.php?nid=1110
Toys For Tots – We’ll be teaming up with the United States Marines again this year in the annual Toys For Tots drive. If you’d like to help, please bring new or lightly used toys (for children ages 0-14) or cash donations this Saturday & Sunday. We’ll have boxes set up inside the main lobby.