TEMPE, Ariz. – The Central Hockey League has announced that the Colorado Eagles hockey club (Larimer County Sports, LLC) have exercised their right to leave the league pursuant to a settlement agreement. 
According to the league, the decision follows previous litigation between the CHL and the Eagles in 2007, which allowed in the constructed settlement agreement, for the team to negate their license agreement following the 2010-11 season. As a result of the Eagles’ decision, all Colorado players are immediately declared unrestricted free agents within the CHL.
The Eagles organization followed with the announcement that they will join an expansion team in Chicago as one of the two newest members of the ECHL.
The move has been widely expected by those in the know. As previously reported by Pro Hockey News, the team will essentially take the place of the Victoria Salmon Kings in the Mountain Division of the ECHL’s Western Conference. The ECHL’s Board of Governors unanimously approved the withdrawal of the Salmon Kings from the league earlier this month, following their owners’ purchase of a Western Hockey League franchise. Widely recognized as the most successful franchise in the CHL, the Eagles have sold out nearly every home game (5,289 seats) since they first took the ice on October 17, 2003 and maintain a waiting list for prospective season ticket holders. During their eight seasons in the league, the Eagles have won three regular season titles, six division championships, four conference championships and two President’s Cup championships. They very nearly won a third championship last week, but were stymied by the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, who took early control of a forced Game 7 and never let go, earning their fist championship win in a decade. “We wish the organization well in their future endeavors,” CHL Commissioner Duane Lewis said in a prepared release. “The Eagles contributions to the CHL and vice versa have certainly been mutually beneficial and the team’s tremendous fan base is to be commended for the presence they have displayed over the past eight seasons.” Contact the writer at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com
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