LOVELAND, Colo. – It began with a the announcement in July that the Colorado Eagles would be holding a press conference to make a major disclosure concerning the direction of the team. Speculation ran the gamut of a possible new affiliation to joining a different league to pending personnel decisions. The latter turned out to be correct as Eagles CEO, Martin Lind, announced that Chris Stewart was stepping down as coach and assuming the position of President and General Manager and in that capacity he had hired former NHL tough guy and former Mississippi River Kings head coach, Kevin McClelland to fill his vacant coaching position.
McClelland in turn named former Eagles, Chris Hartsburg and Ryan Bach, assistant coach and goalie coach respectively.
The changes continued with the signings and non-signings of various players throughout the long months of August and September. Ed McGrane and Erik
Coach Kevin McClelland runs training camp. Photo by Terry Sanford.
Erik Adams on defense was welcomed back for his 4th year with the Eagles as well. After missing the first two months with his continuing rehab of a previous season’s injury, the former D.U. Pioneer quickly found his stride and resumed his blueline dominance in the later part of the regular season and into the playoffs.
Three more skaters were given contracts in the second week of August. Former Colorado College alumni, Scott Polaski, will start his 4th year in an Eagles uniform. Polaski coming off a great season last year where he excelled in the playoffs has the skills to play both forward and defenseman and gives the Eagles a real advantage with his versatility.
An Eagles forward who plays his best on the road is former amateur signee during the 2006 playoffs, Steve Haddon. Centering a tough hard working third line, Haddon and his linemates showed a welcome scoring touch while keeping up their defensive responsibilities last season.
Every CHL team needs a few guys who can drop the gloves and stand up for the skill players. Jason Beatty is growing into that role with the Eagles. This former Lubbock Cotton King defenseman knows when and where to start the fisticuffs but he has also been known to notch a goal or two.
Greg Pankewicz listens. Photo by Terry Sanford
Two more renowned tough guys were resigned by the Eagles on August 18th. Fraser Filipic and Jay Birnie will be back with the team this season. Filipic will begin his sixth season with the Eagles this fall. He has become a true fan favorite because of his incredible toughness and solid fighting style. Deemed the “Best Fighter, Pound-for-Pound” in the CHL at 5’10” and 185 lbs., he is a dynamo on ice whether it is skating, scoring or swinging.
Jay Birnie is another player that has played on both defense and offense. The 6’3″ 220 lb. British Columbia native, primarily a defenseman, he switched to offense to help out an Eagles club in the midst of an injury bug last season. That versatility and his ability to “lay the lumber” to the tune of 23 fighting majors last season make Birnie a valued commodity.
A week after Birnie and Filipic were resigned the first new player for the Eagles, Kevin Ulanski, was brought aboard. Having worn the “A” for The D.U. Pioneers during their championship seasons in 2004 and 2005, Ulanski knows a bit about Colorado and is said to be looking forward to returning to play hockey here.
With both of the goalies from last season not returning the one certainty for the 2008 – 2009 season is that the Eagles will start play with a whole new goalie tandem. Two quality netminders, Morgan Cey and Andy Penner were signed in early September. Both Cey and Penner have had AHL and ECHL experience and are expected to fight it out for the number one position. The third goalie signed is Kyle McNulty who played 4 games for Coach McClleland with the Mississippi RiverKings last season.
Rookies Logan Bittle, another forward/defenseman and Adam Knight, a forward, joined the Eagles as mid September signings along with 6’4″ blueliner Brad Woods and Minnesota native, Brett Hammond the later two return from having played previously in Europe.
Coach Mac teacjes. Photo by Terry Sanford
Defenseman Patrick Dineen and Center Darren Delainey were added to the club in late September. Dineen was a 5 year NCAA player and Delainey played for the SJHL the past three years.
The trade of Paul Esdale to Corpus Christi at the trade deadline last season resulted in two new players in the offseason. Forwards Jon Jankus and Adam Hogg have joined the Eagles for the 2008-2009 season.
The last major signings of the season were finalized last week. Because of the four non-goalie veterans only rule in the CHL, the Colorado Eagles had to give up one of the five skaters who have achieved veteran status as of the end of last season. It was presumeably a very hard decision not to offer a contract to defenseman Brad Williamson.
The four returning veterans signed by the Eagles are Defenseman Aaron Schneekloth, Right Wing Greg Pankewicz, Left Wing Ryan Tobler, and Center Riley Nelson. They will be the core of the team going forward and with the depth available in this seasons signees it looks to be another successful hockey season for the five time, Northwest Division Champion, Colorado Eagles.
Contact the author at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com
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