Colorado Eagles prepare for upcoming training camp

LOVELAND, Colo. – The ice sheet at the Budweiser Events Center has been decorated with the Colorado Eagles’ logo’s, players are signing contracts and preparations are under way for a seventh year of CHL hockey in Northern Colorado.

Eagles President and General Manager Chris Stewart has taken back the reigns as head coach for the upcoming 2010-11 season. Stewart’s return, along with changes brought about by the melding of the CHL and IHL have resulted in the Eagles the theme – “Recharged”, signaling the return of the  high-scoring, aggressive, high-energy brand of Eagles hockey that fans have come to expect over the years. 
Recharging includes the return of two players from the team’s inaugural  roster and eight players from last year’s team including team captain Riley Nelson, Ryan Tobler, Jason Beatty, Kevin Ulanski, Andrew Penner,  Aaron Schneekloth, Steve Haddon and Adam Hogg.
Joining forces with the International Hockey League and the implementation of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Professional Hockey Players Association has resulted in two additional veteran player allowances for each CHL team.
The Eagles recently announced the signings of veterans Beatty, Nelson, Tobler, and Schneekloth to go along with the earlier signings  of Ulanski and former Rocky Mountain Rage and Rio Grand Valley Killer Bees foe, Daymen Rycroft.
In addition, Eagle’s coaches and scouts have sought out and brought together a solid group to choose from in order to recharge the talent pool for the upcoming season. As of mid-September, the Eagles have signed several players who will be competing for roster spots at Eagles training camp.
Forwards include:

• Braden Desmet, a rookie center from Strathmore, Alberta who played is coming off four season at the University of Wisconsin – Superior (NCAA) and three post-season contests with the Mississippi RiverKings.

• Matthew Glasser, a rookie left wing from Calgary, Alberta selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the seventh round (#220 overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Glasser just finished four seasons with the University of Denver Pioneers (NCAA).

• A. J. Hau, a native of Fort Collins, Colorado who captained the Colorado State University Rams ( ACHA D-II) for the past three years after playing his freshman year at Augsburg College ( NCAA D-III) . 

• Brad MacMillan, a right wing from Grand Prarie, Alberta and former member of the Fort Wayne Komets (IHL). MacMillan also played for the UHL’s Missouri River Otters. The fiesty right wing’s fighting style will hopefully ease the loss of Eagles fan favorite, Fraser Filipic, who recently announced his retirement. 

• Lee Zalasky, a rookie left wing from Lloydminster, Alberta who played for five-seasons with the University of Alberta Golden Bears (CIS) and contributed to two University Cup wins in 2006 and 2008.

Defensive hopefuls competing for a spot on the Eagles blue line include:

• George Bradley, a native of Burlington, Ontario who was acquired by the Eagles from the Allen Americans last season in a trade that sent Erik Adams to Texas. Bradly played five seasons and was last season’s captain for the Brock University Badgers (CIS). 

• Chris Hau (older brother of A.J. Hau), another Fort Collins local. Hau  played three seasons with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs (NAHL) and continued his career at Colorado State University after coming home to Northern Colorado.

• David Brown, a native of Houston, British Columbia who played for five seasons at the University of Manitoba (CWUAA).

• Kyle Peto, a former Corpus Christi IceRays blueliner from Lethbridge, Alberta. Peto played for four seasons at Minnesota State University – Mankato followed by three seasons in Finland, England and the ECHL.

Four goalies have been invited to training camp including Andrew Penner, the winningest goalie in team history, who returns for a third season to seek a championship to cap  off a successful professional career. Also returning after a three-season absence is Tim Boron, a fifth-year pro from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Boron was the game-winning goalie in game seven of the 2007 President’s Cup Championship for the Eagles. After winning the Cup, Boron played in the ECHL for Las Vegas and Stockton and in the CHL with Wichita and Mississippi.
Other prospects include:

• Kyle Jones, a third year pro from North Delta, British Columbia who excelled in his four seasons with St. Norbert College ( NCAA D-III) and went on to play for the Worcester Sharks (AHL), Phoenix Roadrunnners (ECHL) and the Quad City Mallards (IHL).

• Andrew Loewen, a rookie from Winnipeg, Manitoba and a four-year standout from Canisius College (NCAA). Among the highlights during his time with the Golden Griffins was a school-record 61 saves in his collegiate debut against No. 9 Miami and a 201-minute shutout streak in 2008, the 10th longest in NCAA history.

The Eagles will host the Odessa Jackalopes for a pair of pre-season contests on Thursday, October 7th at the NoCo Ice Center and Saturday, October 9th at the Budweiser Events Center.
Their regular season opens on Friday, October 15th with a two-game series against the visiting Arizona Sundogs.
Contact the author/photographer at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com