Current Eagles wear Nelson’s #12
LOVELAND, Colo. – After losing nine of the final eleven games, including a two-game sweep by the Utah Grizzlies, to close out the regular season, the Colorado Eagles begin the 2014-2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs on a down note. Although their 41-23-4-4 record was the best season in Colorado’s ECHL tenure.
Numerous challenges were presented to the Eagles team over the course of the regular season including several long-term call ups to AHL teams along with a spate of injuries to key players. Injuries were also a major issue in goal resulting in the Colorado Eagles dressing a team record of eight different goalies.
Despite all the challenges the one word that Colorado Eagles coach Chris Stewart used to describe the 2014-2015 incarnation of the Eagles was resilience.
Speaking at the Coach’s show on Monday night Stewart said, “The guys battled and battled and never gave up. That’s probably the thing that is going to stick out in my mind about this hockey club. Even if they were down two or three goals and there was four or five minutes left you could never count out the Colorado Eagles. There was always a chance we would find a way to win and you know what? I know of some teams that in the recent past where that never would have worked. Not that they were not very good hockey teams but they just did not have that resilience and this team is very resilient.”
Among the many highlights of the season were two opportunities to honor previous members of the Colorado Eagles by retiring their jersey numbers up into the rafters of the Budweiser Events Center.
- Coach Stewart looks on as Riley Nelson spoeaks holding son Henry with wife Colleen at his side
Colorado’s all time leading scorer, founding member of the Eagles, and former captain, Riley Nelson, saw his number 12 raised to the rafters on 12-12-2014 in a touching ceremony in front of a sellout crowd. Nelson, now a video coach with the Eagles, offered a heartfelt thank you to fans, team mates coaches, friends and his family all the while holding his son Henry in his arms while wife Colleen beamed at his side.
Ryan Tobler speaks to the crowd as wife Carrie and daughter Caislin look on.
Another jersey retirement on 3-28-2015 saw number 17 belonging to another original Eagle and fan favorite, Ryan Tobler. Along with his daughter Caislin and wife Carrie, Tobler traveled to Loveland, Colorado from their home in Alberta, Canada (where Ryan is coach for the Bentley Generals Hockey Club of the Chinook Hockey League) to speak at his jersey retirement ceremony. In an emotional speech to a very supportive crowd, Tobler shared his memories of his time in Colorado and his appreciation for all who played a part in his seven seasons as a Colorado Eagle.
As a third seed in the Pacific Division the Colorado Eagles begin the 2014-2015 ECHL Kelley Cup Divisional Semifinals against the second seeded Ontario Reign. These two teams match up well head-to-head with similar won-loss records. Ontario’s record facing Colorado is 6-4-3 while Colorado against the Reign is 7-5-1. With the Reign holding home ice advantage in the 2-3-2 home and away format it should provide a very competitive series.
The schedule for the best of seven series is:
Game 1 – Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m. PT at Ontario
Game 2 – Friday, April 17 at 7 p.m. PT at Ontario
Game 3 – Sunday, April 19 at 7:05 p.m. MT at Colorado
Game 4 – Wednesday, April 22 at 7:05 p.m. MT at Colorado
Game 5 – Friday, April 24 at 7:05 p.m. MT at Colorado (If Necessary)
Game 6 – Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. PT at Ontario (If Necessary)
Game 7 – Tuesday, April 28 at 7 p.m. PT at Ontario (If Necessary)
Please contact the author/photographer at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com
Current Players honor #17
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