Colorado Eagles Soaring To New Heights

A new level of pro hockey is coming to Loveland, Colorado, next season, and it's been 15 years in the making.
Since its inception in 2003, the Colorado Eagles have quickly soared through the ranks of professional hockey. Starting in the Central Hockey League, the team immediately found success as the Eagles finished second in the league with a 43-16-5 record in their first season. In their next campaign, the club reached the CHL's pinnacle, winning its first Ray Miron President's Cup as league champions. Two years later, the Eagles added another President's Cup to their trophy case.
"Down here, they have a winning mentality, and it's nice to be a part of that," said Colorado Avalanche prospect and current Eagles goaltender Joe Cannata.
That mindset has fueled 15 outstanding years of hockey in Northern Colorado.

In eight years in the CHL, the Eagles compiled two championships, three first-place finishes, six division titles, a finals berth five times and an impressive 340-129-41 cumulative regular-season record.
The team's success at the CHL level has certainly carried over to the ECHL.
Last year, the club won its first Kelly Cup as ECHL champions in just its sixth season in the league. This season, the team is defending its title after putting together the franchise's best finish yet with a 48-18-6 record and 102 points during the main campaign.

At the conclusion of the postseason, the Eagles will make the jump to the highest level of pro hockey behind the NHL, the American Hockey League, and will serve as the Avalanche's primary minor-league affiliate starting next fall.
The Eagles have been the Avs' ECHL affiliate since 2016, and a number of Avalanche prospects have already benefitted from the partnership between the two organizations.
When the Avalanche traveled to Stockholm, Sweden, for the NHL Global Series last November, Cannata joined the team for the trip and worked with its two veteran goaltenders.
"They've been great," said Cannata of his relationship with the Avs. "Just to be around those world-class players and hang out with Varly (Semyon Varlamov) and Bernie (Jonathan Bernier) and those guys and just learn as much as I can… Day in and day out how hard they work on a day-to-day basis. They're the hardest working guys. They're out there 30 minutes before and sometimes staying out after. Those guys are in the NHL for a reason. It was cool to be with them."

One of the many positives of the new AHL partnership is the proximity between the Avalanche and Eagles. Roughly 50 miles apart, just a short jaunt on Interstate 25, future Eagles players will have many of the Avalanche's resources at their disposal and will be able to have more time around NHL players and staff.
The work between the Avs and their minor-league prospects have already paid dividends.
"They've helped me a lot. It's been three years now I think that I've been in the organization," said Eagles defenseman Nicolas Meloche, a 2015 second-round draft pick of the Avalanche. "They're always pushing us to grow as a player and as a man too, because it's our first year pro, and it's way different (than junior). The Avs brought Tracy (Tutton, skating coach) to help me and Ollie (David Oliver, director of player development) and Clarkie (Brett Clark, development consultant), and it's fun to see everyone. They're such great people. Their caring helps us grow too."
Avalanche prospect and current Eagles forward J.C. Beaudin echoed Meloche's sentiment.
"It helps me a lot," said Beaudin of the partnership between the clubs. "We're three lines here (in the ECHL), so I have a lot of ice time and I can practice a lot of small details that the Avs want me to work on.
"It's good to be here and know the place, know the staff, so next year when I come here to camp I'll know what to expect. It's a good thing."

The desire for hockey in Northern Colorado has grown rapidly, and that's pretty apparent given the Eagles' numbers. The Eagles own the minor-league hockey record for the most consecutive sellouts at 348 games, much like their NHL brethren, which still owns the NHL record with 487 straight sellouts (set from 1995-2006).
"It's pretty amazing," Meloche said of the fans in Loveland. "Every shift you hear everyone screaming. During the game, even on the jumbotron, it's amazing what they do here. It's making the game really fun with the crowd, and it helps us a lot too being here with the altitude and the crowd. The other team has to face two big things and to adjust to that. I think it's a great advantage for us, and it's fun to play here."
"The crowd here blew me out of the water, and I'm more excited for next year," added Travis Barron, who signed his entry-level contract with the Avalanche on March 29 and is currently getting used to pro hockey with the Eagles. "This is home next year, and I'm really happy and excited."
There is certainly plenty to look forward to for Colorado hockey fans. The future is bright with two professional hockey teams on the rise in the Centennial State, and the excitement is a mile high.
Hockey in Colorado continues to reach new heights, and the Avalanche and Eagles aim to keep soaring.