 |
| Power
Play |
15.1%
- 14th |
| Penalty
Killing |
82.2%
- 10th |
| FORWARDS |
| CHRIS
RICHARDS |
24-56-80
(+16) |
| ERIC
PRZEPIORKA |
25-42-67
(+16) |
| PETR
POHL |
24-41-64
(+13) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| JEFF
ALCOMBRACK |
8-23-31
(+2) |
| KURTIS
DULLE |
5-26-31
(+27) |
| STEVE
BIRNSTILL |
7-17-24
(+11) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| ANDY
FRANCK |
26-10-4
(0 SO)
2.85 GA
.906 PCT |
|
| BRAD
ROBERTS |
6-5-1
(0 SO)
3.28 GA
.879 PCT |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Youngstown
vs Colorado |
|
|
SCHEDULE |
| 1 |
MAR.
28 |
YOUNGSTOWN
4 - COLORADO 6 |
SEED
3 |
2 |
MAR.
29 |
YOUNGSTOWN
0 - COLORADO 5 |
SEED
2 |
39-20-5
(83) |
3 |
APR.
1 |
COLORADO
4 - YOUNGSTOWN 1 |
37-20-7
(81) |
| |
4 |
APR.
3 |
COLORADO
2 - YOUNGSTOWN 5 |
|
| |
5 |
APR.
4 |
COLORADO
1 - YOUNGSTOWN
0 |
|
| |
6 |
APR.
8 |
YOUNGSTOWN
at COLORADO |
|
| |
7 |
APR.
9 |
YOUNGSTOWN
at COLORADO |
|
| Colorado
Wins Series 4-1 |
|
SERIES
PREVIEW
|
|
|
Loveland,
CO - For the fifth season in a row and
since the very first CHL puck drop at the Budweiser Events
Center in Loveland, Colorado, the Colorado Eagles have
won their division championship and entered the playoffs
as one of the top seeds.
This year the Eagles struggled down a much bumpier road
and it remains to be seen if the old adage "what does
not kill us, makes us stronger" can be applied to this
Eagles squad.
Some interesting challenges and questionable personnel
changes have been contributing factors in the team's poorest
record in their five years in the league.
Goal
The Steelhounds have ridden the back of Andy Franck who
posted 26-10-4 record this season with a 2.85 GAA and
0.905 save percentage. Kevin Beech will back up Franck
and this season he patrolled the crease for 7 games with
the Steelhounds going 4-3-0 with two shutouts and a good
2.14 GAA and .935 save percentage.
Meanwhile, the goalie-go-round propelled by Coach Chris
Stewart's ongoing desire to get the best possible goalie
tandem has had some momentum-killing repercussions this
year. Sebastien Laplante and Bryan Bridges are the goalie
tandem in Colorado. When the music stopped this season
these two goalies had the last two seats on the bench.
The tandem of Emond and Bridges worked well and the Eagles
finally seemed to be on track to make some serious noise
and extend their winning ways in the Northwest Division.
With a 24 and 14 record at the trade deadline the Eagles
had turned things around from the slow start to the season.
Stewart, having returned to the bench in late December
after major back surgery, saw an opportunity to do some
tinkering with his lineup. In order to mitigate the loss
of Emond next season, due to his impending veteran status,
Stewart traded him at the deadline to Wichita for their
No. 1 goalie, Sebastien Laplante.
Young back up goaltender Bridges suffered a couple of
confidence-stealing losses where he was pulled in favor
of Laplante in games that had gotten away from him.
With a lot of forwards who can rattle the twine and some
tough hard hitting defensemen who also contribute in the
scoring column, the only questionable part of the team
has to be in goal. The Colorado Eagles staff, players
and fans are placing a lot of responsibility on Sebastien
Laplante's small frame. The nod in net goes to Youngstown
with their more experienced goalie and team chemistry
in net.
Defense
The defensemen on this Eagles team are no slouches when
it comes to goal scoring, as the fifth leading scorer
is silky smooth skating, Aaron Schneekloth who tallied
60 points in only 59 games. Veteran defenseman, Brad Williamson,
is also high in the points standings again this year by
tallying 40 points. The Youngstown SteelHounds know that
in order to stop the Eagles from taking this playoff series
they need to focus on crashing and banging in the crease
and keeping the quick legs and fasts reflexes of Laplante
from stopping the puck.
The nod on defense goes to the Eagles with their stronger,
deeper blueline corps.
Forward
Led by veteran forward and team captain, Greg Pankewicz,
the current President's Cup winners are best known for
fast-skilled play from their talented forward corps. Centers
Riley Nelson and Ed McGrane have battled back and forth
all season for the team scoring title with Nelson taking
it 91 points to McGrane's 89 in the last game of the season.
Chris Richards was the leading scorer this season for
the Hounds and played in all 64 games on the schedule.
Richards has found a new old home in Ohio, having played
at Ohio State in collegiate career. On the Richards picked
up 80 points on 24 goals and 56 assists. Youngstown has
offered a place to mature and become a leader on the roster
as evidenced by his assist count this season. Eric Przepiorka
picked up 25 goals and 67 points this season and like
Richards was a plus-16. Joel Irving also chipped in on
the offense with 26 goals and 63 points.
The nod on offense goes to Colorado for the veteran leadership.
That leaves the Eagles to focus on the unenviable task
of stopping the larger and more physical Youngstown team
from manhandling their goalie and making room for the
small fast forwards who carry the bulk of the scoring
Eagles threats.
Prediction; Youngstown wins series in 7 games
Contact the author at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com
|
|
|
Game
1 |
Youngstown
4 - Colorado 6 |
| by
Terry Sanford - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Colorado
Leads Series 1-0 |
Loveland,
CO
- The Colorado Eagles battled the Youngstown Steelhounds
right down to the final game of the regular season.
And the battle will likely continue for the better part
of seven games in this opening round series for both clubs.
A four all tie after two periods resulted when the Eagles
fought back from a three goal outburst from the Hounds
in the second. Trailing 4-2 with four minutes left in
the period Ryan Tobler netted a powerplay goal to get
the Eagles back on track. Ed McGrane scored less than
a minute after Tobler to knot the score at four.
The game winner cam off the stick of Seth Leonard with
less than eight minutes to go in the third. Les Borsheim
added the insurance tally with four minutes left in the
game.
Sebastien Laplante picked up the win for Colorado stopping
30 of 34 Hounds’ shots. Andy Franck took the loss while
facing 35 shots.
The Eagles’ Ed McGrane was first star on the night with
two goals and an assist.
Both teams hook up again Saturday night for game two before
heading to Ohio for three games.
Contact the author at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
2 |
Youngstown
0 - Colorado 5 |
| by
Terry Sanford - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Colorado
Leads Series 2-0 |
Loveland,
CO – Looking for a statement?
Colorado 5 – Youngstown 0
Simple, elegant and to the point.
The prediction in this column was a seven game series.
That seems so long ago at this point.
On Saturday night the Eagles came with their “A” game
to the Budweiser Event Center and took complete control
of this best of seven series with the Steelhounds. Following
a quiet first period where neither club found the back
of the net the Eagles broke open the game with two of
their three powerplay goals and an even strength marker
to salt this game away by the midway point of the second
period.
Erik Adams and Seth Leonard potted the powerplay tallies
and Greg Pankewicz put the Eagles up 3-0 by the 10:49
mark of the second. From that point on the Colorado defense
took over the show and ended any hope the Hounds had of
coming back.
Youngstown had nine powerplay opportunities on the night
(Colorado went three for seven) including a late two-man
advantage and could not break through either the Eagles’
defense or goalie Sebastien Laplante who made 31 saves
on the night to earn the shutout.
Meanwhile, the Eagles spread the scoring around with Les
Borsheim and Ed McGrane closing out the scoring in the
third frame.
This is a game the Hounds needed, badly. Having lost the
opening contest Friday night a quick, early goal might
have turned this one around. Now they must return home,
right the ship and take at least two of three on home
ice to send this series back to Loveland for a game six
or seven.
Game three is in Youngstown Wednesday night.
Contact the author at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com
|
|
Game
3 |
Colorado
4 - Youngstown 1 |
| by
Terry Sanford - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Colorado
Leads Series 3-0 |
Youngstown,
OH –
After taking the first two games at home the Colorado Eagles went on the road to the Steelhounds' home ice where they had not won yet this season.
Captain Greg Pankewicz and goalie Sebastien Laplante led the Eagles to a workmanlike 4-1 victory in the hostile environs of the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, Ohio.
Scott Polaski got the Eagles on the scoreboard first with a power play goal at 10:08 of the first period with Youngstown's Chris Richards scoring on a Hounds power play five minutes later. The first period ended with the score tied 1 to 1.
Pankewicz scored his first goal of the contest early in the second frame on a beautifully executed shot from the top of the right circle that blew past Andy Franck before the Steelhound goalie had a chance to react.
Youngstown rallied to hold off the Eagles for the remainder of the second period including a great 5-on-3 penalty kill.
In the third period Colorado's Riley Nelson got his first goal of the postseason on a nifty feed from Pankewicz to put the Eagles up 3 to 1 and Sebastien Laplante continued to make acrobatic saves to keep the Hounds off the board.
With Steve Haddon in the box for tripping at 17:33 of the third period Youngstown pulled the goalie for the two-man advantage. Pankewicz grabbed the puck and scored into an empty net for a short handed goal to give the Eagles the 4-1 win and a 3-0 playoff series lead.
Game 4, with a chance for the Eagles to sweep, will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Chevrolet Centre.
Contact the author at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com
|
|
Game
4 |
Colorado
2 - Youngstown 5 |
| by
Terry Sanford - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Colorado
Leads Series 3-1 |
Youngstown,
OH – The Colordo Eagles are officially awful in game four's. In
their brief history they have yet to close out a series in 4 games and are 3
for 7 in the fourth game of any playoff series.
It is therefore not surprising that the Youngstown Steelhounds came out on
top in tonight's tilt while outplaying and outscoring the lacklustre Eagles
for a final of 5 to 2.
The first period yielded no goals but the Hounds were in control for the
majority of the first twenty minutes. Although they did not score, they out
shot the Colorado team by a large margin.
Merely 13 seconds in to the second period all the hard work the 'Hounds put
in finally payed off for Ryan Bennett as he scored a power play goal on
assists by Kurtis Dulle and Bryan LaChapelle to get Youngstown on the board.
The second Steelhounds goal came off the stick of Mark Odut as he found
himself on a short handed breakaway that he managed to put past Sebastien
Laplante at the 3:27 mark.
Colorado Eagles coach Chris Stewart was forced to call a time out to get
his team refocussed after Hounds amatuer signee Jim Russo scored to
make it 3 to 0 halfway through the second period.
After the break the Eagles finally got something going offensively and Jay
Birnie potted a goal against Andy Franck's replacement for the night, Kevin
Beech, assisted by Seth Leonard and Aaron Schneekloth.
Shortly after that, Ryan Tobler put the Eagles within 1 goal with assistance
from Greg Pankewicz and Aaron Schneekloth. But that was all the scoring the
Colorado team could muster on this night.
Kurtis Dulle and Chris Richards assisted as Ryan Bennett scored again late in
the second period to stretch the Steelhound lead to 4 to 2 and early in the
third frame LaChapelle, assisted by Kurtis Dulle and Steve Burnstill,
scored the 5th goal for the hometown Hounds.
The visiting Eagles tried to get back in the game in the third period but
ended up setting the stage for tomorrow's chance to close out the series by
sending a message to the Youngstown team to expect a battle in game 5.
The two teams go at it again Friday night at the Chevrolet Centre.
Contact the author at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com
|
|
Game
|
Colorado
- Youngstown |
| by
Terry Sanford - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Colorado
Leads Series 3-1 |
Youngstown,
OH – On their second attempt the Colorado Eagles were able to close out the best of seven game series against the Youngstown Steelhounds at the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, Ohio Friday night.
Period one was played closely between these teams and it was not until late in the frame that Youngstown began to dominate the visiting Eagles. Although the score was 0 to 0 after 20 minutes the Eagles were outshot 14 to 8.
The Colorado team reversed that trend in the second period when they peppered Youngstown goalie, Kevin Beech,with 17 shots on goal while the Hounds could only muster 9 shots.
Shooting from all over the ice the Eagles were rewarded with a Riley Nelson power play goal at 9:03 of the middle period. Greg Pankewicz and Aaron Schneekloth assisted on what turned out to be the only goal of the game.
Both teams played a determined and hard-working third period with the Eagles determined to hold the one point lead and the Steelhounds working hard to match or exceed it. The two goalies, Kevin Beech and Sebastein Laplante, matched one another save for save through the remaining period of hockey and in the end Laplante had earned his second shutout victory of the series.
The Steelhounds and Eagles lined up at center ice and shook hands and congratulated one another at the end of the evening in one of the most enjoyable displays in all of sport.
It is on to the next round for the Colorado Eagles who will face either the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs or the Texas Brahmas next in the Conference Finals.
Contact the author at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| Power
Play |
20.3%
- 3rd |
| Penalty
Killing |
81.2%
- 11th |
| FORWARDS |
| RILEY
NELSON |
37-54-91
(+31) |
| ED
McGRANE |
35-54-89
(+13) |
| GREG
PANKEWICZ |
24-52-76
(+22) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| AARON
SCHNEEKLOTH |
21-39-60
(+18) |
| BRAD
WILLIAMSON |
9-31-40
(+11) |
| LES
BORSHEIM |
9-13-22
(0) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| SEBASTIEN
LAPLANTE |
11-7-2
(1 SO)
3.25 GA
.912 PCT |
|
| BRYAN
BRIDGES |
8-5-2
(0 SO)
3.47 GA
.893 PCT |
|
|
|
