Colorado Eagles Return to Ice, Pick Up 1st Point

The Colorado Eagles are a professional AHL minor league hockey team playing in Loveland and affiliated with the NHL's Colorado Avalanche. This weekly notebook series takes a deep dive into the team.

The puck finally dropped on the Colorado Eagles season.

The AHL minor league affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche had their season abruptly halted last March due to the COVID pandemic. The Eagles also were delayed in getting their 2021 season started.

But alas, Eagles hockey is back.

Colorado opened the season against the San Diego Gulls on Saturday (Feb. 13) and Sunday (Feb. 14). The Eagles lost both games 3-2.

But Colorado didn't leave empty handed in the standings.

Colorado Eagles defenseman Greg Pateryn scored with 13 seconds remaining in regulation in Sunday's game to force overtime and earn Colorado a point in the standings. Pateryn has NHL experience with the Avalanche, Wild, Stars and Canadiens.

The Gulls went on to win 3-2 in overtime with a Jamie Drysdale game-winner. The teams will meet again soon.

Colorado Eagles Games This Week

Watch every game live on AHL.TV

• 7 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 17) at Ontario Reign
• 7 p.m. Friday (Feb. 19) at Ontario Reign
• 8:30 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 20) at San Diego Gulls

Colorado Eagles Mourn Loss of co-founder Ralph Backstorm

The Colorado Eagles announced earlier this month that team co-founder Ralph Backstrom died at age 83. He helped found the Eagles in 2002 and served as team president from 2003-2007.

Backstrom had a decorated NHL career, winning six Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens. Only nine players in NHL history have more.

“Ralph Backstrom was the most honorable gentleman I’ve ever encountered in my professional life and he was single-handedly responsible for professional hockey in Northern Colorado,” said Eagles owner and CEO Martin Lind in a press release.

“We all are forever indebted to this legacy of a gentleman and we pray his family has peace and comfort in this difficult time.”

Eagles announce transactions before start of season

The Colorado Eagles announced these moves on Friday (Feb. 12) before the season-opening series.

• Reassigned goaltender Kevin Carr to the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies.
• Colorado Avalanche Recalled forwards T.J. Tynan, Miikka Salomaki and Jayson Megna; and defensemen Dan Renouf, Dennis Gilbert and Kyle Burroughs.
• Defenseman Greg Pateryn was reassigned to the Colorado Eagles.