Head to Head
Eagles Overall Record vs Aces Last Season: 8-3-0
2016-17 Regular Season Records
Colorado Eagles: 2-0-0 (Last Season 41-27-3-1; West Division Champions)
Alaska Aces: 0-0-0 (Last Season: 27-38-4-3; Last place in the West Division)
Last season, the Eagles were highly successful against the Alaska Aces, and with the way the Eagles have been developing the team this offseason we can look for the Eagles to continue that pattern against Alaska. The Eagles will be looking to get their division rivals off to a bad start to this brand new regular season this weekend, and to improve their record to 5-0-0 to try to get to the top of the Mountain division.
Players to Watch
Colorado Eagles
Matt Garbowsky- The Eagles finally brought back one of their own, as Garbowsky returns to the Colorado Eagles from his loan to the San Antonio Rampage in the AHL. The 25 year old spent his rookie season with the Elmira Jackals, where he would contribute with seven goals and 14 assists in 33 games with the Jackals. Garbowsky also spent some time with the Rochester Americans of the AHL where he would play 24 total games, after making his professional debut with the Americans in the end of the 2014-15 season.
Darik Angeli- The newly signed Colorado-native will be coming home after playing 50 ECHL games with the Manchester Monarchs, and suiting up for 11 AHL games last season with the Manitoba Moose and the Portland Pirates. The hometown boy attended Green Mountain High School and played for the Colorado Rampage U18 team before playing two season with the Sioux City Musketeers, Chicago Steel, and the Tri-City Stormy of the USHL where he would record 52 points in 117 games. He would then gain a scholarship at Ohio State University, where he would contribute 25 goals and 20 assists in 128 games with the Buckeyes.
Shawn Outlette-St.Amant: The newly assigned forward will be looking to make a huge impact with the Eagles this season after being sent down by the Rampage yesterday. Fans of the Eagles should be excited to watch the 19 year old play for the team this season, as he will add to the depth of the team. After spending three-years with the Val-D'Or Foreurs in the QMJHL, St. Amant contributed a total of 113 points in 194 games with the Foreurs. St-Amant will be coming off his most productive with the Foreurs by generating 23 goals, and 34 assists in 60 games while also capturing the Guy Carbonneau Trophy as the league's Best Defensive Forward in the QMJHL.
INJURY REPORT: Eagles Forward, Johnny Lazo has been placed on the injured reserve due to a fractured femur that happened during the Eagles practice session on Monday.
Alaska Aces
Michael Garteig- After releasing goaltender Lukas Hafner from his contract, the Aces received Garteig from the Vancouver Canucks to fill the goaltending void that Hafner's departure left for the team. The 24 year old most recently played for Quinnipiac University, where he led the Bobcats to the 2015-16 NCAA Division 1 National Championship.
Tim Wallace- The former NHLer was recently signed by the Aces, and will no doubt be looking to provide a veteran example inside of the locker room and out on the ice. The 32 year old is a native of Anchorage, Alaska. The 6-1, 205 pound center made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2008-09 season, contributing with 4 goals and 9 assists for 13 points in the NHL.
Why the Eagles Will Win
The Eagles will have to jump on the Aces right away if they would like to come away with the victory on Friday night. This will be the first game for the Aces this regular season, and they will be trying to make a statement against the West division champions last season in the Eagles. In order for the Eagles to walk away with the first victory of the weekend series with the Aces, the Eagles will have to jump off to a quick lead and use their strong defense and goaltending to close out the game.
Be sure to tune into the game at 7:05pm on 107.9 The Bear, and of course.. GO EAGLES!