When rumors began circulating about the Colorado Avalanche dissolving their relationship with the Fort Wayne Komets, fans immediately speculated about a shift to the unaffiliated ECHL team located just forty minutes north of Denver in Loveland, the Colorado Eagles.
After months in limbo, the Avalanche finally announced today what we had guessed all along: the organization’'S not-quite-ready-for-the-AHL prospects will spend time developing just up I-25.
‘‘We are thrilled to finalize a partnership with the organization that truly put the sport of hockey on the map in the state of Colorado,” said Eagles President and General Manager Chris Stewart. “We feel that this will be a very advantageous partnership for the Eagles, the Avalanche and the fans of this great sport throughout the state of Colorado. We want to be a part of helping the Avalanche capture its third Stanley Cup and we know that the Avs can help us to win our first Kelly Cup.”
The move also makes quite a bit of sense logistically. The Avs’ brass can now keep a closer eye on prospects and a direct flight to San Antonio is now easily accessible from Denver International Airport.
We will have a clearer idea who might be on the roster after training camp in September.