Av's AHL Affiliate Eagles Looking for Another Strong Season

The Avs affiliate Eagles won the Kelly Cup in back-to-back years in 2017 and 2018. They were founded in 2003 by former Montreal Canadien Ralph Backstrom. The team won two CHL championships in the Central Hockey League. In 2011, the Eagles left the CHHL for the ECHL and were second-tier affiliates of Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames. After the Vegas Golden Knights joined the NHL, they left EChL to join the AHL for 2018-19 season.

The Eagles' 2022-23 roster includes a number of highly-touted Avalanche prospects. Last season the team had two of the top ten point scorers in the AHL, Kiefer Sherwood and Dylan Sikura. Both players are with new teams this season, making room for younger players to step forward. Martin Kaut, the 16th-overall pick in 2018 NHL Entry Draft, had 31 points in 46 games in 2021-22 regular season for the Eagles and five points during the Calder Cup playoffs. Shane Bowers, drafted in first round of 2017 NHL draft, has only 45 points (23 goals and 22 assists) in 117 regular-season games with theagles. Oskar Olausson, a 19-year-old from Sweden, played with Team Sweden in World Junior Championships. He will be one of most closely watched players on the 2018-19 Eagles.

Jordan Gross was the best player on the Eagles' defense last season. Jacob MacDonald is the most accomplished blueliner on Eagles’ team. Justin Barron was drafted by Avs in 2020, but he was traded to Montreal for Artturi Lehkonen last year.

Justus Annunen played in 48 games for the Eagles last season. Ann unen was named the AHL's goaltender of the month for November. Trent Miner played for both the Vancouver Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles in the WHL and in NHL.

Av's AHL Affiliate Eagles are looking for another strong season. They open their season visiting the Texas Stars on October 14. Their first home game is on Friday, October 21 against Calgary Wranglers.