The Colorado Eagles are flying high atop the AHL with a league-best 9-2-0-0 record and a four-game win streak. Meghan Angley and Kevin McGlue break down what’s behind the Eagles’ early dominance: from a blue line that scored every goal in the win over San Diego, to Danil Guschin and TJ Tynan powering one of the league’s top power plays. They dive into Tristen Nielsen’s hot streak and his first NHL contract, Taylor Makar’s NHL debut, and how depth and defensive strength have defined this team’s identity. With one more road game in Coachella before a big rematch at home against Abbotsford, the Eagles are proving they’re built to stay on top.
The Colorado Eagles are flying high atop the AHL with a league-best 9-2-0-0 record and a four-game win streak. Meghan Angley and Kevin McGlue break down what’s behind the Eagles’ early dominance: from a blue line that scored every goal in the win over San Diego, to Danil Guschin and TJ Tynan powering one of the league’s top power plays. They dive into Tristen Nielsen’s hot streak and his first NHL contract, Taylor Makar’s NHL debut, and how depth and defensive strength have defined this team’s identity. With one more road game in Coachella before a big rematch at home against Abbotsford, the Eagles are proving they’re built to stay on top.
00;00;00;01 - 00;00;23;14
Meghan Angley
Hello everybody, and welcome in to the official podcast of the Colorado Eagles. I'm your host, Megan Angeli, a credentialed reporter with Gorilla Sports covering the Colorado Avalanche and the Colorado Eagles. And I'm very excited for today's episode. We're going to dig into the hot start for the Eagles, who have officially hit the ten game mark. Now 11 games into the season riding a four game win streak.
00;00;23;20 - 00;00;39;28
Meghan Angley
And there's no better to talk about this hot start for this Eagles group than the voice of the Colorado Eagles. I am joined this afternoon by Kevin McGrew, VP of Communications and Broadcasting and play by play for the Colorado Eagles. Kevin, how are you doing today?
00;00;40;01 - 00;00;52;26
Kevin McGlue
I'm doing fantastic. It's absolutely wonderful to be on the the podcast. I absolutely love it. And it's great now to have a full podcast talking about Colorado Eagles hockey and all these amazing prospects that are coming through the avalanche pipeline.
00;00;53;00 - 00;01;10;10
Meghan Angley
Yeah, this has been the best I could have asked for for the how this season has started. I guess, first and foremost, what's it been like for you covering this team and getting to know some of the new faces around the team from the perspective of the players and some of the new coaching staff?
00;01;10;13 - 00;01;25;11
Kevin McGlue
Well, I'll tell you what I you know, you always go into a season and you hope that everything meshes well and then you add in, you've got a new head coach, a new assistant coach, and you just hope that everyone comes together. And I'll tell you what I mean. I have been blown away by how awesome, how seamless the transition has been.
00;01;25;11 - 00;01;49;15
Kevin McGlue
And this is a group that seems like they genuinely, really, really care about one another. I know it's, you know what, a month into the season here, maybe not even that, but you know, everybody gets along so well. And I think that really does pay dividends when it comes to what goes on, on the ice. And I think Mark attest to Derek Ami, the new assistant coach who's come in, you know, just done such a fantastic job of bringing this team together, getting it together as a, as a group.
00;01;49;18 - 00;02;05;04
Kevin McGlue
And and I think they really respond to that coaching staff that's in that dressing room now. And they certainly did with their option cloth. But you always hope that it goes well when you make a change. And I think it's gone very, very well. And, you know, being nine and two to start the year certainly helps with everybody's mood.
00;02;05;04 - 00;02;29;24
Kevin McGlue
But I think a big chunk of the reason why they are nine and two is because this is a it's a great group and a lot of new faces that have been impactful for this team. Not just the veteran guys that you brought in, but, you know, you look at rookies like Alex Cagney and, the impact that that he's made here early on seeing seeing Taylor McCart, you know, get his opportunity in the NHL, but also do what he's done here with the Colorado Eagles and and watch him grow.
00;02;29;24 - 00;02;38;20
Kevin McGlue
And it just seems like they're not even baby steps. Sometimes they're big steps that you're seeing from these guys from game to game. So, it's been a wonderful start.
00;02;38;22 - 00;02;55;26
Meghan Angley
You mentioned that nine two record and writing this four game win streak with a big win over San Diego despite not scoring first, which seems to be the theme for the Eagles this year. Best record in the league right now. What specifically is going so well for this group?
00;02;55;29 - 00;03;10;20
Kevin McGlue
You know it's interesting. This is not a team that, you know, has to go out and win games 5 to 4 or 4 to 3. And this is a team that just seems to find ways to win games. A lot of those have been pretty low scoring, and I think that's a byproduct of the fact that they've been really stingy defensively.
00;03;10;20 - 00;03;29;25
Kevin McGlue
I mean, they're only averaging about 21 shots against per game. They have a sub two goals against per contest as a team. Collectively they've had outstanding goaltending. So again, I think they make it a little bit suffocating for teams offensively, with what they've done on the defensive side of things. And then they have timely goal scoring.
00;03;29;27 - 00;03;46;03
Kevin McGlue
And it hasn't been a 1 or 2 man approach. I mean everybody's really kind of pulling on the rope. You look at last night, you get your goals from a guy who had never scored with the Colorado Eagles. And Romney added a guy who'd never scored with the Colorado Eagles and Ryan Moon and and a really solid stay at home defenseman.
00;03;46;07 - 00;04;02;13
Kevin McGlue
And Kate Middleton, who gets you an empty netter at the end. So again, everybody's been able to to play a big role in this one. So it's not a case of, oh boy, if this guy gets called up, we're going to be in in real trouble. This has been a really good collective team effort that's buying into the defensive side of the game.
00;04;02;16 - 00;04;21;16
Kevin McGlue
And I think that has been, a real nightmare for some, some opposing teams when they have to face a team knowing that, you know, you better make the most of your 21 or 22 shots that you're going to get. And, you know, for Colorado, whether it's Isaac Page, Trent Miner, Kyle Kaiser, you know, everybody has come out and given this chance to have a chance to win night in and night out.
00;04;21;16 - 00;04;25;09
Kevin McGlue
And, all that leads to this night and to start.
00;04;25;11 - 00;04;36;24
Meghan Angley
You mentioned the strength of goaltending to start the year. So I was curious what the significance of getting Trent Miner back is for this group and what kind of a difference he makes in net.
00;04;36;26 - 00;05;04;09
Kevin McGlue
Yeah. You know, I'd ask Mark the test too about that just yesterday. And I asked him if, you know, you feel like that's an opportunity for a guy and Trent Miner, you know, he's still pretty young himself to, to maybe serve in a little bit of a mentorship role for a guy like Isaac Bosch. And he said, you know, the mentorship I want to see from him, you know, is showing his work ethic and showing how he approaches each and every day, how he prepares for the game, how he prepares in practice and gives you an opportunity to kind of learn under a guy that you know is in the same situation.
00;05;04;09 - 00;05;24;03
Kevin McGlue
He wants to get to the National Hockey League just the same as Isaac Pash does. He had a chance to start the year up there. But I think, you know, for the guys who are returning, you know, what you have back there from a guy that one year, 22 games last season and a guy that was just so steady, so reliable, so consistent and earned his opportunities to get up with the avalanche.
00;05;24;03 - 00;05;41;23
Kevin McGlue
So, you know, I think it is a case where whether it's Isaac Posch, whether it's Trent Minor, this team feels confident playing in front of either netminder. But you know exactly what you get each and every night from a guy who's been here for years now. And Trent Miner has really proven himself.
00;05;41;26 - 00;05;55;15
Meghan Angley
And you mentioned all those goals scored against San Diego, excitingly, all of those defensemen. And I wanted to know how this Dcau has stepped up as Jake McDonald continues to work behind the scenes to get healthy.
00;05;55;17 - 00;06;11;20
Kevin McGlue
Yeah, and that was the million dollar question coming into the season. I mean, you lose a guy that, you know, I set a record, that was a record that was there for, what, 80 plus years of of of hockey. You saying, well, 30 goals. I mean that that's an impressive threshold to get to. And he gets you at 31 last year.
00;06;11;22 - 00;06;26;01
Kevin McGlue
And don't forget he and his wife welcomed in a new baby right around the time that he broke that record. So, you know, he found a way to get that done. And all of a sudden you find out, you know, here's the guy, the defenseman of the year in the American Hockey League who's going to be out for the first few months of this season.
00;06;26;04 - 00;06;42;05
Kevin McGlue
How he can replace that? I mean, not just back on the blue line, but, you know, how are you going to replace 31 goals, over the course of the season? But you know what? This this group along the Blue line has done this year. It's just been phenomenal. It was great to see them have their night last night against San Diego and, and provide all the goal scoring in that game.
00;06;42;05 - 00;06;59;18
Kevin McGlue
But you know, for fans who maybe haven't had a chance to, to check out, a game here yet, this season, I think you're really going to be excited with Colorado and what they have and whether it's guys that maybe you've had a glimpse of in white, a Jack of Sean, Kate Middleton, they're all just so very consistent.
00;06;59;20 - 00;07;16;24
Kevin McGlue
The guys that can pop up and play with the avalanche and and filling in that role and hopefully, you know, have an extended look here at some point. But, you know, you look at Alex Gagner and that's a guy that that to me it's just really been impressive. I asked him the other day, so, you know, what have you learned from playing with a guy like Kate Middleton?
00;07;16;24 - 00;07;35;03
Kevin McGlue
A guy with a very similar frame, but a lot more experience playing in this league. Obviously getting up to the NHL, waiting his time to do that. And he said, you know what? He's he's constantly talking to me. We're always going over footwork Stickwork positioning where I need to be, things that I need to be thinking two steps ahead about.
00;07;35;06 - 00;07;53;27
Kevin McGlue
And he said it's it's been absolutely incredible to play with, with Kate Middleton. And, you know, I think those are the things that you get in the American Hockey League that you just have to have for a young prospect, because you get that one on one time with a guy that's, you know, been through this year, sat there and waited that it's maybe played a similar style.
00;07;53;29 - 00;08;10;27
Kevin McGlue
And you see that the physicality of an Alex Gagner and you can't help but think that maybe that feeds off of my defensive partner is banging and crash and he's got the same body type as I, you know, I've got to find a way to mold myself into a little bit of what we're seeing from him. And, and I think it's just been huge for, for Alex.
00;08;10;27 - 00;08;15;03
Kevin McGlue
Greg, I think that's a really exciting prospect for the Colorado Avalanche.
00;08;15;05 - 00;08;36;14
Meghan Angley
I have loved that pairing and the transition to from Gagné, from college to pro. Just fitting in immediately on the Eagles PK. I feel like Kid Middleton has a huge part in that. So I was curious of Keaton Middleton's impact, even outside of the individual work that he's doing with Gagne as a leader, kind of what is the difference that you've seen having him back in this group?
00;08;36;16 - 00;08;56;21
Kevin McGlue
Yeah, and he's a vocal leader. I think that's one of the things that that, you know, can't be overstated. You realize sometimes when you get a guy back and you know, he's a leader in the room, but he but he's not a necessarily a vocal guy. He's a lead by example type of a guy. When you get somebody who's a vocal leader and maybe he's one of the louder voices in the room, it's a huge impact when you get that person back.
00;08;56;29 - 00;09;13;20
Kevin McGlue
And for for the Colorado Eagles, that's been Kate Middleton, and he's a guy that is not afraid to to step up in and weigh in, talk to guys individually, talk to the team collectively and then go out and lead by example on the ice. And is a guy that plays in a lot of different situations, has for years for the Colorado Eagles.
00;09;13;20 - 00;09;27;01
Kevin McGlue
But, you know, when you're talking about young prospects, whether it's it's Gagné or beyond, you know, there's a guy that that's going to sit up and he's going to tell, you know, we need to be doing this. This is what went wrong. This is what went right. This is what's going to get you to the next level.
00;09;27;01 - 00;09;49;14
Kevin McGlue
So, again, I think it's one of those huge impacts of the NHL and, and having younger players, prospects, prospects exposed to guys, like a Keaton Middleton because, they can they can show you the way. They can kind of take you in some areas beyond coaching, what you're going to get, you know, on the ice or, watching film with the coaching staff, you know, he's he's been through the trenches of what you're going through.
00;09;49;17 - 00;10;05;06
Kevin McGlue
And, you know, he's a real selfless guy. And he's, he's very, very happy to to show you some of the areas that that you can clean up, sort of show some of the areas that it's going to make it more successful for the Eagles night in and night out. So, you know, having him back here is it's it's huge for the Eagles.
00;10;05;09 - 00;10;27;15
Meghan Angley
I love that shout out to the role that the experience of players can have on some of these young prospects. Logan O'Connor talks about the fundamental difference that Andrew Agassi made in his inaugural year, getting acclimated to the pro level. And I think it goes a long way. And it it's a real reflection to of the caliber of leaders that the Eagles organization targets.
00;10;27;15 - 00;10;44;23
Meghan Angley
You mentioned Jacob MacDonald's historic season last year. Jackson quietly a career high in points. So this is more of a fun one. But I wanted to know what storyline you're looking at in terms of a player that's due to take maybe a big step that you're just looking at closely.
00;10;44;25 - 00;11;03;21
Kevin McGlue
You know, it's amazing what Wyatt Ahmed has done early on. I mean, staying on the blue line there, I mean, he's a guy that, you know, he's he's he's just a guy you can rely on back in his own zone. And he's tough. He block shots. I mean, the amount of shots that he blocks night in and night out is, is just astonishing, considering you he's not going to not been able to stay healthy, throughout his career.
00;11;03;21 - 00;11;20;02
Kevin McGlue
But, you know, he's quietly starting to stack up some points, and he's he's quietly elevating his game even more. And I think he's a guy that, you know, if he can get another shot, an opportunity to go up to the NHL with the avalanche, you saw him scores first NHL goal at the ads late last season.
00;11;20;05 - 00;11;31;13
Kevin McGlue
He's a guy that maybe under the radar a little bit is having himself a really nice start to this season. And he's a guy that you can't help but root for. So I'm excited to see what the rest of this year takes Wyatt on it.
00;11;31;16 - 00;11;50;14
Meghan Angley
And we talked a little bit about some of the new faces on this team. I wanted to key in on some of the new offensive weapons that have been added to this group that I've already shown up as key players. On the success of the Eagles powerplay and Danielle Guzman, Barry Boulay, Tristan Nielsen what is the difference you've seen in these players?
00;11;50;17 - 00;12;05;05
Kevin McGlue
You know, Daniel Goosen is a guy that, there's there's a few of those players, whether you're talking about in the NHL or here in the NHL, where anytime they have the puck on their tape in the offensive zone, you kind of sit up a little bit because you realize, you know, they have the ability to put the puck in the net from, from anywhere on the ice.
00;12;05;05 - 00;12;26;25
Kevin McGlue
So, you know, Daniel has been that guy and he's been reliable in the power play. And if you look back at the last several years, you know, Colorado's kind of been a little bit up and down on the man advantage. And the consistency maybe hasn't been there the way that they would like to, you know, despite that, they had wonderful seasons, lost to the team that won it all last year, probably felt like they had a chance to to be the team to, to lift the cup.
00;12;26;25 - 00;12;47;10
Kevin McGlue
But, you know, for Colorado now all of a sudden you have a top three power play and a top three penalty kill. And that sort of dominance on special teams has been huge for Colorado. And, you know, it's it's you pair that with what they've done defensively. You're checking a lot of boxes that are going to win you games on a consistent basis.
00;12;47;10 - 00;13;04;24
Kevin McGlue
And for me, you know, being able to go out and consistently score on the power play. You look at the first 11 games, Colorado has scored three power play goals in three of those 11 games, so they have the ability to score in bunches on the man advantage. It's not like every night is one for five and you're just kind of chipping away at that.
00;13;04;27 - 00;13;19;28
Kevin McGlue
You know Colorado in their last six games or close to 50% on the power play. So you know, these are things that that when you games there are things that are difference makers, particularly when you get into those one goal contests. So you know for Colorado especially teams have been amazing. And some of these new faces, a big part of that.
00;13;20;04 - 00;13;38;04
Kevin McGlue
I think you could throw Alex Barr a bullet into that makes as well. He was a guy that was really sitting there waiting, you know, to break through. This is a goal score. This guy that put up 61 goals over a two year span was Syracuse in the American League. Had 22 last year at Laval. Doesn't have a goal in the first eight games of this season.
00;13;38;04 - 00;13;53;27
Kevin McGlue
And I think, you know, that was one of those where it's starting to creep into the back of your mind. And why is this not going in for me? Well, all of a sudden, two goals against Bakersfield, scores a goal the next, next game against Coachella Valley. So, you know, this is a guy that, again, you you hope it's the dam breaking for Alex Barr bully.
00;13;53;29 - 00;14;13;05
Kevin McGlue
Because he can have those kinds of years where he's going to get you 25, maybe 30 goals in a season. And who knows, maybe get yourself an opportunity to get back to the NHL, with the avalanche if that opportunity arises. So, you know, I think the couple of these new faces have been really big, Ronny added. Scores the game winner last night against San Diego.
00;14;13;05 - 00;14;29;18
Kevin McGlue
And and now all of a sudden you get Ronny added. And you know, he's a guy that, that you can really rely on and lean on in a lot of different situations on the ice. So, you know, a lot of new faces, but they've they've all been impactful for Colorado. And if you want to throw Isaac Passion there I know he played one game late in the season for Colorado.
00;14;29;18 - 00;14;45;05
Kevin McGlue
But Isaac Parrish you know comes in as a rookie and all of a sudden bang two shutouts. You know in the first handful of games. And all of a sudden the kid is six and one on the year and has incredible numbers. Some of the best you're going to find in the league, whether you're looking at goals against or save percentage.
00;14;45;05 - 00;15;02;19
Kevin McGlue
So, yeah, it's always nice because again, it doesn't matter what level you're at when you have new faces, you're always hopeful, but you just don't know what you're going to get for Colorado. You know, whether it's new faces in the dressing room, whether it's new faces, on the bench as coaches, everything has really come together in such a nice way.
00;15;02;19 - 00;15;08;21
Kevin McGlue
I mean, you really couldn't have dreamt it up much better than what the Eagles have had here in the early going.
00;15;08;23 - 00;15;24;05
Meghan Angley
Another strong game from last night against San Diego and going back a night before the game. Winner from Tristan Nielsen, who turned his NHL deal into an NHL deal. What have you seen from Tristan Nielsen that you think has led to this NHL contract?
00;15;24;07 - 00;15;40;07
Kevin McGlue
You know, Tristan Nielsen, I talked to him at the beginning of the year and he had said, you know what? I just wanted to come to an organization where they're going to give you a chance, where they're going to give you a fair opportunity to get to the NHL and to prove yourself in the American Hockey League and open that door when the opportunity arises.
00;15;40;07 - 00;16;01;10
Kevin McGlue
And, you know, there you go. And he said, I didn't expect it to happen that quickly, but, but I know he was very excited to get that deal. But again, that's being rewarded for taking a chance, looking at an organization that says, we're going to give you an opportunity and we're going to give you a chance. And it's it's going to be a level playing field to get yourself to the NHL goes out, has a phenomenal start to the season.
00;16;01;17 - 00;16;19;27
Kevin McGlue
And I think one of the things that really impresses me maybe the most about Tristan Nielsen, it's just the physical side of his game. He's not a guy that's out there collecting points and, just playing on the perimeter, looking for for opportunities when they arise. And he's a guy that's it's first in on the wall. I mean, he'll open up on a guy in an open ice hit.
00;16;20;00 - 00;16;35;27
Kevin McGlue
And I think that's something that's really intriguing about his game is, you know, at least once a game, you're going to go all when you watch Tristan Nielsen hit on somebody, and he's not the biggest guy in the world, but he will not back down. And again, just a fun, fun player to watch.
00;16;36;00 - 00;16;57;14
Meghan Angley
He's not the first player to share in that sentiment that Colorado, the Colorado Eagles organization, the Avs organization as a whole is one of opportunity, you know, a fair shot at opportunity. And I think Taylor McCart is a really good reflection of this. You know, for folks who maybe haven't gotten to see his debut last year, he gets in five games, a playoff game.
00;16;57;21 - 00;17;07;13
Meghan Angley
Now in a few games with the Eagles, he's already earned his NHL call up. Where have you seen the biggest strides in his game and what seems to be working well for him?
00;17;07;16 - 00;17;23;02
Kevin McGlue
You know, to me it's it's fun to watch him because he plays with a lot of confidence. He doesn't play like a rookie. He plays like a guy that wants to get right into the mix. He he plays like a guy that knows he has a great frame that can play like a power forward, and he goes out and does just that every single night.
00;17;23;04 - 00;17;37;29
Kevin McGlue
And, again, it's a guy that I think is this season goes along, you're going to see him spend more and more time in front of the net, and he's probably going to start to rack up a few more goals just by and by putting himself there on top of the crease. But but winning board battles, you know, doing little things.
00;17;38;06 - 00;17;58;17
Kevin McGlue
And again, I think he has a really great attitude and is very much like a sponge wanting to soak up what he can to improve that game so that he can get back there and play with his brother here at some point. But, you know, just a cool thing to see. And I know we were just like everybody else who was excited to see him get the opportunity and also the chance to play with his brother in front of his parents up there.
00;17;58;17 - 00;18;15;09
Kevin McGlue
And, you know, we actually had just landed here in California, and I was sitting by Mark Lopez, two on the plane, and he had gotten the call. I knew somebody was going up. And and that's what he ended up being, Taylor McCaw. So, they had to dig through about seven different equipment bags to find all of his stuff with them.
00;18;15;11 - 00;18;33;00
Kevin McGlue
They put it in one bag and they turned around. They put him right back on a different plane there at the airport and, got a chance to go and play. So, you know, that's, that's one of the unique things about this league that you get a chance to see that, and you can see that the wide eyed look at a player that's going up for the first time and how excited they are, how excited the rest of the players are.
00;18;33;02 - 00;18;46;10
Kevin McGlue
And the coaches and the staff to see a guy, you know, finally get his opportunity to to go up and play in the NHL. So, that was a that was a cool moment, I know, for the Eagles as well as everybody else watching Taylor get to go out there and play in San Jose.
00;18;46;12 - 00;19;10;06
Meghan Angley
The other day. You had a question for later Stu pregame about navigating not having last change on the road. And I loved La Tester's answer about not chasing those matchups because his guys can play against anyone. And I feel like that says a lot about the depth of this team. What can you say about how complete this roster has come together?
00;19;10;08 - 00;19;29;23
Kevin McGlue
You know, it's amazing. I've asked him probably six different questions and completely different realms, as we talk in our pre-game interviews. And one of the things that always gets driven home is, I know I've got a really good team, and I that at the end of the day, we have good players and we have the ability to go out and win hockey games and we have depth.
00;19;29;23 - 00;19;48;26
Kevin McGlue
And this avalanche organization has provided us with depth. We have good young players, we have good veterans, we have good goaltending. And I think that's one of the really cool things about Mark. The test, too, is he'll shoot you straight and you'll say, look, you know, I think this is a good team. And he seems very, very appreciative of the way that the avalanche have constructed this team.
00;19;48;29 - 00;20;05;13
Kevin McGlue
And I think you also look and listen to some of the other coaches. And, you know, you'll watch some of the the interviews that are done. They'll put them up on the jumbotron, prior to a game. And every single coach that we've come across so far says this is this is a really dynamic Colorado Eagles team. This is a team that's got a lot of experience.
00;20;05;13 - 00;20;14;00
Kevin McGlue
This is a team that it just puts the clamps down defensively. So it's not lost on those coaches. And it's certainly not lost on market testing.
00;20;14;02 - 00;20;46;20
Meghan Angley
The post game after the Bakersfield sweep last week he said something to the effect of, you know, we're eight deep, we're 14 forwards deep. He didn't say this. But you look at the goaltending and what Kyle Kaiser did while Trent Miner was up with the Avs alongside Passion Net in Loveland. They're three goalies deep two. I think it's a testament to how well built this team is that on a nightly basis, you have really capable, talented players who get the night off just because they have that many good options and players who fit the identity of this team so well.
00;20;46;22 - 00;20;51;28
Meghan Angley
There's one more game against Coachella to round out this road trip. What do you want to see?
00;20;52;00 - 00;21;09;23
Kevin McGlue
You know, I think for Colorado, what you want to see is, is, you know, continuing to have fresh legs in the first period. I think first periods, by and large, have won them a lot of games in the fact that they can put teams behind the eight ball, lock it down defensively, and it becomes a real uphill battle for the opposition to come back and win those games.
00;21;09;23 - 00;21;25;02
Kevin McGlue
Now that being the case, you look at the game in San Diego. Colorado gives up the first goal. They're down one nothing. After the first period. They still find a way to score three straight wins. So you know it's not the end all be all necessarily. But you know this is a team that in all but two games they've gone out and scored the game's first goal.
00;21;25;02 - 00;21;44;00
Kevin McGlue
And I think that's a big reason why they're nine and two is is good starts. I think you'd like to see that. You want to see, you know, continued pressure defensively to limit shots against I don't know who's necessarily going to start against Coachella Valley. But you know, if you look at going back and forth and maybe put footprint minor back in there, get a great game against the Firebirds to start this, this road trip.
00;21;44;02 - 00;22;01;18
Kevin McGlue
And again, just a known commodity. You know, exactly what you're going to get from him. And, you know, for Colorado, especially teams, you want to see those just continue to flourish and try to stay out of any sort of a rut where, you know, things maybe just aren't going your way for a couple of nights, and that turns into 5 or 6.
00;22;01;18 - 00;22;30;15
Kevin McGlue
And, you know, that hasn't been the case at all this year. You just want to see that continue to trend, in the right direction. And, you know, you mentioned Kyle Kaiser earlier and some of the depth that Colorado has. And, you know, I think it's certainly worth pointing out that, you know, you look at the way the depth has played against some of these teams that have a lot of first and second round pick, some high end prospects, and you don't have to look a whole lot further than that game where Kyle Kaiser has a 26 save shut out against a really good Rockford IceHogs team that has a lot of the future, the
00;22;30;15 - 00;22;49;27
Kevin McGlue
Chicago Blackhawks on it, and guys like Oliver Moore who just got called up to the Blackhawks. And you might not ever see that guy back in the American Hockey League and has next level speed, has incredible skill. And they were heaping shots towards the nets of Kaiser. And he's able to get himself a shutout in that game. So you know they're going toe to toe with some of the best teams.
00;22;49;27 - 00;23;05;23
Kevin McGlue
And not only the best teams but some of the best young prospects. High end draft picks, throughout the national Hockey League that you're seeing at the American Hockey League level. So, you know, the Eagles and some of the young players in particular are really starting to shine against some some very good competition.
00;23;05;25 - 00;23;29;11
Meghan Angley
I love that Kyle Kaiser shout out, because his post game after that shout out was something to the effect of, we're just playing really great team hockey right now. And in talking with, let's test you about how some of the defensive details have come together for this team in allowing some of the fewest shots against him, the fewest goals against, he said when it comes to the buy in from this team to do the right things defensively, it requires no convincing.
00;23;29;14 - 00;23;38;14
Meghan Angley
They just show up and they're fully bought in and I feel like that. Kyle Kaiser game is a really big reflection of that very thing that you're talking about.
00;23;38;16 - 00;23;57;09
Kevin McGlue
Oh, absolutely. And watching those guys block shots to try to save a shutout, you know, early on in the season for a guy that just joined the team this year. But knowing that, hey, this this kid's got a shut out going, we're not going to let that slip away. And you have guys that are out there that have been playing in the league for 6 or 7 years.
00;23;57;09 - 00;24;13;08
Kevin McGlue
You have young kids in their first season. Yeah. Laying down block and shots. And I know it's it's one of those things that that people watch and they say, well you got to block shots. I mean, it's not a video game. It hurts to block shots that you see guys going out there and they're already beat up in the middle of the season.
00;24;13;10 - 00;24;33;27
Kevin McGlue
But that's the team aspect of it where I'm not going to let this guy lose his shut out because I refuse to lay down and block a shot. So that's exactly the way that they bought in. And those are the things that, again, produce big seasons. That's what we're hoping for here. And so the first 11 games, I mean, just exceeding expectations in a lot of different categories.
00;24;33;27 - 00;24;39;08
Kevin McGlue
And I think the team Collective is one of those that it's just been phenomenal.
00;24;39;10 - 00;24;49;29
Meghan Angley
And more importantly, that Abbotsford rematch at home for the next home series coming up this weekend. Do you think this has a little extra meaning for this group?
00;24;50;01 - 00;25;12;17
Kevin McGlue
I think it does. I think it does for the guys who are coming back. Absolutely. I know it will for Tristan Nielson, a guy that was on that team and and want to call it a cup, with Abbotsford last year. But yeah, I think that that there's certainly, you know, some feelings of that was a season where we had a chance to win the whole thing, and that's the team that took us out and ended up going and winning it themselves.
00;25;12;17 - 00;25;27;21
Kevin McGlue
So I think that for the guys that are returning from last year's team. Yeah, absolutely. I know it's it's a long season series. But yeah, that first one in particular, when you get a chance to go out and and face them, particularly in Loveland on your home ice, I think it's going to have a little bit more meaning to it.
00;25;27;21 - 00;25;44;27
Kevin McGlue
But, you know, I think also right now you're looking at a team that's saying, you know, right now we have a chance to to maybe be a pretty special group. And I think you start to get some of those those looks and those thoughts, whether it's players or staff or fans, you know, people that that work in the front office.
00;25;44;27 - 00;26;12;18
Kevin McGlue
If this looks like something that's pretty special, that that's been put together here and nobody wants to to go out and and say anything because it's a long season and anything can happen. And, you know, you see how injuries can impact whether it's, it's here. It's what the ability, you know, the trickle down that can occur. But but as it's composed right now, the way that it's meshed early, I think you have a lot of people that are going, okay, this, this this looks pretty special.
00;26;12;18 - 00;26;29;20
Kevin McGlue
Has the potential to be pretty special. And I think more so than going out and maybe getting a little bit of revenge or, or but, you know, paying back the Abbotsford team. This is a team that really just wants to keep the train rolling. And so far they have. And you get another opportunity to get back on your home ice.
00;26;29;20 - 00;26;40;17
Kevin McGlue
And it's a different animal playing at Blue Arena than it is playing in other stops across the NHL. So I think for Colorado, you know, first and foremost, they want to stack two more points in the win column.
00;26;40;19 - 00;27;01;13
Meghan Angley
I like that bigger picture focus. I think Abbotsford as it is there. They've got a lot of guys that have been called up to Vancouver, and they've had a really rough start to this season. I don't know that the Eagles need to key in on that series as any sort of revenge, but rather just an extension of focusing on the playoff hockey that they want to be playing more broadly.
00;27;01;13 - 00;27;17;15
Meghan Angley
And I'm glad you said it just now, because I had to stop myself from putting a question in the rundown to the effect of man, this feels like something really special. A spark has come out here with this Eagles group, but it is only 11 games into the season, so I want to let it continue to play out.
00;27;17;18 - 00;27;38;16
Meghan Angley
But this really does seem like a very special group. It's so deep, well constructed, top to bottom with our offensive weapons at the top, but also a threat from the back end out. You've got D that's willing to contribute, but also really responsible defensively and some great goaltending to start the year. It's hard not to get excited about the Colorado Eagles right now.
00;27;38;18 - 00;27;56;22
Kevin McGlue
Well, and you know what again I know a lot of people are superstitious. I'm probably one of them. I know players are superstitious or coaches and they don't like to talk about any of it. But you know, if you just want to go through the numbers up to this point, 11 games into the season, it's the best start for the Eagles since joining the NHL.
00;27;56;25 - 00;28;25;16
Kevin McGlue
Colorado's been around since 2003. This is the second best start for the Eagles in any league through 11 games. I mean, 0809 when the team was still in the Central Hockey League, they were ten and one. That's the only start that's been better for the Eagles than what they've enjoyed right now at this point. So, I think those are the things that that make you feel like it's okay to sit back and go, this this feels this feels like something that maybe, you know, could really produce something special as it goes along.
00;28;25;16 - 00;28;45;12
Kevin McGlue
But again, you know, you want to knock on wood, you want to make sure everything goes well. But hey, if you just talk about first 11 games, that's it. You leave it alone. It has been an incredible start. I mean, anytime you look at the overall standings, the entire league and you're sitting at the top, I think you have the right to say this seems pretty special here early on.
00;28;45;14 - 00;28;57;11
Meghan Angley
Yeah, I think it's worth everybody investing in following this group throughout the entirety of the season. Invest in the stock of the Colorado Eagles early because I think it's going to be a fun year.
00;28;57;13 - 00;29;14;09
Kevin McGlue
Oh, absolutely. And you know what I think if if you're primarily an avalanche fan and you're worried about prospects, do they have those as well. And they've got guys excited about that. And if you're talking about, hey, I'd like to know a little bit more about a guy that might be the next call up. That might be the next one that comes in.
00;29;14;09 - 00;29;37;10
Kevin McGlue
If there is an injury, you know, there are guys that that I think you could be excited about with this team as an avalanche fan. So, you know, whether it's Isaac Posch, Alex Gagner, I mean, Taylor, a car, you name it. I mean, there's there's a lot to be excited about. And then whether that's strictly from an Eagle standpoint or if that's from an avalanche pipeline standpoint, a lot of good things going on in love.
00;29;37;13 - 00;29;57;17
Meghan Angley
Yeah. I didn't even mention Ivan. Ivan. But this line with Polen and Bradley coach the test, who is described it as perhaps the line he trusts the most out there. And I think it's because of how reliable and consistent they've been. But the flashes of skill from Poland going back to that O.T. winner, the other night off his backhand has been so fun to watch.
00;29;57;17 - 00;30;15;26
Meghan Angley
I think that the success of that line, whether you're investing in the goal scoring of Jason Poland or the reliability and the strengths on the peak of Ivan Ivan, who's growing in that kind of a specialty role, there's a lot to get excited about just in that line alone from a prospect perspective.
00;30;15;29 - 00;30;35;26
Kevin McGlue
But no question about it. And I think you look at Ivan, Ivan, you know, here's a guy that that spends a huge chunk of the season in the NHL comes back and has had a great attitude this season. And he's a guy that, you know, just wants to go out, prove himself, put up points, but play the right way, try to earn himself a spot back in the NHL.
00;30;36;02 - 00;30;52;29
Kevin McGlue
Jason Poland to me, has been a guy that's taken a massive step this year and seems like a guy that starts playing with the confidence of somebody who was one of the best players in college hockey. You know, coming into the pro game, when he's, at Western Michigan, you know, you knew that you had a guy that can put the puck in the net and could create offensively.
00;30;52;29 - 00;31;09;13
Kevin McGlue
And now all of a sudden, you know, he's taken those big steps in that direction. And Chase Bradley is a guy that, you know, every single team says we need to chase Brad. Yeah. And that's what he is a he's he's a guy that's a utility guy that can come in and scoring a timely goal. You know, he's a guy that's going to play a big hit.
00;31;09;13 - 00;31;25;11
Kevin McGlue
He's a guy that is going to play good, solid, structured, defensive, hockey in his own zone. He's going to win board battles. So yeah, you know, you look at those lines and you say there's a lot to trust in any of the four lines that you're going to throw out on the ice in the night tonight.
00;31;25;11 - 00;31;29;20
Kevin McGlue
And certainly that Poland Ivan Bradley line is, is no different.
00;31;29;23 - 00;31;55;15
Meghan Angley
Yeah. That, you know, I'll stop there because you're right, I, I love the depth of this team I love it get Jake Wise back. He's a oh special teams highly utility player. I've loved Marc's and then for a very similar reason. So I'm excited about the entirety of that forward group. The depth of this team. And I'm excited to cover the Abbotsford series coming up this weekend at home.
00;31;55;18 - 00;32;12;12
Kevin McGlue
Absolutely. I think it's going to be a lot of fun, and it's going to be nice to finally be back at home. This is the second road trip for the Eagles, and we have come to the exact same places in Coachella Valley and San Diego on both those road trips. So, you know, you don't complain about being at Palm Springs, but it'll be nice to get home.
00;32;12;15 - 00;32;42;05
Kevin McGlue
Nice to be in front of those fans, in a nice opportunity to, try to take some positive steps. And, you know, these are the points that you stick away when you're when you're running hot, that that can pay huge dividends, when all of a sudden you're in April and you're scratching and calling and you're looking for every point you can possibly stick, into the standings to try to get yourself, whether it's into the playoffs, into the top spot, trying to get a bye in the first round, right now is where you're starting to squirrel away some of those points that you're going to need really badly in April.
00;32;42;05 - 00;32;56;12
Kevin McGlue
So, I think as we go into this Abbotsford series, that's that's job one is just to try to stack some points and, you're going to do it against a good team that's been off to a slow start. But you know, you're going to get the best at Abbotsford. So, I'm excited and looking forward to it this weekend.
00;32;56;15 - 00;33;08;19
Meghan Angley
Well, that is all I have for you this afternoon. Kevin, thank you so much for taking some time out of this road trip. While you're over there covering the team. I really appreciate it. And I am really excited about this Eagles group.
00;33;08;22 - 00;33;32;05
Kevin McGlue
Yeah. My pleasure. Always, always enjoy coming on. And again, a lot to be excited about. And if you've not been out to an Eagles game, maybe you're an ABS fan and you're in the, the area. Get up there on Friday or Saturday and watch Colorado take on Abbotsford. You could see, you know, where this excitement is coming from, but you can also see some guys to get excited about individually that might find their way down to Ball Arena before, you know.
00;33;32;08 - 00;33;38;23
Meghan Angley
Yeah, the Taylor Ricard debut snuck up on all of us. So don't get caught off guard. Just come to all the Eagles games you guys.
00;33;38;25 - 00;33;39;28
Kevin McGlue
Absolutely.
00;33;40;00 - 00;33;41;21
Meghan Angley
Thanks so much Kevin.
00;33;41;24 - 00;33;44;00
Kevin McGlue
Thank you.
00;33;44;03 - 00;34;03;16
Meghan Angley
That was Kevin McLeod, director of communications and broadcast for the Colorado Eagles and their play by play voice of the Colorado Eagles. He is one of the best to weigh in on the state of this Colorado Eagles team and the strong start to this season. And you might be wondering when you're in a different outfit and a completely different location.
00;34;03;17 - 00;34;24;27
Meghan Angley
What's going on? Tampa Bay lightning are on the ice. I've just finished up their morning skate. They'll be playing Tampa tonight and a couple of exciting recalls for the Colorado Eagles. Jack Ashar was recalled by the Avs and Tristan Nielsen was also recalled. And he will be making his NHL debut tonight against the lightning for the Avs. We talked to him this morning.
00;34;24;28 - 00;34;44;11
Meghan Angley
He's really excited about the opportunity. We'll drop in an interview here shortly with Tristan Wilson after he signed his NHL contract with the Avs. He talks a little bit about why he chose Colorado and how this was a place that touted opportunity. And now it's being realized tonight with an NHL debut, and it is a credit to him.
00;34;44;11 - 00;35;04;03
Meghan Angley
He's had a strong start with the Eagles and impressed in pre-season. He's not only effective in his offensive contributions, but he plays with a little bit of an edge and that was something that coach Marc attest to, talked about and what it was that Tristan Nielsen has done to earn that NHL contract. The test he said that he plays to was identity.
00;35;04;04 - 00;35;18;03
Meghan Angley
He's not going to ask permission to be himself. Here's some more on coach. Let's test his thoughts on Tristan Nielsen. Kristen Nielsen earns an NHL contract in getting to coach him. Now for some games. What do you think he did to earn that?
00;35;18;05 - 00;35;40;08
Tristen Nielsen
I think it's just a consistent, competitiveness. I think he got right on the radar and main camp with immediately how he he doesn't ask permission to play to be himself. He'll he'll go after star players. He doesn't check license plates. He's just he plays hard against whoever. And I think that's, that's a credit to him.
00;35;40;08 - 00;35;56;00
Tristen Nielsen
He he's very comfortable in who he is and what kind of player he is, and he knows how to show up with it most nights. And here it's been pretty consistent. I'm proud of him. Proud of him for doing that in earning earning a contract and especially extending a year. So we've got a little bit more time with him.
00;35;56;03 - 00;36;03;04
Tristen Nielsen
But really happy for when guys get some personal accolades and achievements along the way. It's it's good for the whole good.
00;36;03;06 - 00;36;25;29
Meghan Angley
That was coach Lee has two. And his thoughts on Tristan Nielson earning that NHL contract I think no better to talk about it also other than Tristan Nielsen. So in just a moment, Tristan Nelson will also talk about a little bit about the chance that he took on himself in choosing Colorado and his identity as a player. Here is for Nielsen and everything he's done to earn that contract.
00;36;26;01 - 00;36;32;18
Meghan Angley
All right, Tristan, I wanted to catch up with you after signing your NHL contract. Can you tell me a little bit about what that moment meant to you?
00;36;32;21 - 00;36;44;16
Tristen Nielsen
I was just special. I mean, obviously I had an NHL contract before, and, to, come off of one was, pretty hurtful. I guess the summer. And to be able to work myself back on it made me, me and my family really proud.
00;36;44;19 - 00;36;50;14
Meghan Angley
What was your expectation coming to the Eagles? Was that something that you knew you had the opportunity to fight for?
00;36;50;17 - 00;37;01;18
Tristen Nielsen
Yeah, this organization's, converted quite a few players. I think they find, secret talent and guys that might be overlooked at times. So, when I was looking at teams, I definitely had this one on my radar.
00;37;01;20 - 00;37;08;16
Meghan Angley
And you mentioned kind of vying for it. Then over the summer, what were you focusing on needing to do to take a step forward as a player?
00;37;08;18 - 00;37;20;15
Tristen Nielsen
Just getting my confidence up. I think my conditioning is improved. I mean, I lost 14 pounds this summer, so, I just had a really good offseason. I think it just translated on to, coming into the season.
00;37;20;18 - 00;37;27;26
Meghan Angley
And tell me a little bit about the opportunity in terms of role, how that has also helped you to find some success here early.
00;37;27;28 - 00;37;37;17
Tristen Nielsen
Just the way I play, I think I compliment my players that I'm playing with. Well, they're both super skilled, but I feel like I just get in there, get the puck to them, and then let them kind of do their thing.
00;37;37;19 - 00;37;47;26
Meghan Angley
You found some success in pre-season, too. I know you're playing a little bit with tightening through some of that, but that speaks a little bit to your versatility, being able to play with anyone as well. Can you tell me about that?
00;37;47;29 - 00;38;01;28
Tristen Nielsen
Yeah, I've always been and up and down the line up kind of guy. I mean, last year when we won, I was on the fourth line. The year before that, I was on the first line. It just, kind of just can play, up and down. I feel like I'm a fast enough skater to play with the first line guys, and I think the game well.
00;38;01;29 - 00;38;06;21
Tristen Nielsen
But I also like to get a little physical and get a little gritty. And that's what, allows me to play in the fourth line.
00;38;06;23 - 00;38;11;05
Meghan Angley
And when the minutes maybe are limited, how do you make the most of every shift?
00;38;11;07 - 00;38;24;18
Tristen Nielsen
Just focusing on what I can try or what I can control. I think, when I'm being physical, it usually means I'm moving my feet. When I move my feet, it usually means I'm playing well. So that's kind of what I try to focus on is just, get my body to get my body. Engaged early.
00;38;24;20 - 00;38;29;26
Meghan Angley
What was the conversation like with the front office when it came time to sign that contract?
00;38;29;28 - 00;38;45;02
Tristen Nielsen
I didn't really talk to anyone. My agent just called me and said, my time sensitive, give me a call when you can. And so I waited a few hours, and then I call. He's like, yeah, you got an NHL contract. I was like, this is time sensitive. So. But yeah, it was, an unbelievable feeling.
00;38;45;02 - 00;38;46;18
Tristen Nielsen
I'm so grateful for that opportunity.
00;38;46;20 - 00;38;49;20
Meghan Angley
Who was your first phone call after?
00;38;49;23 - 00;38;58;22
Tristen Nielsen
My first phone call was my sister, so I called my sister, and, I told her, and, she was really happy for me. And then mom and dad.
00;38;58;24 - 00;39;04;02
Meghan Angley
That's a pretty good order. What has the experience playing under coach? The test you've been like for you?
00;39;04;04 - 00;39;26;13
Tristen Nielsen
I think it's been really good. I think he he understands, kind of both leagues. I feel like, I think it's, it's always fun playing under first time head coach and just watching them learn, learn how to be behind the bench and everything. But, I think just his experience being, a bit more of a grinder, but he always had some skill, so, kind of fits me really well.
00;39;26;17 - 00;39;29;09
Tristen Nielsen
I see, myself and him a little bit, so it's good.
00;39;29;12 - 00;39;32;06
Meghan Angley
What is the next step in your eyes?
00;39;32;08 - 00;39;42;15
Tristen Nielsen
Obviously, I'd like to get an opportunity like anyone else, but, I was just happy to be able to come and get an NHL contract. I think for me, it's just continuing to improve my game down here and help this team win.
00;39;42;17 - 00;39;48;07
Meghan Angley
It does seem like you found a lot of chemistry with your linemates, T.J. Tynan in particular. What do you like about playing with him?
00;39;48;10 - 00;40;01;02
Tristen Nielsen
He passes the puck every chance he gets. So it's a lot of fun, but, he plays with pace, plays with speed, and he's, he's just a good guy to have on your line. He's always, talking positive with you and and trying to make the line better.
00;40;01;05 - 00;40;19;19
Meghan Angley
Awesome. Thank you so much. Congratulations. Okay. As we win this showdown, there is another exciting NHL debut this past weekend, two in the car was called up by the Colorado Avalanche and played in the second game of a back to back against the San Jose Sharks. And he got to be on the ice with his brother. Kill car.
00;40;19;21 - 00;40;38;10
Meghan Angley
I wanted to emphasize this NHL debut as well, because it's important to me that you know, he earned it on his own merit. It is a 2020 one seventh round pick, and that last name does carry a lot of weight in this organization. But going back to some of his first dev camps here with the Avs, he has come such a long way.
00;40;38;10 - 00;41;09;24
Meghan Angley
And it starts with his sophomore season at UMass. He had a pretty strong year and then the opportunity dwindled, so he took a chance on himself. Not so differently from Tristan Nilsson choosing Colorado. And he entered the transfer portal and he chose Maine. And he rounded out his senior year at Maine and had a breakout season, got in some pro games of the Colorado Eagles at the end of last year, and his game has translated so well to the pro level so quickly, and that is a big credit to Taylor, Ricard and some of the things that he does well.
00;41;10;01 - 00;41;31;04
Meghan Angley
So I wanted to shout out that, it's his speed. He's leveraging his physicality more. You know, I think he's even toeing that line from the discipline perspective over what is the appropriate amount of physicality. But it's born from a place of confidence and asserting himself in the dangerous areas of the ice. You know, getting to the net front, using his speed to win some of those races for pucks.
00;41;31;04 - 00;41;48;25
Meghan Angley
And it's already sprung different lines that he's been on for goals in these early games. The Colorado Eagles, you know it was helpful to gain the zone using his speed for a Chase Bradley goal earlier in the year, and it helped to spring Barry Boulay for his second of this season in winning a race to the puck by being strong on the Fore-check.
00;41;48;25 - 00;42;15;29
Meghan Angley
So today on the McCarthy's game, it makes a lot of sense with Colorado, and Jared Bednar liked his NHL debut, too. He said that the way he plays, it's that North-South, you know, straight line hockey. He called it heavy physical hockey. And I think that Taylor McCarthy's willingness to play in the dangerous areas, and get those offensive opportunities for his teammates is not only a huge fit stylistically for the way that the Colorado Avalanche like to play.
00;42;16;01 - 00;42;34;26
Meghan Angley
But also why his game is translated so well. The other thing I'll shout out about to the other car before we completely finished the show is his strengths on the PK. He played in college. His final year with Maine in particular, earned a lot of trust there. He's gotten in PK rats with the Colorado Eagles and it's a competitive kill.
00;42;34;28 - 00;42;57;19
Meghan Angley
You know, some of the PK forward options that are available to them in Jason Paul and Chase Bradley. Even Jason McKenna taking those decent face offs. Ivan, Ivan, another prospect getting some important opportunity there for Taylor Mikah so early into his pro career to earn those reps, is a reflection of where he's at and why he's an exciting prospect that you can get excited about as well.
00;42;57;22 - 00;43;11;12
Meghan Angley
I'm looking forward to Tristan Nielsen's debut tonight. I don't think that's the last that we've seen of Tyler McCarthy, especially because here's what coach Mark Lee test you had to say about Taylor Ricard and his recent performance in their sweep over Bakersfield. Last week.
00;43;11;15 - 00;43;31;24
Tristen Nielsen
I mean, I've said it in the coaches room, privately. I think this was his best game as a pro. I think it's a big adjustment from college hockey to pro, you're stepping in, you're experiencing, again, a lot of buildings for the first time, structure systems. And we're in we're in his busiest stretches. You're going to see a pro hockey as far as back to back nights.
00;43;31;24 - 00;43;51;11
Tristen Nielsen
And then we're getting on a plane in a couple days and doing another road trip, and then coming back for another back to back. It can be tough for for young players to handle. So I think he's done what he's needed to do physically to be prepared for it. And tonight it was good to see him go head to head with, you know, Josh Brown, who's got 300 NHL games and they just go shoulder to shoulder.
00;43;51;11 - 00;44;08;03
Tristen Nielsen
And he didn't get deterred. He went, Adam, he made plays. His speed showed up at all times. So that was a really good strong game for him. The unfortunate part for him now is, is that's his standard. Now I get to hold him to that. So he has to continue to keep elevating because his goals are beyond this league.
00;44;08;03 - 00;44;12;27
Tristen Nielsen
And we want him to consistently show that so that one day he can contribute at that NHL level.
00;44;13;00 - 00;44;31;29
Meghan Angley
All right. You guys, there have been some exciting things around this Eagles group, some NHL De Beers, some NHL contracts. Additionally, they're just off to a really strong start. So I wanted to speedrun a little bit of where they're at. As we talked about with Kevin earlier in the show, 9 to 0 start to the season, lead the league in points atop the league.
00;44;32;02 - 00;44;51;25
Meghan Angley
And special teams have continued to be strong. Oh, what I like is the promise of consistency that it's strong. So a third ranked power play right now they've kind of scored in bunches. So I think that's something that's going to stabilize in a good way. I think they're going to stay in that top five conversation with a power play that has so many offensive weapons and a variety of shooters to choose from.
00;44;52;02 - 00;45;14;01
Meghan Angley
You've got a shooting threat in Danielle Cuban, Alex Barry Boulay, you've got a net front presence and Tristan Nielsen and you've got an elite passer who leads the league in points. And TJ Tynan he finds near impossible. Seems to his teammates he makes that power play so effective. And so that combination of threats I think works so well and will continue to be a point of strength for this Eagles group.
00;45;14;01 - 00;45;30;14
Meghan Angley
On the power play. Then on the penalty kill side, this is a team that is second most times shorthanded in the league. So they've been tested a lot and they've been tested early in games. So one really love the resilience of this Eagles group to win a variety of different ways, even running into some penalty trouble early in games.
00;45;30;17 - 00;45;50;20
Meghan Angley
They've had such a strong tilth that they've been able to gain some momentum from it. And so where I see that killer, kind of leveling out is because I alluded to this before in talking about Taylor McCarthy. They have some really great forward options that are so reliable defensively to lean on on that pick that you you know, you might have your PK specialists in the box.
00;45;50;20 - 00;46;08;16
Meghan Angley
You've got a dozen other options who are really bought into the defensive details. And then similarly on D you've got really great stay at home defense. And then, in Alex Cagney and Keaton Middleton, who been leaned on quite a bit on that Eagles Kill. And it's because they are warriors on the ice or sell out to block shots.
00;46;08;16 - 00;46;26;01
Meghan Angley
And, I love to see Jackie's game already translating at the pro level. And some of those reads that he makes in his own and really smart defense sticks. So he's fit in extremely well on that. Eagles PK all right. That was a little speed run of what to get excited about. You know this is a team that's more than just their special teams as well.
00;46;26;03 - 00;46;43;15
Meghan Angley
So I think that the depth of this team lines one through four I'm excited to see more of those offensive contributions come together. Five five. And I think it's just a matter of time. So you can probably tell I'm excited and I will be covering the Abbotsford series coming up here at home this upcoming weekend. Really looking forward to it.
00;46;43;15 - 00;46;48;22
Meghan Angley
So I'll see you guys. There are I'm beginning in this is the official podcast of the Colorado Eagles.