With only two games left in the regular season, the Colorado Eagles look to finish the season with four more points.
LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles clinched a spot in the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs, which are expected to begin the week of April 17 and are 3-1-1 in their last five games.
The Eagles have five days off between their last win against the San Jose Barracudas on April 8 and their last two games in the regular season against the San Diego Gulls on April 14 and 15. They sit in third place in the Pacific Division behind the Cochella Valley Firebirds the Calgary Wranglers, respectively.
Eagles forward Charles Hudon leads the team in both goals (27) and points (51) and has 17 power-play goals, which ranks first in the American Hockey League.
Additions to the Eagles
Former University of Denver defenseman Kyle Mayhew signed a two-way contract with the Eagles beginning next season. The 25-year-old agreed to a professional tryout with the team for the remainder of this season.
Mayhew had 35 points and was a plus 51 in his five seasons with the Pioneers. He was a part of DU’s success in winning the 2022 NCAA Championship and served as an alternate captain during the 2022-23 season.
The Eagles also signed Ryan Sandelin, 24, to a two-year AHL contract beginning this season and extending through the 2023-24 season. Sandelin spent the past four seasons at Minnesota State University, notching 43 goals and 33 assists in 128 career NCAA contests.
The Colorado Avalanche signed forward Jason Polin to a one-year, entry-level contract for next season. He joined the Eagles on April 1 and has an assist and is a plus-5 in five games played.
The 23-year-old served as team captain at Western Michigan University this season, where he recorded 47 points in 39 games. He set a National Collegiate Hockey Conference record with 30 goals and was named the NCHC’s Player of the Year. He’s also a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.
Tough season for Eagles because of Avs injuries
The Eagles managed to clinch a playoff spot despite the lack of personnel they dealt with all season due to an injury-plagued Colorado Avalanche team.
Brad Hunt remains with the Avalanche but at some point this season, Hudon, Alex Galchenyuk, Ben Meyers, Jean-Luc Foudy, Oskar Olausson, Sampo Ranta and Mikhail Maltsev all spent time with the NHL team.