Having recently captured their second consecutive Kelly Cup as champions of the “double-A” ECHL, the Loveland-based Colorado Eagles have begun the transition that will put them in a position to win the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup — hockey’s next-best trophy to Lord Stanley’s cup.
But as the new AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, the transition could be a painful split for many, including the players and head coach Aaron Schneekloth. A former Eagles defenseman, Schneekloth has been on the Eagles’ coaching staff the last five seasons, and the head coach the last two — coinciding with the Avs’ ECHL affiliation tenure.