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Eagles on the hunt for their last Kelly Cup

Credit: Jeremy Chavez - KUSA
Jeremy Chavez - KUSA

There will be playoff hockey in Colorado.

Regardless if the Avalanche earn one of the final wildcard spots in the Western Conference, the Colorado Eagles clinched yet another berth to the post season, their 15th playoff spot in 15 seasons.

This time last year, the Eagles were entering a playoff run that would eventually lead to the team's first Kelly Cup on June 6, 2017.

By June the ice in Colorado is usually all but melted; however, the team up north is hoping that it'll stay frozen for them for one more season in the ECHL.

Head Coach Aaron Schneekloth has his eye on the final game. "You know at the start of the season, every team in this league is talking about their ultimate goal is to win a Kelly Cup Championship, and that's no different for our group," Schneekloth said.

Again the team sits atop the Mountain Division, they currently have the fourth best record in the league with 96 points (45-18-4-2) and won eight of their last ten games.

"We just find a way to win gritty games and even if it's not fancy we win them," said forward Ben Storm. "We work hard and play physical and go hard to the net. We always find a way to win games, and hopefully we can continue to do that down the stretch."

For the Eagles, hoisting the Kelly Cup trophy is more than just bringing home back-to-back championships to Loveland.

"It's a winning mentality and I think having guys returning from last year who won it all was a huge part to getting off to the right step," said goaltender Joe Cannata, who spent much of last year in the American Hockey League (AHL).

This will mark the last time Colorado will be able to win in the ECHL. Next year the club will bid farewell to the league and move up a level becoming the Avalanche's sole AHL affiliate.

"There's a lot of questions marks in terms of what's going to happen next year, so I think everyone's focus is on this year," said Cannata.

"We're trying to embrace the last year of the ECHL and bring one home for the fans and we're all very excited about it," said Storm.

By the time the leaves fall again in Colorado, the team may have a very different look, but the only thing they can control is this season.

"We just want to control the things we can control and that's showing up and playing our best hockey at the right time," said coach Schneekloth.

That time is now.

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