Auld Shines in Debut

(AP) Utah

The Colorado-Utah franchise recently acquired goalie Alex Auld from the Boston-Cape Cod organization for their '09 2nd round entry pick and blueliner Kyle Cumiskey. While Cumiskey was difficult to part with, he is organizational depth at this point in his career and the goaltending situation needed to be shored up a bit for next year.
That 2nd rounder is like a bad penny, it keeps coming in and going back out.
Upon reporting to the Utah Grizzlies as an introduction to the organization, Auld was installed as the starting goaltender on the 1st night! So much for easing into a new setting. Well, Auld showed the professional he is by going out and whitewashing the visiting Johnstown Jets 3-0! He turned aside 21 shots in all in out battling his counterpart on the Jets, netminder Mathieu Garon.
Lighting the lamp for the Grizzlies of the RSHL were Pony (6), Todd White (5) and the recently acquired Chris Higgins (4). Higgins now has 4g 7a 11pts in 7gp with the Grizz! If he keeps going like this it won't be long before he earns himself a spot in the show!
The Grizz currently have 14 pts in 16gp and are in 4th place in the Rose Divsion of the RSHL.
Over in the IHL, the parent Colorado Eagles sport a 10-6 record good for 20pts and are tied for 2nd in the Shore Division.
Recently portsider Jay Pandolfo returned from a minor injury. He has been assigned to Utah for rehab while he gets his skates under him. He'll be manning the left side on the 3rd line checking unit along with the #1 pk unit.

Reported by Grizz Adams...

Erat out - Higgins in

(AP) Colorado

Recently the Eagles sent winger Martin Erat (right) from their Utah affiliate to Hartford for portsider Chris Higgins (left).
Erat was promoted to the IHL by Hartford and is currently their 1st line left wing.
Chris Higgins was sent to Utah, initially being assigned to 2nd line duties with Legwand and Miettinen as his linemates. Well, the three clicked so well together that the entire line has been promoted to the 1st line for Utah.
In 4 games Higgins has registered 4g 3a for 7 points with a +3 rating along with one game winner. He has also registered 7 hits in the 4 games. He wasn't even seeing ice time in the Hartford organization!
Erat has also done well playing in the IHL with Hartford. He has continued his fine play that he had been performing for Utah in the RSHL. To date, the trade appears to be a win-win scenario for both organizations.
Coming along with Higgins was Colorado's 2nd Rd entry pick in '09 which had previously been traded to Hartford in the Brodeur deal early this season.

Reported by Grizz Adams

Doan Named Player of the Month

(AP) Colorado

The Colorado Eagles were extremely proud when it was announced today that right winger and alternate Captain Shane Doan had been named the IHL's Player of the Month for November 2008.
"We, as an organization, are proud that Shane has been awarded player of the month honors. It shows what hard work can lead to. Of course, we've always known of Shane's character and dedication to the IHL. He is one of the on-ice leaders of our franchise and also gives a lot of his free time to charitable efforts in the local community." GM Poelker said in a statement to the media.
Shane earned the award on the strength of 11 goals and 4 assists in 7 games. He also logged a +4 rating along with 2 power play goals and 2 game winners.
The Eagles are currently tied for 1st place in the Shore Division with the Gotland Gladiators. Each team at press time had 10 points in 7 games played.

Reported by Grizz Adams