One of Colorado’s winningest professional teams is the state’s youngest.
It’s all the Rage in Broomfield, where a Central Hockey League expansion team is off to a 12-1-1 start in its second year.
The Rocky Mountain Rage defeated the Texas Brahmas 4-3 on Saturday night for its seventh consecutive victory and remains the CHL’s only team with just one loss.
Rage co-owner John Frew, whose company also owns the Colorado 14ers, an NBA Development League that shares the Broomfield Event Center with the hockey team, credits coach Tracy Egeland.
Egeland, who also serves as director of player personnel, went 17-40-7 in the Rage’s inaugural season, in which the Colorado Eagles of Loveland captured the CHL title.
“It’s a matter of standing behind the coach,” Frew said. “Nobody should expect to win in your first year. Tracy said it would take a couple years to win in this league, and he’s right on his game plan. Tracy recruited some phenomenal players. It’s one part skill, one part attitude. I’m not sure we had the attitude last year.”
Egeland began his coaching career in 2002 while playing for the Lubbock Cotton Kings. His playing career spanned 12 seasons, with 10 teams in five leagues. As a teenager, he played with Avalanche captain Joe Sakic for the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League.
Frew realizes Egeland could be an attractive coaching candidate for hockey’s two biggest leagues: the NHL and the American Hockey League. But that’s the idea.
“In minor-league sports, these guys live to go to the higher level, so you want them to succeed,” Frew said. “The better they do, the more call-ups they get. Even with coaches. Tracy is an amazing coach and human being.”
Egeland said: “My focus right now is with this team. We’re 14 games into the year. I just want to make sure our guys are focused every night and we steer the ship the right way.”
The Rage plays next on Friday at home against the Arizona Sundogs. Tickets are $18 to $43 and parking is free.
“It’s great hockey,” Frew said. “I’m always a walking billboard, but I mean it. It’s a great building, and we make it a great show.”
TV GAME OF THE WEEK
North Dakota at Denver hockey. FSN will televise a rematch of the 2005 NCAA championship game at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Sure, the DU-Colorado College series last weekend was big. But anytime the mighty Fighting Sioux come to town, the Pioneers prepare for a fight.
DU and North Dakota have seven NCAA titles apiece, tied for second behind Michigan’s nine. The Sioux are led by reigning Hobey Baker Award winner Ryan Duncan, a 5-foot-6 dynamo.
AIR FORCE PLAYS HOST TO COLORADO
Bzdelik’s old team, new team. Jeff Bzdelik, in his first season at Colorado, takes the Buffs to the Air Force Academy for a nonconference game Thursday at Clune Arena. The Mtn will televise the game, beginning at 7 p.m., and will replay the game three times — 11 p.m. Thursday, and Friday at 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
FRONT RANGE MATCHUPS
Women’s basketball teams won’t travel far. Women’s college hoops teams at Northern Colorado, Colorado, Colorado State, Denver and Wyoming will travel on buses instead of airplanes this week.
On Wednesday, UNC visits CU, while CSU travels to DU. On Saturday, the Buffaloes visit the Rams, and the Pioneers travel to Wyoming.
LUBICK LEAVING?
Sad to see Sonny go. Sonny Lubick, Colorado State’s all-time winningest football coach, will be missed. He and the school are negotiating a buyout that would leave him with 108 wins and 74 losses in 15 seasons patrolling the Rams’ sideline.
WEEK AT THE CAN
Avalanche, Nuggets play at home. The Nuggets host the Indiana Pacers at the Pepsi Center on Tuesday and the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
The Avs, losers of four of their past five games, host Edmonton on Wednesday.
FALCONS’ LONG REACH
Bzdelik’s Buffaloes roam south to play Scott’s Pioneers. Joe Scott and Jeff Bzdelik — both Air Force basketball heroes — face off Tuesday at Magness Arena in a nonconference game between Colorado and Denver.
In 2003-04, Scott led Air Force to a 22-7 record (12-2 Mountain West Conference) and its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 42 years.
Bzdelik took over the Falcons before the 2005-06 season and led Air Force to its second NCAA Tournament appearance, finishing 24-7 (12-4 MWC).
Scott and Bzdelik are in their first seasons with their current teams.
Tuesday: Colorado at Denver, 7 p.m., FSN
