COLORADO EAGLES - Key Persons
Schneekloth enters his first season as head coach of the Colorado Eagles as the current AHL affiliate. He has spent the last 10 years on the Eagles' coaching staff, which included a pair of championship seasons as the team's head coach while the Eagles were Colorado's ECHL affiliate. He led the Eagles to back-to-back Kelly Cup titles in 2016-17 and 2017-18, posting a 95-38-11 (.698) combined regular-season record followed by a 32-12 playoff mark. The Calgary, Alberta, native finished runner-up for ECHL Coach of the Year in both campaigns.
Including his final seven years as a player, the upcoming 2023-24 campaign will mark Schneekloth's 18th consecutive season with the Eagles organization.
Schneekloth, who turns 45 on July 15, has served as the Eagles' assistant coach for the past five seasons since 2018-19. He began his coaching career with the ECHL Eagles in 2013-14 and spent three years in that role before taking over the head coaching position in 2016-17.
A former defenseman, Schneekloth played 11 seasons professionally, including the last seven in an Eagles sweater, helping the team win a CHL championship in 2007. He was named the ECHL's Defenseman of the year in 2012, while being voted the CHL's Most Outstanding Defenseman in both 2009 and 2010. A four-time All-Star and a member of both the CHL's All-Decade Team and the Colorado Eagles All-Decade Team, Schneekloth was also named to the All-ECHL Team in 2012 and was voted to the All-CHL Team on three separate occasions (2008-2010).
Schneekloth retired in 2013 as the Eagles' all-time leader in points (356), goals (111) and assists (245) by a defenseman. He won an NCAA championship with the University of North Dakota in 2000.
Aaron and his wife, Kristie, have two children, son Gabe and daughter Bree.
Strecker is in his second season with the Eagles and first as the Head Athletic Trainer. Prior to his time with the Eagles, Strecker spent four seasons as the Head Athletic Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Tri-City Storm of the USHL.
Prior to his time in the USHL, Strecker worked at Gillette Physical Therapy in Gillette, Wyoming. He provided athletic training services to the Gillette Wile (NA3HL) Hockey program, along with Gillette College Rodeo, Gillette College Men and Women's Basketball, Gillette College Men and Women's Soccer, Moorcroft High School athletics, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, Little Guy Football League, and American Legion Baseball.
Strecker earned his bachelor's degree in athletic training from the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 2017.
Job Titles:
- Director, Corporate Partnerships
Ben serves as the Eagles' Director of Corporate Partnerships.
Ben is originally from Aurora, Colorado and graduated from Colorado State University in 2000. He served as an intern in 2001-02 with the Nashville Predators before coming back to Colorado and working for the Eagles. Ben enjoys camping, fishing, hunting, golf, climbing 14ers and playing hockey. He and his wife live in Windsor with their dog and 2 children.
Job Titles:
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
Originally from Denver, Colorado; Lucas comes to the Eagles for his first season after working with the University of Michigan Hockey program last season. He spent the past three summers working with Prentiss Hockey Performance in Stamford, CT with numerous NHL players across the league.
Prior to Michigan, Lucas was with the Chicago Steel (USHL) for two seasons as Director of Performance & Sports Science. Before joining the Steel, he was again with the University of Michigan as a graduate assistant while getting his master's in Sports Management.
Lucas graduated from Penn State in 2016 with his degree in Kinesiology, and a focus in Movement Science. As an undergrad, he interned with the Penn State women's hockey and field hockey programs and worked for USA Field Hockey as Assistant Performance Coach during his senior year and through the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. Lucas also worked at Evansville University, overseeing nine of the school's D1 teams and with USA Rugby as a Performance Science Consultant.
Job Titles:
- Equipment Manager
- Equipment Staff Member
- Head
Blinkhorn is entering his third season as the Eagles Assistant Equipment Manager after recently having served as an Assistant Equipment Manager at the University of Minnesota-Duluth for the previous four seasons.
Blinkhorn also worked as an assistant during the Colorado Avalanche's Stanley Cup Playoff run in both 2020 and 2021.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Athletic Trainer
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Manager, Corporate Partnerships & Client Services
Cody is an Account Executive for the team. In this role, he works in a hybrid role between the corporate and ticketing departments. Assisting in corporate fulfillment, building partner relationships and creating opportunities for groups of fans to enjoy Eagles games.
Cody is originally from Windsor, Colorado and graduated from SNHU with a bachelor's degree in Sports Management.
Job Titles:
- Creative Director
- Marketing Director
Emily is both the Marketing and Creative Director for the Colorado Eagles. In this dual role, she oversees both the marketing coordination and direction, as well as the brand identity and overall look and feel for the organization. In addition to these duties, she is the RESPECT program liaison between the Eagles front office and the AHL.
Emily was born in San Diego, California but grew up in Fort Collins. She attended and played soccer at Pacific University inititally before transferring to Colorado State University. In 2003, she graduated from C.S.U. with a Bachelor in Fine Arts.
Emily has been with the Colorado Eagles since August 2003.
Job Titles:
- Tickets - Official Ticket Resale Partner
Schedule
Schedule
Promotions Schedule
Downloadable Schedule
Events & Appearances
Watch, Listen, & Follow
3rd Jersey Schedule
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Corporate Sales
- Head of the Eagles Corporate Department
Gavin is the head of the Eagles Corporate Department. He oversees business operations and development for the Colorado Eagles. In this role, Gavin manages corporate partnerships and activation, game day experience, events center relationships, creation of new themed promotions, marketing integration and general business strategy.
Gavin is originally from Birmingham, England and is a graduate of Colorado State University, with a degree in marketing and international business. During his time with the Eagles, Gavin has won CHL Corporate Sales Executive of the year in 2008, 2009, 2010 and the AHL Ken McKenzie Award in 2022.
Gavin has been with the Colorado Eagles since 2003.
Originally from Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Haley is currently finishing up her undergrad at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Prior to working for the Eagles as an Account Executive in ticket sales, Haley worked as an Inside Sales Representative for the Colorado Rapids and was an intern at Future Legends Complex.
Before making the move to Colorado Haley played and coached lacrosse in New Jersey. She started following hockey in high school and has loved it ever since.
Job Titles:
- Video Coach / Medical Staff
Job Titles:
- Director, Ticket Sales
- Eagles Ticket Sales Director
Jack is the Eagles Ticket Sales Director. In his role, he helps manage the ticketing department, sell season ticket packages, mini plans and group outings as well as provides customer service during all Eagles home games. After spending 2 seasons as a marketing and promotions intern, Jack was hired on in the Ticket Sales department and has been with the Eagles full-time for 7 years.
Jack was born in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up in Naperville, Illinois. He graduated from Colorado State University in 2015 with a degree in Communications and a minor in Business.
Jack has been with the Colorado Eagles since 2016.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Finance
- Accounting
Jennifer joined the Eagles in 2004 and is the team's Vice President of Finance. In her role, she oversees all team finances and handles several upper-management duties. She is a Colorado native and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado. In her spare time, she enjoys sports, shopping, traveling, and spending time with her family and dogs.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Equipment Manager
- Equipment Staff Member
The 2021-22 season is Pionk's second as the Eagles Assistant Equipment Manager, after spending the previous two seasons as the Head Equipment Manager for the USHL's Omaha Lancers. In addition, the Hermantown, Minnesota native spent the 2018-19 campaign as the Lancer's Assistant Equipment Manager before being promoted to the top spot in 2019.
The 22-year-old is the younger brother of current Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Account Executive for the Eagles
Joey is an Account Executive for the Eagles, where he sells the full menu of ticketing options while providing excellent customer service to new and existing Eagles fans to ensure a fun and memorable experience at the games! Joey comes to the Colorado Eagles having worked in the American Hockey League for the past two seasons with the Edmonton Oilers affiliate, The Bakersfield Condors. Originally from Ventura, California, he grew up playing hockey at a young age and transitioned into coaching. Joey attended Ventura College as well as Missouri State University. He now resides is Greeley, CO, with his dog, Zeus.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Digital Media & Rinkside Reporter
Katie Florio is a graduate of Clemson University where she spent all four years working as an on-air sports reporter and writer for various outlets including Clemson Athletics, FOX Sports, local news stations, the Cape Cod Baseball League and ESPNU Campus Connection. Graduating from Clemson early, Katie spent her final semester in Minnesota as a Broadcast Assistant with the Minnesota Twins Radio Network, which then led to a full-time job as their Double-A affiliate's Communications Coordinator and Field Reporter in Pensacola, Florida.
Growing up in a hockey family with Katie's father playing professionally, Katie decided to make the jump to hockey in 2021 and spent two years with the Chicago Blackhawks AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. In Rockford Katie juggled a variety of roles including working as the IceHogs Rinkside Reporter, Digital Media Coordinator and also oversaw the IceHogs' community relations department.
Katie was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania but her childhood was spent in several different states along the East Coast during her dad's coaching career. Her family has now resided in South Carolina for the past 20 years.
Job Titles:
- General Manager
- Assistant General Manager, Avalanche
Kevin McDonald enters his first season as the General Manager of the Eagles, while also serving in his first year as Assistant General Manager for the NHL's Colorado Avalanche.
McDonald was the recipient of the 2022 Thomas Ebright Memorial Award, which is annually presented for outstanding career contributions to the American Hockey League. He served as the General Manager of the Blues' American Hockey League affiliate beginning in 2018 and in that role, was also a pro scout for St. Lous. With his guidance and input in the team personnel decisions, McDonald played an important role in the Blues capturing the 2019 Stanley Cup Championship.
The Lawrence, Massachusetts, native joined the Blues organization prior to the 2001-02 season as a professional scout and was promoted to Director of Professional Scouting within two seasons, taking on the role in 2003. McDonald took on the role of General Manager of the Blues' former AHL affiliate, peoria Rivermen, in June 2005 before being named an Assistant General Manager for St. Louis in May 2009.
McDonald began his career in professional hockey in 1988 as a member of the New York Rangers' communications department. Following the Rangers' Stanley Cup Championship run in 1993-94, he moved into the Rangers' hockey operations and worked as an assistant to Rangers General Manager Neil Smith during the lockout shortened 1994-95 season.
McDonald resides in North Andover, Massachusetts, where he lives with his wife Lauren, his two children Sean and Kayleigh, and his three step-children Joseph, Jenna and Daniel.
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications
- Vice President, Communications & Broadcasting
Kevin is the head of the Eagles Communication department and has been "The Voice of the Eagles" since the 2009-10 season. In this role, he provides the play-by-play broadcast for all Eagles games, both home and away. Kevin also handles all official communications for the team, including game notes for each contest.
Kevin is originally from Lakewood, Colorado and got a Bachelor's of Science in Business from the University of Colorado at Denver. He has been a part of the Eagles broadcast for 18 of the team's first 20 seasons and has worked for the organization in a full-time capacity for 15 years. Kevin has also spent 21 seasons as a member of the Colorado State University football broadcast, working in a variety of roles including play-by-play, color commentary and sideline reporting.
Kevin has been with the Colorado Eagles since 2005.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Executive Management Team
- Owner
- Team 's Chief Executive Officer
Lind is the team's Chief Executive Officer. In addition to being a local land developer (Water Valley & Pelican Lakes Golf & Country Club, among other endeavors.), Lind is also a local community leader & philanthropist.
Budaj, 40, is in his second season as the goaltending coach for the Colorado Eagles and joined the team midway through the 2021-22 campaign after former goaltending coach Ryan BAch exited to become team president. The 63rd overall pick in the 2001 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, Budaj's career spanned 368 games with the Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Slovakian native posted a record of 158-132-40 across 13 seasons in the Natioal Hockey League. He also appeared in 241 AHL contests with the Hershey BEars, St. John's IceCaps, Syracuse Crunch and Ontario Reign. Budaj was named the AHL's top goaltender for the 2015-16 season, a year in which he led the league with the lowest goals-against average at 1.75. He would punctuate his career by representing Slovakia on two different occasions at the Winter Olymics.
The man that brought hockey to Northern Colorado, Ralph Backstrom, retired as the Colorado Eagles' original president and general manager on July 31, 2007. Backstrom founded the Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League in 2002, and in 2003 the team began to play at the brand new Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado.
Job Titles:
- Director, Video Production
- Eagles' Video Production Director
Reno is the Eagles' Video Production Director. In this role he oversees and creates content for the gameday event production team as well as creates marketing content for the team's social channels.
Reno is from Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He attended Colorado Mesa University for one year and Colorado State University for four where he graduated with a degree in Communication Studies.
Reno has won 7 Heartland Emmys, 1 Colorado Broadcasters Association Award and an Associated Press Award.
Reno has been with the Colorado Eagles since 2021.
Job Titles:
- President
- President / Alternate Governor
Ryan Bach is the team's President and Alternate Governor. The Colorado Eagles inaugural season goaltender has been a member of the Eagles hockey operations staff as goaltending coach since 2005, helping guide the organization to a President's Cup championship title in the CHL, as well as back-to-back ECHL Kelly Cup Championships in 2017 and 2018. His duties were expanded heading into the 2007-08 season when he was named assistant coach and served as interim head coach. In addition, the 48-year-old also spent nine seasons providing color commentary during Colorado Eagles radio broadcasts.
Prior to joining the Eagles, Bach played eight seasons of professional hockey, including two stops in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings. Bach attended Colorado College for four seasons, finishing with a 53-19-8 record with the Tigers. He was an All-WCHA First-Team Goaltender twice, as well as being named a two-time All-American. He started his career in the Red Wings' system playing for Adirondack of the AHL. The following season, he played for the Houston Aeros and was selected as an IHL All-Star. In his last two seasons before coming to Colorado, Bach won two straight British Ice Hockey Superleague Championships with the Sheffield Steelers and Belfast Giants. He finished up his pro career with the Eagles going 33-15-5.
In addition to his nearly four decades of playing and coaching experience, Bach also owned and managed the RE/MAX Eagle Rock real estate brokerage, which he began in 2011. The Sherwood Park, Alberta native and his family currently reside in Windsor where he has lived for the past 19 years.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Ticket Retention & Referrals
Ryan is the Eagles' Ticket Retention & Referals Manager. In this position, he oversees most accounts that have been around since the inaugural season providing customer service needs to all. He helps with planning Season Ticket Events for our amazing season ticket members. You can find Ryan at Guest Services most nights helping answer questions on the team, upcoming games, promotional nights, and events.
Ryan is originally from Aurora, Colorado and graduated from Aims Community College with an associate's degree of Applied Science (Graphic Design). Ryan currently lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with his wife, two daughters and rescue Pitbull, "Reggie".
Ryan has been with the Colorado Eagles since 2017.
Job Titles:
- Head of the Eagles Ticket Sales
- Vice President, Ticket Sales
Sean is the head of the Eagles Ticket Sales department. In this role, he manages, develops, and implements business strategies for the ticketing and marketing departments which include sales, service, promotions, and operations. His goal is to enable his team to be successful and help continue to build on the long-standing tradition of Eagles hockey. "The team doesn't begin or end at the bench, it extends to our entire office and fanbase, and takes a collective effort from everyone to be successful!"
Sean is a Colorado native born and raised in Silverthorne, Colorado and he graduated from Colorado State University in 2011 with his degree in Business Management. Sean has been with the organization for over a decade.
Sean has been with the Colorado Eagles since 2012.
Konowachuk is returning to the Avalanche organization where he not only finished his playing career but also started his coaching career. The Salt Lake City, Utah, native spent the final two seasons of his NHL playing career with Colorado in 2003-04 and 2005-06 before retiring at the start of the 2006 training camp due to a heart condition. Following one year in the Avalanche's player development department (2007-08), Konowalchuk began his coaching career as an assistant with the Avalanche in 2009-10, helping Colorado to a 26-point turnaround and a spot in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He spent one more season as the Avalanche's assistant coach in 2010-11 before joining the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League as their head coach in 2011-12.
Konowalchuk spent six seasons as Seattle's head coach (2011-17), leading the club to five playoff berths and the 2016-17 Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions. After a one-year stint as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks in 2017-18, Konowalchuk joined the New York Rangers organization and worked as both an amateur and professional scout from 2018-21. He then returned to the WHL ranks, spending the past two seasons as head coach of the Red Deer Rebels (2021-23).
Selected by the Washington Capitals in the third round (58th overall) of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, Konowalchuk appeared in 790 career NHL games with the Capitals and Avalanche, totaling 171 goals and 396 points (171g/225a). He twice reached the 20-goal mark (23 in 1995-96 and 24 in 2000-01) and scored 19 goals with the Avalanche during his final full season of 2003-04. Konowalchuk added 21 points (9g/12a) in 52 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests.
Internationally, Konowalchuk helped the United States win gold at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. He also played for Team USA at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, as well as the 2000 and 2002 IIHF World Championship and the 1992 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Branham, 40, enters his first season as an Eagles assistant coach after spending the previous eight seasons as the head coach and general manager of the ECHL's Utah Grizzlies. After beginning his career as Utah's bench boss in 2013, Branham has since become the winningest and longest-tenured coach in Grizzlies history. The Eagles River, Wisconsin native guided the Grizzlies to a record of 284-205-76 and six playoff appearances during his time in West Valley City.
Prior to earning his first head coaching position, Branham spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the ECHL's Reading Royals from 2010-2013. During his time with the Royals, the team went 143-89-23 in the regular season and captured the 2013 Kelly Cup title.
Branham was drafted in the third round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks and played 284 professional games in the ECHL and AHL during his playing career as a defenseman from 2002-2010.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Game and Event Operations
Zach Miller comes to the Colorado Eagles having worked in the sport industry since 2014. Most recently Zach worked for Caesars Sportsbook where he had the opportunity to work at Super Bowl LVII. For the last 6 seasons, Zach was with the Denver Nuggets on the Mile High Hype Squad. Prior to his time at Caesars, Zach spent nearly two years as a Sales Representative for Sherwin-Williams here in Colorado. From 2014 to 2019 Zach also spent time working with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Iowa Barnstormers, Iowa Energy (presently the Iowa Wolves), University of Northern Colorado Athletics, Colorado Rockies, and University of Colorado Boulder Athletics.
Zach graduated with his Master's Degree in Sport Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 2017 just one year after graduating with his Bachelor's Degree, also in Sport Administration, from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.
Zach was born and raised in Longmont, CO and is currently a Fort Collins resident.