Steelhounds notes | From the Chevrolet Centre

Award winner: Colorado Eagles coach Chris Stewart has been named the recipient of the 2007-08 Central Hockey League Rick Kozuback award. The Rick Kozuback award, honoring the original President of the Western Professional Hockey League and current President/CEO of Global Entertainment Corporation, is ‘presented annually to the CHL owner, front office staff member, coach or player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, determination and commitment to the game, sport and business of hockey. Stewart has been with the Eagles since prior to the team’s first season in 2003-04 and has led the Eagles to four consecutive Northwest Division championships. As a head coach, Stewart’s 375 CHL wins are second only to Oklahoma City’s Doug Sauter on the league’s all-time win’s list and he has led the Eagles to two Ray Miron President’s Cup championships and two Governors’ Cup championships (CHL regular season titles).

Potential rematch: It’s possible but unlikely that the SteelHounds and Eagles could meet soon in the playoffs. If the eagles wins the Northwest Division, they will be seeded second in the Northern Conference and play the third seed in a best-of-seven series. The SteelHounds can still finish third, but they trail Texas by three points. Asked about playing the Eagles again so soon, SteelHound center mark Odut said, “Ten straight games — it wouldn’t be very friendly out there. They have a good mixture. They have some big guys who will go crashing the net. They’ve also go some smaller skill guys who dish the puck off well.”

Tom Williams