Longtime and beloved Colorado coach makes a shocking career change
Photo credit: Grand Forks Herald
The Colorado Eagles, the proud AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, have announced that Aaron Schneekloth has been appointed as an assistant coach for the NHL's Seattle Kraken.
Schneekloth devoted 19 seasons to the Eagles organization , seven as player and 12 as a coach.
Schneekloth makes a shocking career change.
The Colorado Eagles announced on their website that during his four years as head coach of the Eagles in both the AHL and ECHL, Schneekloth compiled an impressive overall record of 178-84-26. He guided the team to the playoffs each season, highlighted by back-to-back Kelly Cup championships in 2017 and 2018. At the AHL level, he posted a record of 83-46-15, with 11 players making their NHL debuts with the Avalanche under his leadership.
"Schneekloth recently completed his second season as a head coach in the AHL, after spending the previous 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." -Colorado Eagles
Scheekloth, 46, spent five season as an assistant coach under Greg Cronin with the Eagles following the team's transition to the AHL in 2018-19. He began his coaching career with the ECHL Eagles in 2013-14, serving three years an an assistant before being promoted to head coach for the 2016-17 season.
"A former defenseman, Schneekloth played 11 seasons professionally, including his final seven in an Eagles sweater, helping the team win a Central Hockey League 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, 2009, 2010)." -Colorado Eagles.
Schneekloth retired in 2013 as the Eagles' all-time leader among defenseman in points (356), goals (111), and assists (245). Before turning pro, he captured an NCAA championship with the University of North Dakota in 2000.
Previously on Avalanche Insider
| POLL | ||
JUIN 17 | 15 ANSWERS Longtime and beloved Colorado coach makes a shocking career change Do you think Aaron Schneekloth will ever become a head coach in the NHL? | ||
| yes | 9 | 60 % |
| no | 6 | 40 % |
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