Windsor Beacon from Windsor, Colorado • W11

w.windsorbeacon.a An early look at what the Eagles will face next season Friday, June 21, 2013 Kevin Lytle The ECHL season is four months away. The Colorado Eagles' 2013-14 schedule came out earlier this week. Is it too early to take a look at the upcoming season since the Eagles haven't even signed anyone yet? Absolutely! But we're hockey fanatics, so why not? Here's my quick breakdown: Big start: The Eagles love playing on home ice. Ever since the franchise started it season on the road, Colorado returns for a seven-game homestand. Then after two more on the road, the Eagles play five straight at the BEC.

The good news is this presents a great opportunity to start fast. The flip side is if the Eagles don't play well through November, they will already have used a third of their home games. Toughest month: February. February is important because it contains only Western Conference competition. Colorado plays eight on the road, and the two home series are against Utah, a division rival, and Stockton, the defending Western Conference champions.

Best road trip: Florida. December. From Dec. 4-8 the Eagles play four games in Florida, two against the Florida Everblades (2012 ECHL champions) and two against the Orlando Solar Bears. It's nice for Colorado to get to play some Eastern Conference opponents.

Last year, Florida and the Fort Wayne Komets came to the BEC. This Florida trip will be the first time since joining the ECHL that the Eagles will face an Eastern team on the road. Follow Kevin Lytle on Twitter KevinLytle. SPORTS COLORADO Catching up with Heron O'Neal 1 1 MAKE CTATCIiCkIT OIMI CJVICIN I Sears Trostel GET Red Carpet SERVICE Have Dinner On Heron O'Neal's Colorado Ice indoor football team travels to Grand Island, Saturday to take on the Nebraska Danger in the first round of the IFL playoffs. Question: What's the most interesting in-game fan interaction you've had in indoor football? Answer: There was a fan (at the Budweiser Events Center) when we played Nebraska two weeks ago, and we didn't play well on defense, especially in the first half.

He was giving it to me. He was an Ice fan. He was like "come on coach, get that defense going." I was like "I'm open for any and all suggestions, I'm calling the whole playbook. Anything you suggest?" I like that when you can talk to them. You wouldn't get move up? That's what this is all about.

It's a developmental league for players as well as coaches. To see a guy like Mario (Henderson) that gets signed by the San Diego Chargers. Marty Markett played in five games for us and signed with Winnipeg (in the Canadian Football League). We've got six or seven other guys that are getting looks from the NFL or CFL. It's a great feeling to know that your program is helping them to stay relevant to get that opportunity.

What are your goals as far as moving up? Coaching in the NFL is my dream, my hope, my passion, but I understand that when God is ready for See Page 12 "us- has been dominant at the Budweiser Events Center. Colorado gets a chance to use that home-ice advantage to jump out to an early start next season. After playing the first two games of the ICE that in the NFL. Did he have any suggestions? No he didn't. He just laughed.

He was giving it to me for about two series and I was like "I'm open for any suggestions, what have you got? I'm trying to stop this." It was funny. It wasn't anything mad, just a fun back and forth. Whaf the best part of coaching in the IFL? The new players that come in and make a name for themselves and get a shot at the next level. (Quarterback) Willie Copeland has been in the league for a while, but he's come in and played his best that he's played and is a front-runner for MVP. How fun is it to see players get that shot to Next up: Ice at Danger, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Heartland Events Center, Grand Island, Neb. TVradio: noneKFKA (AM 1310) points per game, and Sewell, one of the front-runners for league MVP, shined all year long. The former University of Virginia quarterback averaged 181 passing yards per game and threw 52 touchdowns with only five interceptions in the regular With the PURCHASE of a HEATING 01 COOLING SYSTEM receive a $100 Certificate to Jay's Bistro. Ice face tough task against Nebraska Offer expires MliaSiilSliHk 'complete home comfort system includes: furnaceACcontrolpure air Wttftiii' Mtorlhern KCoforodo IU fcBfrjf-'' HEATING AIR CONDITIONING (970)669-2055 Now for the fifth time this season, the Ice (9-5) will face the Danger with a trip to the Indoor Football League title game on the line. Nebraska went 3-1 against Colorado this year, including 67-55 win at the Budweiser Events Center two weeks ago to secure home-field advantage.

And the Danger have yet to lose a home game at the Heartland Events Cente-rin Grand Island. "That's a rowdy crowd; See ICE Page 13 By Kevin Lytle Kevi nLytleco loradoan. com If the Colorado Ice fail to contain Jameel Sewell during the Intense Conference Championship on Saturday, the Ice will be in, well, danger. Sewell is the spark for an explosive Nebraska Danger attack. Nebraska won the Intense Conference regular season title with a 10-4 record and boasts the best offense in the league.

The Danger average 55 -an.