Martin Lind

Owner / CEO

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.

 

 

 

What is your position with the Eagles? Owner, CEO, & Governor

Where are you from? Windsor, Colorado

What are your hobbies? Golf, hunting, saltwater fishing, and grampaing.

What is your favorite binge-worthy show? Yellowstone

What is your favorite place to eat? Alexandars in Cabo Marina

What was your favorite subject in school? Industrial arts

What was the last concert you went to? Adele with Ryan Bach

Ryan Bach

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.

Ralph Backstrom

Founder & Hockey Legend

Photo / Media Gallery: Remembering Ralph Backstrom

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.
In four seasons under Backstrom's guidance, the Eagles won the Northwest Division four times, two Governors' Cups as regular-season champions and two President's Cups as CHL championships.

Backstrom entered the world of professional hockey as a champion with the Stanley Cup-winning Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League in 1959, and he left the game as a champion with the Eagles winning their second President's Cup in 2007.
Backstrom's name will always be synonymous with the Colorado Eagles, and he was a vibrant part of the community that he and his wife, Janet, both loved. 

A native of Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Backstrom was the captain of the 1958 Memorial Cup Champion Ottawa-Hull Junior Canadiens and was voted by the media as the best junior player in Canada.

The following season, he signed with the Montreal Canadiens, won the Calder Trophy as the Rookie of the Year, and helped his team win the first of his six Stanley Cups. There are only nine players in Stanley Cup competition - dating back to 1893 - that have their name inscribed on the cup more than six times.

Following his 19-year playing career, Backstrom went on to coach the University of Denver Pioneers for nine seasons, winning the Coach of the Year award in 1986. He then coached the Phoenix Roadrunners of the International Hockey League before starting up Roller Hockey International, where he served as the senior vice president and commissioner from 1992-99.

In his final stop before founding the Eagles, Backstrom served as a scout for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League until 2002. His vision and guidance brought Northern Colorado a hockey team that has had the best record in the CHL since joining the league, and his leadership has established the Colorado Eagles as one of the premier minor-league hockey teams in North America.

Ralph passed away on February 7th, 2021 at his home in Windsor. He is survived by his wife Janet, daughter Diana and sons Andrew and Martin.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

• 2002-2006 President/General Manager, Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League
• 1999-2002 Special Assignment Scout, St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League
• 1992-1999 Senior V.P. and Commissioner of Roller Hockey International, Inc.
• 1990-1992 Head Coach, Phoenix Roadrunners of the International Hockey League
• 1981-1990 Head Coach, Denver University of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association
• 1980-1981 Assistant Coach, Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League
• 1977-1980 Assistant Coach, Denver University of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association
• 1958-1977 Player in the National Hockey League (15 years) and the World Hockey Association (4 years)

MAJOR HONORS RECEIVED

• Memorial Cup Championship with Ottawa-Hull Junior Canadiens, 1958
• Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year in the National Hockey League, 1959
• Six Stanley Cup Championships with the Montreal Canadiens: 1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968 and 1969
• Four World Hockey Association All-Star Game Appearances
• Most Valuable Player for Team Canada in the Canada Cup Series vs. the Soviet Union, 1974
• NCAA Division 1, National Coach of the Year, 1986 (Spencer Penrose Award)
• President/GM, President's Cup Champion Colorado Eagles in the Central Hockey League, 2005 & 2007
• Elected to the Colorado Sports Hall Of Fame in October 2008

Jennifer Dollarhide

Vice President, Finance

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.

 

What is your position with the Eagles? Vice President, Finance. 

Where are you from? Greeley, Colorado.

Other than the Eagles, what is your favorite sports team? Colorado Buffaloes

If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be? Goldie Hawn

What is your favorite binge-worthy show? Gilmore Girls

Do you have any pets? What are their names? 3 dogs - Harley, Rocco, Redgie

What was your first job? Soccer referee

What is your favorite thing about your job? Great atmosphere and attending hockey games.

What is the last concert you went to? Tim McGraw

Gavin Riches

Executive Vice President

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.

Ben Peal

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.

Cody Bathauer

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. 

Cody has been with the Colorado Eagles since 2021.

Sean Linfield

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. He wants 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 started working for the Eagles as a game operations intern in 2012 and this will be Sean's 10th year as a full-time staff member. Sean was a part of the Marketing Department when the Eagles won the Marketing Department of the Year award in 2017.

Sean has been with the Colorado Eagles since 2012.

Jack Allard

Director, Ticket Sales

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.

Ryan Nugent

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.

Drew Galyardt

Account Executive/Radio Broadcast and Studio Host

Drew is an Account Executive for the Eagles, where he sells Season ticket packages, mini plans, group outings, and provides customer service to new and existing Eagles fans to ensure a fun and memorable experience at the games. He also is the Radio Broadcast Producer and Studio Host for the Eagles radio broadcast team, where he hosts the pre-game, intermission and post-game shows, and ensures everything runs smoothly behind the scenes during the game for Kevin McGlue and the broadcast team at the arena.

 

Drew grew up in Greeley, Colorado and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 2014 with a degree in Journalism and Telecommunications. This will be his second-year full time in the front office and 5^th season in the studio.

Drew has been with the Colorado Eagles since 2017.

Kevin McGlue

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.

Emily Ostapovich

Marketing Director / Creative 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.

Reno Boyd

Director, Video Production

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.

Nicole Pennetta

Manager, Digital Media

Nicole is the Eagles' Digital Media Manager. In this role, she oversees the team's social media, website, photography, newsletter and overall online presence. 

Nicole is originally from Centennial, Colorado, and attended Texas Tech University where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Public Relations and a bachelor's in Communication Studies. She started with the Eagles as a Media Relations intern until being brought on as the team's Digital Media Manager during the 2021-22 season. 

Nicole has been with the Colorado Eagles since 2021.

Drew Bothwell

Manager, Merchandise