With the college hockey season now complete, the Colorado Eagles are getting some young reinforcements.

20-year-old forward Sampo Ranta joined the team last week after inking a three-year entry-level contract. The native of Finland and former star at the University of Minnesota was a third-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2018 NHL draft.

After an impressive finish to the junior season scoring 31 points in 31 games for the Gophers, Ranta made a pretty quick impact for the Colorado Eagles.

In his second career game with the Eagles on Sunday, Ranta broke a 1-1 tie early in the second period with his first professional goal. Colorado went on to win 4-1 and are 3-0-1 so far in April.

 

Ranta isn't the only young Avalanche draft pick to join the Eagles.

Forward Alex Newhook signed a three-year entry-level contract on March 31 after his sophomore season concluded at Boston College. He was assigned to the Colorado Eagles and should make his debut any day now.

Newhook was drafted by the Avalanche and was the 16th overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft.

Colorado Eagles Games This Week

  • 7:05 p.m. Tuesday April 13 vs Bakersfield
  • 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, April 14 vs Bakersfield

The Eagle's Nest Notebook is a weekly Monday look at the Colorado Eagles professional minor league hockey team. The Eagles are affiliated with the NHL's Colorado Avalanche.

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