LOVELAND, Colo. — The Colorado Eagles took on the Ontario Reign (LAK) over the weekend in a heated rivalry. Ontario came into the game on Friday night, sitting in second place in the Pacific Division. So they were hungry for two wins and four points to gain ground. The Eagles had other plans. They played a horrible game on Friday but came back with a vengeance on Saturday night. It was also Teddy Bear Toss night at Blue Arena. Colorado gave the fans a show and left the weekend maintaining a three-point lead in the Pacific.

Friday Night: 3–2 loss 

The Colorado Avalanche reassigned Ilya Solovyov to the Eagles earlier on Friday morning for a conditioning loan. He had not played in a game for the Avalanche since November 1 against the San Jose Sharks. During the initial period, Solovyov appeared uncomfortable. He had opponents easily knock him off the puck, and he sent passes wide. He was having trouble moving his feet and getting a rhythm going. Come the second period, Solovyov showed he was a lot more comfortable on the ice. At one point he led a rush down the ice with forward Maroš Jedlička.

“The first half of the game — my game was not good at all,” said Solovyov. “It was harder mentally than physically. But then when my arms started feeling better, for stick handling everything, like my legs are going, my mind started thinking quicker and reading the game. Yeah, read the play; it became a pretty good game. The second half of the game was pretty good for me.”

Jedlicka’s contribution this season exceeds the assist total. Fans had high expectations that Jedlicka was going to be a scoring forward. He has made it clear this season that he has shifted his game to be more physical to generate plays for the surrounding players. Jedlicka has been using his size to work the opponents off the puck and then get the puck to an open player for the shot on net. He had a beautiful play in which he did this in the first period to help push the play.

The penalty kill for the Eagles hurt them the worst in the third period. Jake Wise was called for a high-stick along the wall and sent to the penalty box for a double-minor. His stick cut Martin Chromiak’s cheek wide open, forcing the Eagles to play with a man down. It would take Glenn Gawdin only four seconds to convert on the power play to take the lead for the Reign and another 20 seconds to do it again.

“I thought our emotions got the best of us in a moment where you think maybe there’s some sort of injustice where it doesn’t matter,” said head coach Mark Letestu. “A call is a call. You have to live with it. Move on and do what you have to do to win the hockey game. I thought we lost ourselves in the moment there, and before you know it, a good team has the ability to put two goals in the back of the net (took advantage).”

Ilya Solovyov interview December 12, 2025

Mark Letestu interview December 12, 2025

Saturday night: 6–1 victory

Colorado began tonight’s events motivated, given it featured Teddy Bear Toss Night. The Eagles spread their game out and used their speed against the Reign. Colorado made quick passes to keep themselves spread out in the offensive zone and then made quick strikes on the net. Jayson Megna rained down teddy bears with the first goal of the evening as he crashed the net waiting for a pass from Tristen Nielsen. The goal brought in 15 truckloads of bears to be donated to local charities and area hospitals during the holiday season.

Taylor Makar had a fantastic game. He received two penalties in the second period, one for interference and for roughing. These are exactly the penalties you would come to expect from the rookie. He is using his enormous body to rough up the opponents and get under their skin. His only registered shot on goal was a rebound that put the Eagles up 3–1 in the second period.

“We’re just we’re trying to get him to the interior,” said Letestu. “You know, he’s scoring his goals around the net. He’s always been able to get look at his analytic profile. He gets a lot of shots from that dangerous area. We’re just trying to increase the amount of volume from there so that he would score it. I mean, again tonight he’s around the net. I think this is third four on four. He seems to be very effective there. So I think you’re just seeing a player get more comfortable in the surroundings, comfortable in this league, and then, you know, the skills seem to come on a little bit more.”

It has been really fun to watch Luke Toporowski, who the Eagles traded earlier in the season. He has been playing on the top line with TJ Tynan and Tristan Nielsen. Toporowski’s style of play complements Nielsen’s style very well, and the chemistry between the two of them is obvious. They both play a gritty and heavy style of game but still can produce on the score sheet.

Luke Toporowski interview December 13, 2025

Mark Letestu interview December 13, 2025

Up Next

The Eagles will take on the Henderson Silver Knights (VGK) on Saturday, December 20, at 6 p.m. MT. AHLTV on FloHockey.com will stream the game.

Teddy Bear Toss from my point of view