Behind the ECHL Benches - Aaron Schneekloth, Colorado Eagles

Aaron Schneekloth enters his second season as Colorado’s head coach after being named to the position on July 18, 2016. In his first season, he led the Eagles to their first-ever Kelly Cup title, becoming the first rookie coach to lead a team to an ECHL championship since 1990. He assumed his first head-coaching position after serving as the Eagles’ assistant coach in the previous three seasons.

Prior to moving behind the bench, the Calgary, Alberta native enjoyed a stellar professional career that spanned 11 years and saw him spend seven seasons in an Eagles sweater, including a championship season in 2007. The 37-year-old was named the ECHL’s Defenseman of the Year in 2012, while being voted the Central Hockey League’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 First Team in 2012 and was voted to the All-CHL Team on three separate occasions.

Schneekloth retired in 2013 as the Eagles all-time leader in points, goals and assists by a defenseman. He also left having etched his name into the Eagles record book ranked 5th overall in points (356), 2nd in games played (382) and 6th in goals (111). He also owns a NCAA championship as a member of the University of North Dakota team which captured the NCAA title in 2000.