Eagles Sign Sward, Wood from WHL Wenatchee

Originally posted on The Avs Report | By C.C. Hawkley | Last updated 4/16/24

The Colorado Eagles have signed not one but two skaters from the WHL’s Wenatchee Wild to Amateur Tryouts. Defenseman Graham Sward and forward Briley Wood inked their respective ATOs on Tuesday for the rest of the 2023-24 AHL regular season. The two finished their season with Wenatchee after a Game 6 loss in the Western Conference Quarterfinal to Kelowna.

Sward was acquired alongside Yakov Trenin in a trade with Nashville on March 7. Wenatchee’s captain had an outstanding final season for the Wild, potting 15 goals and 66 assists for 81 total points in 66 regular season games played. Sward also contributed one goal and five assists in the six postseason games played against the Rockets.

The undrafted Wood served as alternate captain for the Wild this season, also having a breakout campaign in 2023-24. Wood scored 28 goals with 34 assists for 62 total points in 60 regular season games played. His playoff performance was outstanding, with six goals and seven assists in six postseason contests against Kelowna.

UP NEXT

The Eagles will host the San Diego Gulls tonight & tomorrow (7:05pm MDT for both games) in an effort to earn points and crucial positioning for the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. AHL Colorado will finish the regular season against Ontario in Loveland on Saturday (7:05pm MDT) and Sunday (3:05pm MDT).

PLAYOFF PICTURE

Here is the current playoff match-ups based on this morning’s standings. All opening round series are best-of-three with the higher seed earning home-ice advantage.

Coachella Valley (#1) – First Round Bye Clinched
Tucson Roadrunners (#2) vs. Calgary Wranglers (#7)
Ontario Reign (#3) vs. Bakersfield Condors (#6)
Abbotsford Canucks (#4) vs. Colorado Eagles (#5)

The Eagles (81 points) are currently just two points back from the Canucks (83 points) for home-ice in the first round. Colorado also has four games remaining, while Abbotsford have two (vs. Calgary on April 19 & 20). Tucson & Ontario both have 87 points with three games remaining, Bakersfield has 80 points with three games remaining, and Calgary has 78 points with two games remaining.

Featured Image Credit: Wenatchee Wild

This article first appeared on The Avs Report and was syndicated with permission.

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