It didn't take long for Todd Fiddler to revert to his old habits.
Saturday night in Las Vegas, on the same day Zach Pochiro made his pro hockey debut with the Kalamazoo Wings, Fiddler scored the decisive shootout goal that gave the Colorado Eagles a 5-4 victory over the Las Vegas Wranglers.
It was the 20-year-old Fiddler's third game in the East Coast Hockey League since he joined the Eagles last Monday, right after he capped a 50-goal, 98-point season with the Prince George Cougars, scoring four goals against Kamloops a week ago Saturday in his last junior hockey game.
Former Tri-City American Adam Hughesman scored twice for the Wranglers, who led 4-2 in the third period. Kyle Kraemer and Kevin Young each scored for the Eagles to force overtime, which decided nothing. Luke Fulghum put the Eagles up 1-0 in the shootout and Fiddler, Colorado's fourth shooter, ended it when he beat Wranglers goalie Josh Watson. Fiddler had three shots on goal in Saturday's game and led the Eagles with six shots in Friday's 4-2 loss in Utah.
Pochiro, who turned 20 on March 6, signed with Kalamazoo on Saturday and was in the Wings' lineup that night in Fort Wayne, Ind., where they lost to the Komets 4-3 in a shootout. Pochiro drew a regular shift and picked up his first point as a pro, assisting on Matt Firman's third-period goal.
"It was very exciting, I played a lot and as the game went on I thought I had a good game -- I picked up an assist and was plus-1," said Pochiro, who on Wednesday signed an entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues, the team that picked him in the fourth round, 112th overall in the 2013 entry draft.
"It's just like playoff hockey in the WHL, even though I've never played. If you make a mistake it will end up in the back of your net and you have to bear down on your chances to score."
Pochiro also played in the rematch with the Komets Sunday afternoon in Kalamazoo, a 5-3 Wings' win which solidified their grip on first place in the Eastern Conference. They now have a 30-19-2-4 record with eight regular season games left. The Wings are affiliated with the Blues and Vancouver Canucks.
Former Cougars defenceman Kalvin Sagert, who played three seasons with the Cats from 2005-08, is in his first full pro season playing for the Wings after a four-year stint with Lakehead University. Also on the Wings blueline is Sam Ftorek, son of former NHL'er Robbie.
Kalamazoo has three or four injured forwards and Pochiro realizes his chances of becoming a regular with a first-place team are remote once those players return.
"It's hard to put a guy in the lineup who hasn't been there or practiced with the team when your team is in first place and doing good," said Pochiro, who makes his off-season home in Las Vegas.
"I have to figure out a way to be part of this team in the lineup on a regular basis. I'm happy that St. Louis has faith in me to sign me. My goal is to progress every week. We might win it all, and I wouldn't mind going up to an ECHL team that ends up winning the whole thing."
Pochiro collected 27 goals and 66 points in 63 games for the Cougars this season. He's eligible to return to Prince George next season.
The unaffiliated Eagles (30-23-6-5, fourth in the Western Conference) will be back in action against Utah Wednesday night in Loveland, Colo. They have eight games left.
Former Cougar captain Jesse Forsberg, the older brother of Cougar forward Alex, joined the Eagles' defence last week after finishing his WHL career with the Moose Jaw Warriors. Forsberg is still looking for his first ECHL point. The Eagles roster also includes centre Greg Gardner, 26, who played five seasons for the Cougars from 2003-08. Through 55 games, Gardner has 11 goals and 28 points.
