by Carlynn Claypool | AHL On The Beat
The captain is back.
Colorado Eagles forward Jason Megna he held such distinction that he earned team captain honors before taking the ice in his fifth season with the club and 13th in the AHL.
During the home opener against the Tucson Roadrunners on Oct. 11 in Loveland, the fans welcomed him with great joy. Megna said returning to Colorado after a year with the Providence Bruins was an easy decision because of the Eagles fans, the city itself and the quality of life.
Perhaps most special of all, Megna's daughter, Hadleyhe was born here, and thus the family considers Northern Colorado home.
“It checks all the boxes for us,” Megna said. “My wife and I, we have our daughter here and I consider it a second home, so when we had the opportunity to come back, we jumped at it.”
Colorado certainly has plenty of reasons to welcome Megna with open arms. He compiled 320 points in 499 AHL games, a long way from the ice-skating-themed birthday party he attended as a kid that would eventually spark a hockey career.
“I was born in Fort Lauderdale,” Megna said. “There weren't many youth hockey programs (in Florida) at that time. It got, obviously, the best of the Panthers.
“I moved to Chicago when I was five or six and went to a birthday skate party when I was seven. Then I asked my parents to sign me up for a league and I just started loving the game from there. “
Megna's father, Jayserved as a driving force in his son's pursuit of professional hockey. Jay Megna played defensive back at East Tennessee State University and spent time in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints in the 1980s. Jayson saw the dedication and effort it takes to play well.
Learning the principles and ethics needed to succeed in a high-level, fast-paced environment helped Megna take on the role of captain with the Eagles.
As a captain with extensive experience, including 204 games at the NHL level, Megna has the opportunity to mentor some of the Eagles' younger players.
And it's a role he enjoys.
“I don't take it for granted, and I feel very fortunate to be in that position,” Megna said. “I'm just trying to help the young guys and help develop their talent so we can see them excel in Denver and the Avalanche and have long successful careers.
Anything I can do to help them, that is my full concern.
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