. ▁ ▁In ▁August ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁the ▁E ag les ▁were ▁assigned ▁to ▁the ▁Western ▁Conference ' s ▁Mountain ▁Division ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁league ▁real ignment ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 1 – 1 2 ▁E CH L ▁season . ▁ ▁They ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁second - t ier ▁affili ate ▁of ▁the ▁National ▁Hockey ▁League ' s ▁W inn ip eg ▁J ets ▁and ▁the ▁American ▁Hockey ▁League ' s ▁St . ▁John ' s ▁Ice C aps ▁until ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 2 – 1 3 ▁hockey ▁season ▁and ▁then ▁as ▁the ▁Cal g ary ▁Fl ames ▁and ▁Ad ir ond ack ▁Fl ames ▁affili ate ▁during ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 4 – 1 5 ▁season . ▁ ▁In ▁July ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁head ▁coach ▁Chris ▁Stewart ▁retired ▁as ▁coach ▁for ▁the ▁second ▁time ▁but ▁remained ▁with ▁the ▁organization ▁as ▁general ▁manager . ▁He ▁was ▁replaced ▁by ▁assistant ▁coach ▁and ▁long time ▁E ag les ▁player , ▁A aron ▁Schne ek l oth . ▁On ▁July ▁ 2 0 , ▁the ▁E ag les ▁announced ▁a ▁four - year ▁affili ation ▁with ▁the ▁N HL ' s ▁Colorado ▁A val anche ▁and ▁the ▁A HL ' s ▁San ▁Antonio ▁R amp age ▁after ▁one ▁season ▁of ▁playing ▁independent ▁of ▁affili ations . ▁In ▁their ▁first ▁season ▁with ▁the ▁A val anche ▁affili ation , ▁the ▁E ag les ▁would ▁go ▁on ▁to ▁finish ▁second ▁in ▁the ▁Mountain