Cutthroats Prep For Game 1 Of CHL Finals Friday Night

DENVER (CBS4) - The Denver Cutthroats aren't letting the pressure get to them as they prepare for the finals of the Ray Miron Presidents' Cup.

The best of 7 series between the Cutthroats and the defending champion Allen Americans begins on Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Denver Coliseum, and the home team is hoping for a big showing of fans.

"We want this building packed. We want it rocking," forward Garett Bembridge told CBS4 after practice on Thursday. "That's going to help us throughout this series."

DENVERCUTTHROATS.COM: Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Finals Schedule

In addition to a successful NHL career, head coach Derek Armstrong won a title when he played with the Denver Grizzlies team in the 1990s. He says he'd love to do it again as a coach. It would be a major statement for a team that's only in its second year of existance.

"That's what a coach always expects," Armstrong said. "I'm sure after the season I'll kind of pinch myself and say 'What the heck just happened in the past two years?' but right now we're just living in the moment and trying to enjoy everything."

"And hopefully we can get some excitement around the city again because Denver will (hopefully) have another winner," he said.

During Thursday's practice the Cutthroats players say they were sad to see the devastating Game 7 loss in the playoffs for the Colorado Avalanche -- the pro team they are affiliated with. Forward A.J. Gale said he knows how badly Coach Patrick Roy and the players must have wanted the Stanley Cup.

"In any league you want to try to be the best team and player that you can be and play at the highest level you can play at. If this is it then this is it -- and you want to win that trophy," said forward A.J. Gale.

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Armstrong said earlier this week on CBS4's Xfinity Monday Live show that there should be some good fireworks in this series.

"Me and the Allen coach (Steve Martinson) don't get along too well so it might be entertaining," said Armstrong with a grin. "Allen won it last year. It would be nice to play a defending champ to see if we can compete with them in the finals."

Game 1 and 2 in the Cutthroats-Americans series take place in Denver on Friday and Saturday (6 p.m.) night. Then the series shifts to Allen, Texas.

LINK: Denver Cutthroats | Buy Tickets

Ticket for the games are $9 and parking is free. Admission for anyone with a student ID this weekend is $5.