the franchise was founded in 2003 by former montreal canadiens player ralph backstrom. the eagles advanced to the playoffs in their first season and won the chl championship in their second season, 2004–05. they won their division in 2005–06, but lost in the second round of the playoffs to the bossier-shreveport mudbugs, after having defeated the oklahoma city blazers in the first round. they would again win the chl championship in 2006–07, defeating the laredo bucks four games to two in the cup finals.