in july 2016, 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 longtime eagles player, aaron schneekloth. on july 20, the eagles announced a four-year affiliation with the nhl's colorado avalanche and the ahl's san antonio rampage after one season of playing independent of affiliations. in their first season with the avalanche affiliation, the eagles would go on to finish second in the mountain division of the echl and then win the kelly cup as the 2017 playoffs champions. in their last season in the echl in 2017–18, the eagles finished with back-to-back kelly cups with the 2018 playoff championship. traditionally, the kelly cup is held by the winning team during the following season and returned before the playoffs, but the eagles did not return the trophy to the league after leaving for the ahl and it had to be replaced. they eventually sent it to the 2019 echl champion newfoundland growlers before opening night of the 2019–20 echl season.