Filipic - the Eagles' all-time leader in penalty minutes (1,072) - surpassed 1,000 professional PIMs last season and has made a name for himself as the league's toughest fighter despite his size (5-foot-10-inches, 185 pounds). The right-winger is also capable of bringing a scoring punch to the lineup as he proved in 2005-06 (with a career high 44 points (19-25-44)) and again last postseason. Filipic registered two points (including the game-winning assist) while filling Greg Pankewicz's spot on the top line for Game Seven of the Northern Conference Finals. He also set career playoff highs with seven assists and nine points last season. Filipic was part of an Eagles' third line that dominated on the road as the Thorsby, Alberta native registered 14 of his 19 points while away from the Budweiser Events Center.

Birnie, a 6-foot-3 inch, 220-pound defender, filled a versatile role last season, playing several games as a forward when the team suffered a rash of injuries at the position during the first half of the season. His time on the wing helped him set new career highs in goals (5) and points (11). Birnie also made an impact on the defensive side of the puck, going 14 games in a row without a negative plus/minus rating and posting a +14 through a seven game stretch in February. The Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia native also made his presence felt as a physical force, leading the team with 23 fighting majors against 11 different teams.

"Any successful team has to have players like Fraser and Jay in the mix," said Head Coach Kevin McClelland. "They're invaluable members of a team, and they don't get nearly enough credit. I know first-hand the type of effort they put in and the sacrifices they make that go unnoticed. Even though they may not get the headlines outside the locker room, you can bet that they have the respect of everybody in the locker room."