By Joe Paisley

Former Colorado College goalie Richard Bachman has graduated to the National Hockey League, where he is the backup for the Dallas Stars.

He knows that he could not have made his way up through the organization without hard work and his time in a Tigers uniform.

“Definitely,” he said. “CC was a huge step for me. My time could not have done more toward preparing me for the pros. The CC-DU rivalry is a great experience and playing at Wisconsin and Minnesota is too. Having thousands of students chanting your name to distract you really teaches you how to focus. It was huge for my development.”

Bachman will further his progress on the international stage for the first time at the 2012 IIHF World Championships scheduled for May 4-20 in Finland and Sweden. He was added to the U.S. national team roster on April 9.

The All-America netminder from Highlands Ranch, Colo., who continues to work on his economics degree, left school after two seasons and put in his time in the minor leagues, where he excelled with a  22-7-4 record, four shutouts and a 2.28 goals-against average for ECHL Idaho.

Even during those overnight bus rides, he never doubted he was ready for the pros after playing for Colorado College. “You have your moments, but it never lasts,” Bachman said. “I believed in the path the Stars had in mind for me. I think it ended up pretty well.”
 
His progress earned him a promotion to the American Hockey League's Texas Stars.  He posted a 28-19-5 record (six shutouts) with a 2.20 goals-against average and a .927 saves percentage during the 2010-11 season.

A fourth-round Dallas Stars draft pick in 2006, Bachman felt ready to make a strong bid for an NHL roster spot during last summer's training camp and came close to making it.

“I wanted to make it hard for them to send me to the AHL,” he said. “I did.  When I knew I was headed back to Austin, I just prepared myself to make the best of it and be ready for an opportunity to arise.”

He got his chance when Dallas starter Kari Lehtonen was injured for about a month starting in late November.  Veteran backup Andrew Raycroft stepped in for Lehtonon while Bachman, who had logged only a period in the NHL, was called up to fill the No. 2 role.

When Raycroft faltered, Bachman stepped in and reeled off an impressive 6-2-1 record with a .917 saves percentage that included a 1-0 shutout at the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 13. By Christmas, the backup job was his, as Raycroft was sent to the AHL when Lehtonen returned.

“He's a great goalie, he's tough to shoot against in practice and he reads the play really well,” Dallas teammate Eric Nystrom told the Stars' Web site in December. “He's very laid-back and he's got a little intensity to him and he's really focused.”

Bachman is a restricted free agent this offseason but hopes to re-sign with Dallas, where he feels comfortable with the steady progress he's made and benefits from working with the goalie coach each practice. Serving as a backup has required some adjustment for a player accustomed to starting since early childhood.

“I just have to prepare myself to be ready when needed,” he said before the regular season concluded. “You never know how many times you will get a chance to be in the Stanley Cup playoffs. I want to enjoy every second of it.”

Getting that chance illustrates how competing in the well-regarded Western Collegiate Hockey Association does prepare Tiger players for the pros and the NHL. In October 2013, CC begins play in what promises to be an even tougher league – the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

A program record 14 former Tigers have competed at the sport's highest level this season with defenseman Kris Fredheim, and wings Chad Rau, Jaden Schwartz and Bill Sweatt all making their debuts in "The Show." Like Rau, Schwartz scored the game-winner in his NHL debut.  He is now a regular in the St. Louis Blues lineup.

Being part of a program “first” was fun, as well. when four Tigers participated in the same NHL game. Minnesota defenseman Nate Prosser, Rau in his Wild debut, and Dallas' Toby Petersen and Bachman all played in the third period.

“Petey and I were joking beforehand that there would be some intelligent hockey played out there with so many former CC guys on the ice,” said Bachman. “It's good for the program. It shows how well they prepare guys for the pros and the NHL level.”
 
Richard Bachman (2007-09) – Seized No. 2 goalie spot at Dallas with a 6-2-1 record, .917 saves percentage, 2.50 goals mark in December 2011. He is now 8-4-1 in 17 appearances (.910 saves percentage, 2.75 goals against) in 2011-12 ... Appeared for 10 scoreless minutes in NHL debut in 2010-11.

David Civitarese (2008-12) – No points in four games for AHL Hershey.

Brian Connelly (2006-09) – Scored overtime game-winner on Friday for first goal (nine assists) in 23 games with the AHL Abbotsford (B.C.) Heat after being traded to the Calgary affiliate in late January .. the two-time AHL all-star was second in points (36) in 43 games for the Rockford Ice Hogs ... He was named as a second-team All-Star for the league on April 5 ... His 46 points (6g,40a) this season leads the league defensemen by six points.
 
Joey Crabb (2002-06) – This season with the Maple Leafs, wing has surpassed his previous NHL career totals (7g,17a) in 77 games with 25 points (11g,14a) in 64 games for 2011-12. His plus-3 rating leads Toronto.

Mark Cullen (1998-2002) – Has one assist in six Florida Panthers games (38 total in NHL) and 45 points (9g,36a) in 51 for AHL San Antonio.

Trevor Frischmon (2002-06) – Has 27 points (11g,16a) in 66 games for AHL Bridgeport, the Islanders' affiliate ...Had no points in three NHL games, including debut with Columbus, in 2009-10 season.

Kris Fredheim (2006-10) –  Recorded no points in two NHL games, including debut,  with the Wild in 2011-12 ... Has 12 points (3g,9a) in 68 games with AHL Houston, a new pro best.

Jake Gannon (2005-09) – Concussion-like symptoms limited him to 12 games (one assist) at AHL Peoria this season.

Gabe Guentzel (2008-12) – No points in six games with AHL Syracuse.

Jack Hillen (2004-08) – Defenseman has six points (2g,4a) in 54 games in 2011-12, raising his career NHL totals to 56 points (10g,46a) in 229 games … Signed as a free agent by the Nashville Predators in offseason.

Ryan Lowery (2007-11) – Recorded  seven points (1g,6a) in 27 games with AHL Oklahoma City before being sent down to ECHL Stockton, where defenseman logged seven points (1g,6a) in 22 contests… called back up to OKC last week, which clinched a playoff berth this past weekend.

Curtis McElhinney (2001-05) – Went 1-0 (1.67 GAA, .944 saves percentage) in two appearances as Phoenix Coyotes backup in 2011-12 adding to NHL game total of 69 games (16-22-4) ... Traded by Coyotes to Columbus on Feb. 22… He had signed one-year, two way deal with Phoenix in July 2011 ... Was 10-13-0 (3.04, .907) in 25 appearances for AHL Portland … Has yet to appear for AHL Springfield.
 
Toby Petersen (1996-2000) – Fourth-line forward has five points (2g,3a) in 39 games … Now has 81 points (33g,48a) in 397 career NHL games.

Richard Petiot (2001-05) – Played in six games (no points) with AHL Norfolk before an undisclosed injury ... Signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay organization in July 2011 ... Has three assists in 15 NHL career games (made debut with LA Kings in 2005-06).

Nate Prosser  (2006-10) – Defenseman played in 49 Wild games (1g, 9a) so far this season to raise NHL total to 54 games (1g, 11a) while averaging 20 minutes of ice time ... Signed a two-year NHL-only contract extension on Feb. 6 lasting until summer 2014 … Has four assists in 19 AHL Houston games in 2011-12.

Chad Rau (2005-09) – Scored game winner in NHL debut ... Now has two goals in nine NHL games … 33 points (12g,21a) in 61 AHL Houston games in 2011-12.

Jaden Schwartz (2010-12) – Scored game winner in NHL debut on March 17 at Tampa Bay … Scored second goal on second shot of NHL career four days later at Los Angeles... Now has three points (2g,1a) in six games, averaging 12 minutes of ice time for Central Division champs.

Stephen Schultz (2007-11) – Has recorded 11 points (8g,3a) in 34 games for AHL Texas … Recorded three points (2g, 1a) in two games for ECHL Idaho.

Brett Sterling  (2002-06) – No points in four Blues appearances in 2011-12 while bumping  NHL game total to 30 (5-4–9) ... recorded 48 points (22g,26a) in 48 games for AHL Peoria before being traded to AHL Portland (5g, 1a) in 13 games.

Colin Stuart (2000-04) – Appeared in two games (no points) with the Buffalo Sabres this season to up NHL total to 56 (8g,5a) ... Has 29 points (11g,18a) in 44 games at AHL Rochester, where he serves as captain.

Mark Stuart (2002-05) – Assistant captain for the Winnipeg Jets has 14 points (3g,11a) in 77 games this season… Ranks ninth in NHL with 175 blocked shots … Scored first shorthanded goal in NHL on Nov. 12, 2011 in a 2-1 loss at Columbus … Now has 55 points (17g,38a) in 383 career NHL games .

Bill Sweatt  (2006-10) – No points in two Vancouver Canucks  games, which included wing's NHL debut earlier this season ... 30 points (14g,16a) in 64 AHL Chicago games.

Mike Testwuide (2006-10) – Forward has 26 points (10g,16a) in 60 games for AHL Adirondack … Recorded 39 points (18g,21a) in 76 games during rookie season.