Colorado College Tigers (3-9-0, 1-3-0-0 NCHC) vs. No. 2 Denver Pioneers (9-2-3, 3-0-3-2 NCHC)

Friday, Dec. 2, 7:37 pm / The Broadmoor World Arena
Saturday, Dec. 3, 7:00 pm / Magness Arena

Game Notes: Colorado College | Denver
Radio: KRDO 1240 AM/105.5 FM (Ken Landau) | Listen Live
TV: None
Live Streaming: NCHC.tv ($) | Watch Friday's Game | Watch Saturday's Game
Website: www.CCTigers.com
Twitter: CC_Hockey1
Facebook: Colorado College Tiger Hockey

This Week
Colorado College plays the first two games in the battle for The Gold Pan against the University of Denver in a home-and-home series this weekend, Dec. 2-3. The game on Friday, Dec. 2 will be played at The Broadmoor World Arena beginning at 7:37 p.m., while the Saturday, Dec. 3 contest will be at Magness Arena in Denver at 7 p.m.

The Gold Pan
Established by former head coaches Don Lucia of Colorado College and Frank Serratore of Denver back in 1993-94, the Gold Pan has been awarded every season since to the team that prevails in the regular-season series between CC and Denver. In the event of an even split of the four games, the team currently in possession of the trophy keeps it. This season marks its 24th anniversary. The Tigers have hoisted the hardware 12 times in its 23 previous years of existence.

Teddy Bear Toss
The annual Teddy Bear Toss will take place during the first intermission on Friday at The Broadmoor World Arena. All of the teddy bears and other stuffed animals thrown on the ice as well as any other donated toys will benefit The Bob Telmosse Foundation. For more information, please visit www.santa-bob.org.

Last Time Out
CC lost a pair of non-conference games last weekend at home ... On Friday, sophomore Mason Bergh (Eden Prairie, MN) scored his team-high fifth goal to give CC a 1-0 lead midway through the first period, but Wisconsin scored twice late in the second and held on for a 2-1 victory. Freshman Alex Leclerc (Longueuil, QUE) made 31 saves for the Tigers ... On Saturday, sophomore Westin Michaud (Cloquet, MN) scored twice and Bergh struck again, but it wasn't enough as Air Force scored four unanswered goals and captured the Pikes Peak Trophy with a 6-3 win.

Up Next
Colorado College travels to Oxford, Ohio, for an NCHC series against Miami University, Dec. 9-10.

Tiger Tales
Michaud posted the first two-goal game of his career vs. Air Force ... Bergh, who has six points (4g, 2a) in his last six games, recorded a career-high five shots against Air Force ... CC's 12 shots on goal vs. Wisconsin were the fewest in a game since Jan. 30, 2016 (12 vs. Omaha).    

For the Record
Colorado College is 3-9-0 overall and 1-3-0-0 in the NCHC … Denver is 9-2-3 overall and 3-0-3-2 in the NCHC. The Pioneers defeated Air Force (4-3 in overtime) and Wisconsin (6-5) last weekend.
 
The Coaches
Mike Haviland (Elmira College, '90) is in his third season at the helm of the Tigers. He came to Colorado College after serving one year as head coach of the Hershey Bears (AHL). Haviland was an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks from 2008-12, helping the team win the Stanley Cup in 2010. Haviland owns a career record of 176-104-36 as a head coach in the American Hockey League and 172-81-35 in the East Coast Hockey League … Jim Montgomery (Maine, '93) is in his fourth season as head coach at Denver. He spent the previous three seasons as head coach and general manager of the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL. Montgomery is Maine's all-time leading scorer with 301 points (103g, 198a).

Scouting the Opposition
Henrik Borgstrom leads the Pioneers with 16 points (8g, 8a), followed by Will Butcher with 14 (3g, 11a). Troy Terry and Dylan Gambrell are also in double figures with 12 and 11, respectively. Tanner Jaillet is 9-1-3 this season and leads the NCHC with a 1.98 goals-against average and a .921 saves percentage.

Previous Meetings
Denver holds a 169-116-17 advantage in the all-time series with Colorado College. The 302 games between the two teams is the second-most played rivalry in college hockey. Michigan and Michigan State have played 304 times. The Pioneers have won eight straight games in the series.

On the Air
All CC games in 2016-17, home and away, will be broadcast live throughout Southern Colorado on KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 FM and 1240 AM, featuring Ken Landau with the play-by-play. Saturday's pre-game shows start 60 minutes before faceoff. The broadcasts also can be heard worldwide via the Internet.

Road Warriors
The Tigers are 3-3 this season on the road, which marks the most road wins in one season since the 2012-13 campaign. CC had two wins away from home in 2013-14 and last season, and one in '14-15.

Balanced Scoring
CC has 20 players with at least one point in the first 12 games. After Bergh's eight points, four players have six points apiece, while another four each have five points.

Most Shortys in Four Years
CC has three shorthanded goals in its first 12 games, the most in one season since scoring eight in the 2012-13 campaign. Two of the three were scored in the 4-3 victory over New Hampshire, the first time with multiple SHG in one game since a 5-4 victory over Clarkson on Oct. 12, 2012.
Underclassmen Leading the Charge
Freshmen and sophomores accounted for all four goals and four assists last weekend. Those two classes have scored 25 of CC's 31 goals and recorded 39 of the 47 assists this season.

Scoring Outburst at UMass
CC's seven goals on Oct. 8 at UMass were the most in one game since defeating Boston College 8-4 in the NCAA Midwest Regional on March 25, 2011. The Tigers' four goals in the first period of that game were the most since scoring four in the second period vs. Denver on Feb. 9, 2013. CC defeated the Pioneers, 6-5, in overtime that game. Including CC's five goals on Oct. 14 vs. UMass-Lowell, it was the first time CC scored 12 goals in a two-game stretch was Dec. 3-4, 2010, winning at Michigan Tech 7-3 and 5-0.

Fewest Shots Allowed In Over a Year
UMass' 18 shots in the season opener were the fewest allowed by CC since Nebraska Omaha had 14 on Jan. 17, 2015. In fact, the Minutemen were held to 18 shots each game, marking the first time since Jan. 15 (Alaska-Anchorage, 17) and Jan. 21 (Alabama Huntsville, 17), 2011 that CC allowed less than 20 shots in consecutive games.

This Year's Leadership
Senior forward Sam Rothstein (Minnetonka, MN) is serving as team captain for the second consecutive year in 2016-17. Rothstein, who was the first junior to be named captain at CC since Mark Stuart in 2004-05, scored 15 points (6g,9a) last season and has 52 (19g, 33a) in 109 career games. He is the first Tiger to be captain for two seasons since Eric Rud in 1995-96 and '96-97 ... Senior forward Luc Gerdes (Eden Prairie, MN), the team's leading returning scorer with 18 points (7g, 11a), and sophomore Andrew Farny (Steamboat Springs, CO), who was third on the team among freshmen with three goals last year, are the assistant captains this season.

Six Opponents Played in Postseason    
Six of Colorado College's 13 opponents this season played in the NCAA Division I Hockey Tournament last season. Defending national champion North Dakota along with fellow NCHC foes Denver, St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth joined Boston College and UMass-Lowell among the 16 teams in the tournament.

Tough Schedule Last Season ...     
Colorado College finished the 2015-16 season with the fifth-toughest schedule in the country, according to the Division I RPI. In fact, NCHC schools occupied the top seven spots on the list. Last year, CC played 21 of its 36 games, including 13 of its last 17, against teams ranked in the top 12 in the country.

... And Again This Year
Seven of Colorado College's 13 opponents this season are ranked in this week's USCHO.com Top 20 poll. In fact, five of them, Minnesota Duluth (No. 1), Denver (No. 2), Boston College (No. 3), UMass-Lowell (No. 4) and North Dakota (No. 9) are all in the top 10. Western Michigan is No. 16 and St. Cloud State is No. 17. In addition, three other opponents, Omaha, Air Force and Wisconsin, received votes in this week's poll.

Tigers to Play in Florida College Hockey Classic
Colorado College will travel to Estero, Fla., for the 2016 Florida College Hockey Classic. The Tigers open the tournament against Merrimack on Dec. 28, then play either tournament host Cornell or Northern Michigan on Dec. 29. The Tigers finished second in the 2009 tournament, defeating Cornell, 4-2, in the first round and falling to Maine, 3-2, in the final.