Colorado College Tigers at St. Cloud State Huskies

Game Notes: Colorado College | St. Cloud State | NCHC
Dates: Friday, Nov. 17 / Saturday, Nov. 18
Time: 7:37 pm / 7:07 pm (CT)
Location: St. Cloud, Minn.
Venue: National Hockey Center (5,159)
Radio: KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 and 92.5 FM / 1240 AM | 93.7 KSBV (West of Pikes Peak)
TV: None
Live Streaming: www.NCHC.tv
Records: Colorado College 7-5-0 (3-3-0 NCHC) | St. Cloud State 7-2-0 (2-2-0 NCHC)
Rankings: Colorado College (rv/rv) | St. Cloud State (2/2)
Series: Colorado College leads 48-46-7
First Game: 1/23/89, SCSU won 5-2
Last Game: 3/4/17, CC won 2-1

This Weekend
Colorado College looks to stay on top of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference standings this weekend with a series against second-ranked St. Cloud State at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn. Both games will be broadcast on KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 and 92.5 FM, as well as 1240 AM (Colo. Springs / Pueblo) and 93.7 KSBV (West of Pikes Peak). The games can also be viewed at NCHC.tv.

Last Weekend
The Tigers split a series for the fifth time this season last weekend against Omaha ... On Friday, Trey Bradley (Tampa, FL) scored twice for CC, but the Tigers could not overcome four Omaha power-play goals and dropped a 5-3 decision. CC jumped out to a 1-0 lead as Jack Gates (Oceanside, CA) notched his second goal of the season at the 5:19 mark of the first period. Bradley made it 2-0 at the 7:10 mark of the second period with a breakaway goal. CC had trouble staying out of the penalty box the rest of the second period, and the Mavericks took full advantage by scoring three power-play goals and four overall before the end of the frame. David Pope started things off with a power-play goal at the 8:50 mark that made it 2-1, then Tyler Vesel (PPG) and Tristan Keck (even strength) scored just 43 seconds apart to give the Mavericks a 3-2 lead at the 12:11 mark. Steven Spinner made it 4-2 at the 17:32 mark with another power-play goal. Bradley put some life back into the home crowd when he scored with just 5.8 seconds left in the second period to cut the Omaha lead to 4-3. Pope scored the Mavericks' fourth power-play goal at the 8:24 mark of the third period to close the scoring ... On Saturday, Alex Leclerc (Longueuil, Quebec) had a season-high 41 saves and posted his first shutout of the season to lead the Tigers to a 4-0 victory. Leclerc led CC's penalty kill that fought off four Omaha power plays, including a five-minute extra-man advantage midway through the third period. Leclerc made 13 saves during the five-minute penalty kill and 19 overall in the third period. Midway through the first period, Nick Halloran (Draper, UT) collected a pass from Bradley at the left circle and scored on a wrist shot for a 1-0 lead at the 10:18 mark of the first period. Mason Bergh (Eden Prairie, MN) started the play for the first of his two assists for the second consecutive game. Halloran had a part in CC's second goal of the night as his shot from the top of the left circle was deflected by Westin Michaud (Cloquet, MN) into the net. After holding on to the puck for nearly 30 seconds during a delayed penalty, Trevor Gooch (Mantua, NJ) scored to make it 3-0 and Bergh, who also assisted on Gooch's goal, scored his team-leading eighth of the season with a spectacular individual effort late in the third period for the final goal of the game.

Bergh Named NCHC Offensive Player of the Week
With one goal and four assists against Omaha, Bergh was named the Bauer NCHC Offensive Player of the Week. Bergh had a pair of assists on Friday, then tied his career high with three points (1g,2a) on Saturday. This was Bergh's second offensive player of the week honor this season.

Still Tied For NCHC Lead
Following last weekend's split, the Tigers are still tied for first place in the NCHC standings with Western Michigan. Each team has three league wins and nine points.

Up Next
The Tigers have two weekends off before facing the nation's top-ranked team and in-state rival Denver in a home-and-home series, Dec. 8-9. The game on Friday, Dec. 8 will be at Magness Arena, while the teams will play at The Broadmoor World Arena the following night.

For the Record
Colorado College is 7-5-0 overall and 3-3-0 in the NCHC following its split against Omaha. It is the program's best record after 10 games since a 7-5 start in 2012-13 ...  St. Cloud State is 7-2-0 overall and 2-2-0 in the NCHC after dropping a pair of games last weekend in Denver, 4-2 and 5-1, to the Pioneers. CC, St. Cloud State and North Dakota are tied for the NCHC lead with seven overall victories.
 
The Coaches
Mike Haviland (Elmira College, '90) is in his fourth 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 … Bob Motzko (St. Cloud State, '87) is in his 13th season as head coach of the Huskies. The 2014 NCHC Coach of the Year led his team to the league's inaugural Penrose Cup championship. Motzko has guided the Huskies to seven NCAA Division I tournament appearances in 2007, '08, '10, '13, '14, '15 and '16 as well as the 2013 NCAA Division I Frozen Four.

Scouting the Huskies
Jimmy Schuldt leads St. Cloud State in scoring with 13 points (5g,8a) this season. Robbie Jackson is second with 12 (4g,8a), followed by Ryan Poehling with 10 (3g,7a). Jeff Smith (4-1) and David Hrenak (3-1) have split time in the net this year. Smith is third in the NCHC with a 2.21 goals-against average, while Hrenak is second in the league with a .925 saves percentage.

On the Air
All CC games in 2017-18, home and away, will be broadcast live throughout Southern Colorado on KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 and 92.5 FM, as well as 1240 AM, featuring Ken Landau with the play-by-play. Pre-game shows start 37 minutes before faceoff. The broadcasts also can be heard worldwide via the Internet ... Select games, including both this weekend, will also be available on KSBV 93.7 FM in Cripple Creek, Divide, Buena Vista, Monarch and Leadville.

Saturday Success Continues
With the 4-0 victory over Omaha, the Tigers are 5-1 on Saturday this season, with their only loss coming at home to North Dakota, 6-4, on Oct. 28. Four of the five Saturday wins have been by one goal, including a 2-1 victory at Miami on Nov. 4.

Fastest to Seven in Five Years
With the 4-0 victory over Omaha on Nov. 11, the Tigers achieved their seventh win earlier than any season since the 2012-13 campaign. That season, CC won its seventh game on Nov. 10. The Tigers are tied for the NCHC lead and tied for fourth in the country with seven victories.

Halloran and Bergh Continue Scoring Surge
Halloran collected multiple points for the sixth time this season, while Bergh tied his career-high with three points (1g,2a) Saturday night vs. Omaha. Halloran is second in the NCHC and tied for fourth in the nation with 12 assists, and tied for second in the league and tied for third in the country with 17 points. Bergh, meanwhile, is second in the NCHC and tied for fifth in the country with eight goals and tied for fourth in the conference with 16 points. He reached the 50-point mark in his career Friday night and now has with 26 goals and 27 assists in 83 career games.

Bradley Scores Two for Second Time
Bradley scored two goals in a game for the second time in his career last Friday night vs. Omaha. He also scored twice against Western Michigan on Dec. 12, 2015.  

Tigers are Solid in One-Goal Games
With their 2-1 victory at Miami on Nov. 4, the Tigers are 5-1 in one-goal games this season. That equals last year's win total in such games (5-4 record) and the most in one season since winning 11 during the 2012-13 campaign.

Rally, Rally, Rally ...
Colorado College has rallied from a 1-0 deficit to win three times this season, surpassing last year's total of wins after an opponent scored first. The Tigers won only once last season after the opponent scored first, the 2-1 victory at St. Cloud State in the regular-season finale.

And More Rallying ...
The victory at Miami on Nov. 4 was the first for CC when trailing after the first period since Dec. 5, 2015. Ironically, the Tigers came from behind to beat Miami in that game as well, 3-2.

Tigers Continue to Receive Votes in Both Polls
For the fourth consecutive week, Colorado College received votes in both the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls. The Tigers received 49 votes in the USCHO poll (22nd) and one vote in the USA Today poll (23rd).

Very Defensive in Seven Wins
In their seven victories this season, the Tigers have allowed just nine goals. Conversely, opponents have scored 23 times in CC's five losses. Overall, the Tigers have allowed 32 goals in their first 12 games, the fewest given up by a Colorado College squad in the first 12 games of a season since 2009-10 (27).

Halloran Most Assists in First 12 in Six Years
Nick Halloran's 12 assists equal the most by a Tiger in each of the last two full seasons (Luc Gerdes last season and Teemu Kivihalme in '15-16). His 12 assists are the most by a Tiger in the first 12 games of a season since Jaden Schwartz had 12 in 2011-12. Schwartz, who currently is tied for third in the NHL scoring race with 24 points (10g,14a), led Colorado College that season with 26 assists and 41 points.

Another Tough Schedule
After playing the second-toughest schedule in the country last season, the Tigers are at it again this year. Five of Colorado College's 13 opponents this season played in the NCAA Division I Hockey Tournament last season and 18 of CC's 34 regular-season games are against teams that are ranked in this week's USCHO.com Top 20 poll.

No Seniors This Season
Colorado College is one of only two Division I programs in the country without a senior on the 2017-18 roster. Boston College is the other. The Tigers have 10 juniors, 10 sophomores and nine freshmen on the roster.

Bergh Posts Hat Trick vs. Alaska Anchorage
With three goals against UAA on Oct. 14, Bergh posted the program's first hat trick since Mike Boivin on Jan. 4, 2013, at Nebraska-Omaha. The last time a Tiger scored three times in one game at home was Rylan Schwartz against Bemidji State on Oct. 15, 2011.

Been a While Since Two with Three Helpers
With three assists apiece in CC's 6-1 victory over Alaska Anchorage on Oct. 13, Halloran and Bradley became the first pair of Tigers since Nov. 6, 2010, to record at least three assists in one game. Jaden Schwartz (4a) and Stephen Schultz (3a) did the trick against Denver.