Colorado College Tigers at Omaha Mavericks

Game Notes: Colorado College | Omaha
Dates: Friday, Nov. 30 / Saturday, Dec. 1
Times: 7:07 pm (CT)
Location: Omaha, Neb.
Venue: Baxter Arena (7,898)
Radio: KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 FM
TV: None
Live Streaming: NCHC.tv
Records: Colorado College 5-6-1, 1-5-0 NCHC | Omaha 4-7-1, 2-2-0 NCHC
Series: Omaha leads 15-8-4
First Game: 10/13/06, Tied 2-2
Last Game: 2/24/18, Tied 2-2
Streak: Tie - 1

This Weekend
Colorado College heads to Omaha, Neb., for a weekend series against the Omaha Mavericks at Baxter Arena. Both games will be broadcast in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region on KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 and 92.5 FM, and 1240 AM, as well as streamed live on NCHC.tv.

Last Time Out
The Tigers and 20th-ranked Miami split a pair of games, Nov. 16-17, at the Broadmoor World Arena ... On Friday, Alex Leclerc had 29 saves and Erik Middendorf posted his first career game-winning goal to lead the Tigers to a 2-1 victory. Leclerc was spectacular throughout the game and made a number of saves during two stints when he did not have his own stick, including a two-minute stretch early in the second period and was forced to make a couple of saves with Trevor Gooch's stick. The only blemish for Leclerc was a wrist shot by Karch Bachman at the 8:04 mark of the second period that evened the score at 1-all. Other than that, Leclerc was as focused as he has been all season and kept CC in the lead with a pair of huge saves with six minutes left in the third period, the first on a blast from the right circle by Gordie Green, then the point-blank rebound by Jonathan Gruden. Leclerc did have a good amount of help in front of him, especially during Miami's four power-play opportunities. Early in the third period, Alex Berardinelli was called for interference, then Mason Bergh whistled for tripping, giving the RedHawks a 5-on-3 advantage for 47 seconds. The Tigers allowed just one shot on goal, then Leclerc stopped all three during the ensuing 5-on-4 power play to keep the one-goal lead. Bergh opened the scoring with his first goal of the season at the 7:45 mark of the first period. Miami goalie Ryan Larkin saved Trey Bradley's shot from the slot, but Bergh corralled it at the bottom of the left circle and sent a shot off Larkin into the net. After Bachman evened the score midway through the second, the Tigers regained the lead with 4:09 left in the middle frame when Middendorf blasted a one-timer from the right circle while falling down for his second tally of the season ... On Saturday, Casey Gilling scored a power-play goal at the 2:19 mark of overtime to give the RedHawks a 3-2 win. After Bradley was assessed an interference penalty in the offensive zone just 37 seconds into the extra period, Gilling's shot from the high slot broke Tanner Ockey's stick. The puck came right back to Gilling and he placed a wrister past Leclerc. The Tigers had a chance to win the game in regulation when Miami's Scott Corbett was called for interference with 1:50 left in regulation, but could not capitalize. The RedHawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of goals in the first period. River Rymsha scored from the left point at the 14:35 mark, then Derek Daschke scored on a rebound in front of the net with 1:04 remaining in the frame. CC battled back as Bergh scored shorthanded and on the power play in the second period. Following a hooking call to Gooch, Bergh started a rush with Cole McCaskill, who centered a pass back to Bergh in front of the net. Larkin made the initial save, but Bergh collected the rebound and scored to cut the Miami lead in half at the 4:02 mark of the second. Later in the period, Bergh scored his third of the weekend on a 5-on-3 power play, taking a cross-ice pass from Nick Halloran and beating Larkin at 16:11 of the middle frame to even the score at 2-all.

For The Record
Colorado College is 5-6-1 after the weekend series vs. No. 20 Miami ... Omaha is 4-7-1 overall and 2-2 in the NCHC after sweeping a non-conference series at home against 18th-ranked Arizona State last weekend.

Previous Meetings
Colorado College and Omaha have played 27 times, with the Mavericks holding a 15-8-4 advantage in the all-time series. The Tigers went 1-2-1 against Omaha last year.

Tiger Tales
Halloran (4g,6a) and Bradley (3g,7a) lead the Tigers in scoring with 10 points apiece. Halloran is fifth in the NCHC with 43 shots on goal. Bergh follows with eight points (3g,5a) after his three-goal weekend vs. Miami. Leclerc has started 11 of CC's 12 games in the net this season and sports a 5-5-1 record with a 2.49 GAA and .918 saves percentage.

Scouting the Mavericks
Mason Morelli (7g,8a) and Fredrick Olofsson (6g,9a) lead the Mavericks and are tied for second in the NCHC in scoring with 15 points apiece. Morelli is tied for fourth in the league in goals. Zach Jordan follows with 12 points (4g,8a). Evan Weninger has started 11 of Omaha's 12 games in the net this season and sports a 4-6-1 record with a 3.93 GAA and .887 saves percentage.  

The Coaches
Mike Haviland (Elmira College, '90) is in his fifth 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 … Mike Gabinet (Omaha, '04) is in his second season as head coach at Omaha after serving as the team's associate head coach during the 2016-17 season. Prior to that, he was the head coach of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in 2015-16.    

Happy 80th
This season marks the 80th year of varsity ice hockey at Colorado College and sixth season as a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. CC was a charter member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (1951-52) for 62 seasons before joining the NCHC with seven other schools prior to the 2013-14 campaign.

Up Next
The Tigers return home for a non-conference series against Vermont, Dec. 7-8, at the Broadmoor World Arena.

Top Line Continues to Shine vs. Miami
With Bergh's three goals and and assist each by Bradley and Halloran against Miami, CC's top line now has combined for 25 points (10g,15a) in 30 total games played against the Redhawks.  

Very Defensive in Five Wins
In their five victories this season, the Tigers have allowed seven goals, and have given up 25 in the other seven games.

Balanced Scoring
CC has 21 players, including Leclerc, with at least one point in the first 12 games, while 16 Tigers have scored at least one goal this season.

On the Air
All CC games in 2018-19, home and away, will be broadcast live throughout Southern Colorado on KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 and 92.5 FM and 1240 AM, featuring Ken Landau with the play-by-play. Both of this weekend's pre-game shows start 30 minutes before faceoff. The broadcasts also can be heard worldwide via the Internet ... Selected games, including both this weekend, will also be available on KSBV 93.7 FM in Cripple Creek, Divide, Buena Vista, Monarch and Leadville.

Played Top Two Back-to-Back, Again
By playing No. 2 St. Cloud State and No. 1 Minnesota Duluth back-to-back earlier this month, Colorado College faced the nation's top two teams in consecutive weekends for the third consecutive season. Two years ago, the Tigers faced No. 2 Denver, followed by No. 1 Minnesota Duluth at home. Last season, CC played at No. 2 St. Cloud State, followed by No. 1 Denver.

Haven't Scored 10 in Nearly 16 Years
The 10 goals scored by Colorado College in the season opener at Alaska Anchorage were the most in one game since defeating Mercyhurst, 10-2, on Nov. 30, 2002, and the most in a road game since a 10-1 triumph at Northern Michigan on Oct. 25, 1995.

Tough Schedule Again This Season
After playing 21 of its 36 games against ranked teams last season, the Tigers are at it again this year. Four of Colorado College's 15 opponents this season played in the NCAA Division I Hockey Tournament last season and 22 of CC's 36 regular-season games are scheduled against teams that are ranked in this week's USCHO's Top 20 poll, including 12 against the last three national champions (Minn. Duluth, Denver and North Dakota), the most of any team in the country.

Pikes Peak Trophy Comes to CC
With the victory over Air Force on Oct. 13, Colorado College claimed the Pikes Peak Trophy for the first time. In 2013, Colorado College and Air Force established the Pikes Peak Trophy in memory of the former head coach of both schools, John Matchefts. Matchefts compiled a record of 54-88-3 in five seasons (1966-71) at the Colorado College helm before posting a ledger of 154-150-6 in 11 years (1974-85) with Air Force. The Tigers now own a 61-13-2 all-time record against Air Force.

New On-Campus Arena on the Horizon
Colorado College, in partnership with Colorado Springs' City for Champions initiative, has unveiled a proposal to build the Edward J. Robson Arena as an on-campus competition arena. If approved, this new facility with 3,000 permanent seats would become the permanent home of CC Tiger Hockey and, for the first time since the program's founding in 1938, the CC hockey team would be able to play games on campus.

Halloran Named to NCHC Preseason Team
Halloran was named to the NCHC Preseason All-Conference Team last month. Halloran and Minnesota Duluth sophomore defenseman Scott Perunovich led all honorees in voting, receiving 24 votes each. Last season, Halloran ranked third in the NCHC with 45 points on 19 goals and 26 assists in 37 games, en route to first-team All-NCHC and second-team All-America honors. He is the first Tiger to be selected to the preseason team since current Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin in 2014-15.

Mason Bergh a Candidate for Senior CLASS Award
Bergh has been selected as a candidate for the 2018-19 Senior CLASS Award for hockey. He is one of the 15 men's hockey student-athletes that were selected for excelling both on and off the ice. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.

Berardinelli's Leads Nation with Two Shortys
Berardinelli, who scored his team-leading five goals in the first five games this season, leads the NCHC and is tied for the national lead with two shorthanded goals. He scored both SHG during the same penalty Oct. 13 against Air Force. Berardinelli is the first collegiate player to score two shorthanded goals during the same penalty since Feb. 5, 2016, when Minnesota State's Bryce Gervais did it in a 5-1 victory over Bowling Green.

Strong out of the Gate
The Tigers have outscored their opponents 28-18 in the first two periods this season (14-9 in each frame). CC has led or been tied after two periods in 10 of its 12 games.