Colorado College Tigers vs. Denver Pioneers

Game Notes: Colorado College | Denver
Date: Friday, Feb. 16
Time: 8:08 pm (MT)
Location: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Venue: Broadmoor World Arena (7,380)
Radio: KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 FM / 1240 AM
TV: CBS Sports Network (DirecTV 221 | DISH 158 | Comcast 170/846 | Prism 643/1643)
Live Streaming: NCHC.tv
Records: Colorado College 12-12-4, 6-9-3-2 NCHC | Denver 16-6-6, 10-4-3-3 NCHC
Series: Denver leads 175-116-19
First Game: 1/6/50, CC won 16-0
Last Game: 12/9/17, Tied 1-1

Friday's Game
The Battle for the Gold Pan continues Friday, Feb. 16, as Colorado College hosts No. 2 Denver at The Broadmoor World Arena. The game 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 televised nationally on CBS Sports Network. The Tigers and Pioneers played to a pair of draws last December.   

Last Time Out
The Tigers split last weekend at No. 8 North Dakota ... On Friday, Troy Conzo scored twice and Alex Leclerc made 34 saves to lead CC to a 4-2 victory. The Tigers struck first with 8:25 remaining in the first period when Conzo scored his fourth goal of the season. After North Dakota goalie Cam Johnson misplayed the puck behind the net, Christiano Versich grabbed it and found Trevor Gooch at the left circle. Gooch sent the puck to Conzo, who put it in the net before Johnson could recover for the only goal of the period. A wild second period saw the teams combine for four goals and two penalty shots. UND's Christian Wolanin scored on a penalty shot at the 8:43 mark after CC was called for covering the puck in the crease. The Tigers responded 31 seconds later when Conzo notched his second of the game and the first shorthanded goal for the Tigers this season. The Fighting Hawks tied it up again at the 13:40 mark as Colton Poolman skated up the right boards, cut to the net and placed a shot past Leclerc. Once again, the Tigers responded quickly as Alex Pernitsky faked a shot at the top of the left circle, dragged the puck past a defender, and placed a perfect wrist shot for his first career goal. Less than a minute later, CC had a chance to increase its lead but, after Versich was hauled down during a breakaway, Peter Thome saved his penalty shot to keep it a 3-2 game after 40 minutes. Leclerc took over in the third period, stopping all 14 shots he saw, and Westin Michaud capped the scoring with an empty-net goal in the final minute ... On Saturday, Joel Janatuinen scored twice give UND a 5-1 victory. After a scoreless first period, the Fighting Hawks scored a pair of power-play goals in the second. Janatuinen opened the scoring at the 9:23 mark of the middle frame. Just seconds after the Tigers killed a two-man advantage, Shane Gersich fired a shot that was wide but caromed off the back boards right to Janatuinen, who was all alone at the right side of the net. Gersich made it 2-0 when he put home a rebound from the left circle after Leclerc saved a shot by Austin Poganski. Poganski put the Fighting Hawks ahead 3-0 with a wrist shot from the left circle. Nick Halloran scored his team-high 17th goal of the season at the 6:36 mark of the third to cut the lead to 3-1. During a rush, Conzo flipped the puck to Halloran, who beat Thome top shelf from the left circle. The Tigers continued to buzz the net after Halloran's goal, but could not convert to cut the lead to one. Later in the period, Janatuinen scored on a rebound during a delayed penalty call to make it 4-1, then Grant Mismash scored to close the scoring.
 
Conzo Named NCHC Offensive Player of the Week
After collecting two goals and one assist last weekend at North Dakota, Conzo was named the Bauer Offensive Player of the Week by the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. He posted the first multi-goal game of his career with a pair of tallies in Friday's 4-2 victory, the Tigers' first in Grand Forks since 2014. He also finished with a career-best +3 in the win. The next night, Conzo had the primary assist on CC's only goal, stretching his point streak to a career-long three games.

Up Next
The Tigers travel to Omaha, Neb., for their final road trip of the regular season against the Omaha Mavericks, Feb. 23-24, at Baxter Arena.  

Battle for The Gold Pan Even After Two
Thanks to the pair of draws last December, the Battle for The Gold Pan will extend to the second half of the season for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign, the last time the Tigers won the trophy. This season marks the 25th anniversary of The Gold Pan.     Established by former head coaches Don Lucia of Colorado College and Frank Serratore of Denver 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 DU. In the event of an even split of the four games, the team currently in possession of the trophy keeps it. Each school has hoisted the hardware 12 times in its 24 years of existence.

For the Record
Colorado College is 12-12-4 overall after splitting at North Dakota. CC is 6-9-3-2 in the NCHC, good for 23 points and sixth place ... Denver is 16-6-6 overall and 10-4-4-3 in league play. The Pioneers have 37 points and are in second place in the NCHC.

The Coaches
Mike Haviland (Elmira College, '90) is in his fourth season at the helm of the Tigers. He led the Tigers to the Florida College Hockey Classic title last season. Haviland came to Colorado College after serving one year as head coach of the Hershey Bears (AHL) and was an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks from 2008-12, helping the team win the Stanley Cup in 2010 … Jim Montgomery (Maine, '93) is in his fifth 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 Pioneers
Henrik Borgstrom leads Denver and is third in the NCHC in scoring with 37 points (17g,20a) this season, followed by Dylan Gambrell with 34 (11g,23a). Gambrell is tied for the league lead with 23 assists and Borgstrom is tied for second in goals, both tied with CC's Nick Halloran. Tanner Jalliet leads the NCHC with 15 victories and a 1.95 goals-against average. He also is second in the league with a .927 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. The pregame show begins 37 minutes prior to the start of the game. The broadcasts also can be heard worldwide via the Internet ... Select games also will be available on KSBV 93.7 FM in Cripple Creek, Divide, Buena Vista, Monarch and Leadville.

Very Defensive in 12 Wins
In their 12 victories this season, the Tigers have allowed just 20 goals. Conversely, opponents have scored 59 times in CC's 12 losses.

Halloran Holds on to NCHC Scoring Lead
Halloran, who was held pointless Friday night for just the third time in his last 18 games, continues to hold the top spot in the NCHC scoring race with 40 points. He is third in the country in scoring and tied for ninth in the nation with 23 assists.

Fastest to 12 Wins in Six Years
With Friday night's victory, the Tigers achieved their 12th win of the season, more than the team's win total in each of the last four seasons, and earlier than any season since the 2011-12 campaign. That season, CC won its 12th game on Dec. 31.

Bergh and Halloran Nominated for Hobey Baker Award
Mason Bergh and Halloran are among 74 student-athletes nominated for the 2018 Hobey Baker Award. The Hobey Baker Award is presented annually to the collegiate hockey player who best demonstrates strength of character both on and off the ice, contributes to the integrity of his team and displays outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Colorado College has had two winners since the first Hobey Baker was awarded in 1981, Peter Sejna (2003) and Marty Sertich (2005).

Several Career Highs This Season
Seven Tigers, Halloran (40), Bergh (34), Trey Bradley (25), Michaud (21), Gooch (17), Kristian Blumenschein (13) and Ben Israel (9), have already posted a career-high in points after 28 games this season.

Saturday Success
The Tigers have been outstanding on Saturday this season, posting an 8-4-2 record. All four losses were against ranked teams and six of the eight victories have been by one goal.

Still Undefeated When Leading After Two
Friday night's victory over North Dakota improved CC's record to 10-0-1 when leading after two periods this season. The Tigers were ahead 3-2 after 40 minutes Friday.

Top Line Continues to Shine
Halloran, Bergh and Bradley have combined for at least six points in six of CC's last 14 games. Halloran is third in the country averaging 1.43 points per game, while Bergh is tied for sixth in the nation with eight power-play goals. Bradley, meanwhile, has a career-high 20 assists and 25 points this season.

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 20 of CC's 34 regular-season games, including each of the remaining six, this season are against teams ranked in the top 15 of this week's USCHO.com poll.

Most PPG in Three Years
The Tigers' three power-play goals vs. Miami on Jan. 26 were the most in one game since scoring the same amount in a 4-1 victory at UConn on Jan. 6, 2015.

Most Goals Since '13
With its five goals in the weekend series at North Dakota, CC has 84 for the season, the most in one campaign since scoring 133 in 2012-13.

Still Solid in One-Goal Games
After splitting a pair of one-goal games at Western Michigan, Jan. 19-20, the Tigers are 7-3 in one-goal games this season. That is the most one-goal victories in a season since winning 11 during the 2012-13 campaign.

Halloran Fastest to 40 Points in 12 Years
Halloran reached the 40-point mark in 28 games, the fewest by a Tiger since Brett Sterling needed 27 during the 2005-06 campaign. He is the first Tiger to score 40 points in a season since Rylan Schwartz (53) and Alexander Krushelnyski (43) in 2012-13.

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.

Halloran Repeats as NCHC Player of the Month
Halloran was named the NCHC Player of the Month for January, becoming the first player in NCHC history to be named the sole Player of the Month in consecutive months. Denver's Joey LaLeggia was the co-Player of the Month in February of 2015, then won the award outright the following month. Halloran was named the Player of the Month for December after racking up eight points in six games, helping the Tigers post a 2-1-3 record during the month. In January, he led the NCHC by averaging 2.00 points per game, tied for the league lead with seven assists and 12 points, and tallied three points in half of the six games.

Fastest Two Goals in Six Years
The two goals in 17 seconds by Michaud and Halloran on Dec. 16 were the fastest by Colorado College since Nov. 25, 2011, when Nick Dineen and Ryan Schwartz scored 16 seconds apart in a 7-6 loss at North Dakota.

Bergh to Play 100th Game Friday
Junior co-captain Mason Bergh will play in his 100th career game Friday against Denver. Junior assistant captain Andrew Farny is scheduled to play in his 100th game Saturday   in Denver.