Colorado College Tigers at North Dakota Fighting Hawks

Game Notes: Colorado College | North Dakota
Dates: Friday, Feb. 9 / Saturday, Feb. 10
Times: 7:37 pm / 7:07 pm (CT)    Location: Grand Forks, N.D.
Venue: Ralph Engelstad Arena (11,634)
Radio: KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 FM / 1240 AM
TV: Fox College Sports Central (Saturday)
Live Streaming: NCHC.tv
Records: Colorado College 11-11-4, 5-8-3-2 NCHC | North Dakota 12-8-8, 6-6-4-2 NCHC
Rankings: Colorado College -/- | North Dakota 8/8
Series: North Dakota leads 156-82-11
First Game: 2/12/48, UND won 8-4
Last Game: 10/28/17, UND won 6-4

This Weekend
Colorado College returns from a bye week with a pair of games against 8th-ranked North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D. The 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 93.7 KSBV (West of Pikes Peak). The games can also be seen on the internet at NCHC.tv. Friday's game will be the 250th in the series between the schools.   

Last Time Out
The Tigers took five of a possible six points against Miami, Jan 26-27, with a 1-0-1 record ... On Friday, Mason Bergh scored twice and Brian Williams notched the first two goals of his career in a 6-3 victory. Nick Halloran and Kristian Blumenschein each collected three assists as the Tigers scored on all three of their power play opportunities. Trevor Gooch opened the scoring just 1:29 into the contest with a rocket from the slot that got past Miami goalie Ryan Larkin, then Westin Michaud deflected a shot by Blumenschein in front of the net past Larkin to make it 2-0 at the 12:54 mark. Halloran collected his second assist of the game on the power-play goal. Miami cut the lead in half just 38 seconds later when Phil Knies poked the puck past Alex Leclerc. Halloran collected his third helper of the game when Bergh pounded home his own rebound at the side of the net on the power play for a 3-1 advantage 6:14 into the second period. Williams then scored his first collegiate goal, the game-winner, with 3:38 left in the second. Andrew Farny and Jack Gates started an odd-man rush that ended with a Williams shot from the left circle that was saved, but went right back to Williams, who fired it into the net from the slot. Bergh made it 5-1 with another power-play goal at the 6:40 mark of the third. Blumenschein posted his third assist of the game and Trey Bradley set up Bergh perfectly with a cross-ice pass to give him a wide open net. Miami made things interesting midway through the final period by scoring twice following a five-minute major elbowing call to CC. Grant Hutton scored at the 9:33 mark and Kiefer Sherwood cut the deficit to 5-3 at 11:18 of the frame. Williams scored an empty-netter with 1:09 remaining after Larkin went to the bench for an extra attacker. Leclerc finished the game with 15 saves ... On Saturday, Halloran scored twice and Bradley added three assists as CC rallied from a 4-2 deficit to earn a 4-4 tie. For the second time this season, Christiano Versich scored in the 3-on-3 double overtime session to give the Tigers the extra point in the NCHC standings. Versich circled the Miami net and placed a wraparound shot past Larkin with 57.5 seconds remaining in the period. The Tigers jumped all over Miami from the opening faceoff as Halloran scored both of his goals in the first three minutes, with Bradley assisting on both. The RedHawks responded with three goals before the end of the first period. Carson Meyer scored at the 7:32 mark, then Knies and Louie Belpedio each scored on the power play at the 10:40 and 13:15 mark, respectively. Meyer scored his second of the game at the 10:29 mark of the second period for a 4-2 lead and it looked like the RedHawks were primed to take a three-goal lead, but after CC was called for covering the puck in the crease, Belpedio's penalty shot caromed of the right post with 4:15 remaining in the second. The Tigers took full advantage as Bergh notch his third power-play goal of the weekend with 2:06 left in the middle frame after taking a pass from Bradley. The Tigers dominated play in the third period, outshooting the RedHawks 16-3, and Gooch evened the score with an outstanding individual effort for his 10th goal of the season at the 8:56 mark.

Up Next
The Tigers resume the battle for The Gold Pan with a home-and-home series against the No. 2-ranked Denver Pioneers, Feb. 16-17. Friday's contest will be at The Broadmoor World Arena, while the teams will play at Magness Arena the following night.

For the Record
Colorado College is 11-11-4 overall after going 1-0-1 vs. Miami. The Tigers are 5-8-3-2 in the NCHC, good for 20 points and seventh place ... North Dakota is 12-8-8 overall and 6-6-4-2 in league play. The Fighting Hawks have 24 points and are tied for fourth place in the NCHC standings.

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 … Brad Berry (North Dakota, '02) is in his third season as head coach at UND. Berry was an assistant coach at the school for nine seasons before taking over the helm in May of 2015. He became the first person in the history of NCAA Division I men's hockey to lead his team to a national title in his first year as head coach.

Scouting the Fighting Hawks
Junior defenseman Christian Wolanin leads the Fighting Hawks this season with 22 points (8g,14a). Junior forwards Nick Jones (9g,12a) and Shane Gersich (8g,12a) follow with 21 and 20, respectively ... Senior goalie Cam Johnson is 8-6-5 this season and third in the NCHC with a 2.14 goals-against average. He also has a .906 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, including both this weekend, also will be available on KSBV 93.7 FM in Cripple Creek, Divide, Buena Vista, Monarch and Leadville.

Halloran Takes over NCHC Scoring Lead ...
Halloran, who recorded five points vs. Miami, regained the top spot in the NCHC scoring race with 39 points. He is tied for second in the country in scoring and tied for seventh in the nation with 23 assists.
 
... And 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.

Very Defensive in 11 Wins
In their 11 victories this season, the Tigers have allowed just 18 goals. Conversely, opponents have scored 54 times in CC's 11 losses.

Fastest to 11 Wins in Six Years
With the victory over Miami on Jan. 26, the Tigers achieved their 11th win of the season, more 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 11th game on Dec. 17.

Several Career Highs Just Over Halfway Through
Seven Tigers, Halloran (39), Bergh (34), Bradley (25), Michaud (19), Gooch (16), Blumenschein (13) and Ben Israel (9), have already posted a career-high in points after 26 games this season.

Top Line Continues to Shine
Halloran, Bergh and Bradley have combined for at least six points in six of CC's last 12 games, including each of the last three contests. Halloran is tied for second in the country averaging 1.5 points per game, while Bergh is tied for second 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 eight, this season are against teams ranked in 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 10 goals in the weekend series vs. Miami, CC has 79 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.

Saturday Success
The Tigers have been outstanding on Saturday this season, posting an 8-3-2 record. All three losses were against ranked teams, at home to No. 3 North Dakota, 6-4, on Oct. 28 and No. 15 Minnesota Duluth, 5-1, on Jan. 13, and at No. 2 St. Cloud State, 5-1, on Nov. 18. Six of the eight Saturday victories have been by one goal.

Halloran Fastest to 39 Points in 13 Years
With his two goals against Miami on Jan. 27, Halloran reached the 39-point mark in 26 games, the fewest games by a Tiger since Marty Sertich needed 22 games during his Hobey Baker winning season of 2004-05. In addition, Halloran reached the 23-assist mark in just 25 games, the fewest games since Sertich needed 24 during the 2005-06 season. Sertich led the team with 36 assists that year. In addition, Halloran leads the country with the largest point improvement from last season (+30), while Bradley is fifth in the nation (+19).

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 and Halloran Nominated for Hobey Baker Award
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).

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.

Leclerc Named NCHC Goalie of the Week
Leclerc, who made 71 saves in a pair of ties against then No. 1-Denver, was named the Bauer NCHC Goalie of the Week on Dec. 11 by the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Leclerc had 34 saves in Friday's 4-4 tie that snapped CC's 14-game losing streak against the Pioneers. The following night, he turned away 37 DU shots, his third-most this season, as the teams skated to a 1-1 draw at The Broadmoor World Arena. For the weekend, Leclerc finished with a 2.32 GAA and a .934 saves percentage.

Rally, Rally, Rally
Colorado College has rallied from a 1-0 deficit to win four 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 6-5 overtime victory at Western Michigan on Jan. 20 was the first for CC when trailing after the second period since Dec. 4, 2015, a 2-1 victory over Miami at home.