This Weekend
Colorado College travels to Kalamazoo, Mich., for a two-game series against the Western Michigan Broncos at Lawson Arena. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. (ET) on Friday, Jan. 17, and Saturday, Jan. 18. The games will be broadcast in Colorado Springs on KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 FM, 1240 AM and 92.5 FM and streamed live on NCHC.tv. Â
Last Time Out
The Tigers split a pair of games against Miami, Jan. 10-11, at the Broadmoor World Arena ... On Friday, six different Miami players scored as the RedHawks captured a 6-1 victory. Miami's Jack Clement opened the scoring at the 5:47 mark of the first period, then Ryan Savage made it 2-0 at the 12:30 mark by putting the puck in the net after a scrum in the crease. Derek Daschke took advantage of a turnover in the CC zone and scored a shorthanded goal with 1:19 left in the first period for a 3-0 RedHawk advantage. Pletzke put Miami up 4-0 just 1:42 of the second period off a rebound following a save by
Matt Vernon, who replaced Ruck at the beginning of the frame.
Chris Wilkie notched CC's lone goal at the 10:41 mark of the second period to cut the deficit to 4-1. Matt Barry put Miami back up by four with a shot from the slot at the 15:04 mark of the middle frame, then Gordie Green closed out the scoring with a 5-on-3 tally just 51 seconds into the third period ... On Saturday,
Troy Conzo scored a pair of goals and Wilkie added a goal and an assist to lead CC to a 4-2 victory. The Tigers jumped out to a quick start, putting home three goals in the first period. Conzo opened the scoring with the first of his two tallies just 2:22 into the contest. CC took a 2-0 lead when Wilkie's shot from the slot during a Tiger power play deflected off a Miami defender past Larkin at the 9:56 mark. Conzo made it 3-0 with 5:04 remaining in the opening frame when he took a drop pass from
Patrick Cozzi and placed a perfect wrist shot from the right circle just inside the far post. Miami scored the only goal of the second period when John Sladic put the puck past CC goalie
Matt Vernon from the bottom of the left circle at the 16:36 mark. After CC was called for too many men on the ice four minutes into the third period, Derek Daschke cut the CC lead to one at the 5:16 mark with a shot from the point that eluded Vernon, but
Josiah Slavin put the Tigers back up by two at 13:20 of the final frame. Larkin was pulled for an extra skater for the final 3:31, but Vernon came up with five saves to preserve the victory.
Tiger Tales
Chris Wilkie led all players on Saturday with a career-high 13 shots and has six goals in his last four games ...
Troy Conzo scored two goals in a game for the third time in his career and collected the second game-winning goal of his career ...
Bryan Yoon had two assists in a game for the second time this season and eighth time in his career ... Miami's four shots in the first period equaled the fewest in a period by an opponent this season (Michigan State, 3rd period on Oct. 25).
Up Next
The Tigers return home for a two-game series against the Omaha Mavericks, Jan. 24-25, at the Broadmoor World Arena.
The Coaches
Mike Haviland (Elmira College, '90) is in his sixth 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 … Andy Murray (Brandon University, '72) is in his ninth season at Western Michigan. Murray has 10 years of NHL head coaching experience, spending six seasons at the helm of the Los Angeles Kings and four with the St. Louis Blues.
For the Record
Colorado College is 8-9-1 overall and 3-6-1 in the NCHC, good for a sixth-place tie with Omaha with 10 points ... Western Michigan is 7-9-4 overall and 3-5-2-2 in the NCHC, good for fourth place with 13 points.
Previous Meetings
Colorado College and Western Michigan have met 27 times, with the Broncos holding a 13-9-5 advantage in the series. WMU beat and tied the Tigers earlier this season in Colorado Springs.
Scouting the Broncos
Paul Washe leads Western Michigan with 15 points (8g,7a), followed by Hugh McGing with 14 (2g,12a) and Ethen Frank with 12 (5g,7a). Brandon Bussi has started 19 of WMU's 20 games in the net this season and has a 2.90 goals-against average and .904 saves percentage. Â
Very Defensive in Eight Wins
In their eight victories this season, the Tigers have allowed just 15 goals, and have given up 45 in the other 10 games.
Another Tough Schedule
The Tigers are scheduled to play 12 of their 34 regular-season games this season against teams that are ranked in this week's USCHO.com Top 20 Poll. Colorado College also will play seven games against teams that received votes and 10 contests against the last four national champions (North Dakota, Denver and Minnesota Duluth). Â
Balanced Scoring
CC has 23 players with at least one point in the first 18 games.
Chris Wilkie leads the team with 23 points (15g,8a), followed by
Nick Halloran with 17 (7g,10a).
Bailey Conger has 11 (4g,7a), while
Bryan Yoon has 10 (0g,10a). Â
Wilkie Named NCHC and National Player of the Month
Chris Wilkie was named the Hockey Commissioners' Association National Division I Men's Player of the Month for December. Wilkie, who was also the NCHC Player of the Month, posted the first hat trick of his career on Dec. 29 against St. Lawrence and added a goal the previous night against Dartmouth. His three goals in 6:29 in the third period against SLU is the fastest hat trick in college hockey this season. Earlier in the month, he scored four goals in a weekend sweep at Princeton, including his first career game-winning goal just 19 seconds into overtime in a 2-1 victory on Dec. 7. He led the NCHC and the nation with eight goals and nine points during the month and currently leads the country by averaging 0.83 goals per game (15 goals in 18 games).
Robson Arena Unanimously Approved by City Council
On Tuesday, Dec. 10, the Colorado Springs City Council unanimously approved the Edward J. Robson Arena project. Colorado College, in partnership with Colorado Springs' City for Champions initiative, unveiled a proposal to build Robson Arena as an on-campus competition arena. The arena, with an estimated capacity of 3,400+ seats, will become the permanent home of CC Tiger Hockey and for the first time since the program began in 1938, the hockey team will play games on campus. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, and the arena is expected to open in the fall of 2021.
Wilkie and Halloran Nominated for Hobey Baker Award
Chris Wilkie and
Nick Halloran are among 79 student-athletes nominated for the 2020 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).
Conzo Named NCHC Forward of the Week
Troy Conzo, who scored a pair of goals in Colorado College's 4-2 victory over Miami on Saturday, was named the Bauer Forward of the Week by the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Conzo compiled a three-point weekend to help the Tigers earn a split with Miami. In the series opener on Friday, he handed out the primary assist on CC's lone goal in a 6-1 defeat, and finished the game +1. The next night, he tallied two goals, including the game-winner, to lead the Tigers to a 4-2 victory. The two goals tied a career high, his third multi-goal game, but first this season. Both his goals came in the first period, scoring the game's first goal only 2:22 into the contest and adding the game-winner late in the frame to stake CC to a 3-0 lead. He fired three shots on goal and was +1 Saturday, while earning First Star of the Game. Conzo finished the series with two goals, an assist, three shots on goal and a +2 plus/minus. Conzo has three goals and five points in seven games this season, after missing much of the first two months.
On the Air
All CC games in 2019-20, 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.
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