Colorado College opens this season's Battle for the Gold Pan against No. 5-ranked University of Denver on Friday, Jan. 27, at Ball Arena in Denver. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. (MT). Live streaming and live stats links for the game can be found on the CC Hockey schedule page at CCTigers.com.

Getting Started
This season marks the 84th year of varsity ice hockey at Colorado College and 10th 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.

How To Watch / Listen
Friday's game will be televised in the Rocky Mountain region on Altitude Sports with Conor McGahey, Charlie Host and Katie Gaus. It also will be broadcast in the Colorado Springs area and Southern Colorado on KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 FM / 95.5 FM / 1240 AM with the 'Voice of the Tigers' Ken Landau, and streamed live on NCHC.tv.

Last Time Out
Tenth-ranked Western Michigan swpt Colorado College with a pair of 4-1 victories last weekend at Robson Arena ... On Friday, WMU scored three goals in the first 10 minutes of the second period. Following a scoreless first period that saw just 13 total shots, the Broncos put the game away in the first half of the second period. The nation's leader in points, Ryan McAllister, scored a power-play goal just 47 seconds into the middle frame with a wrister from the left circle. Zak Galambos doubled the lead at the 8:04 mark when his shot from the right boards snuck past CC goalie Kaidan Mbereko, then Hugh Larkin completed a 2-on-1 with a pass from Jack Perbix to make it 3-0 just 30 seconds later. The Tigers had a golden opportunity to cut into the Bronco lead, but could not find the net during a five-minute power play late in the second period after Tim Washe was whistled for a major penalty and game misconduct for contact to the head. Noah Laba finally put the Tigers on the board at the 3:46 mark of the third period when WMU's Cam Knuble sent the puck right to Laba in front of the Bronco net and the freshman beat Cameron Rowe for his eighth goal of the season. Jason Polin, who assisted on McAllister's goal, notched his nation-leading 22nd goal with an empty-netter at 17:57 of the third period ... On Saturday, Tim Washe scored two goals and Cole Gallant added a pair of assists for the Broncos. The Tigers tallied the initial goal for the first time in five games when Stanley Cooley scored just 2:36 into the contest. Tommy Middleton gathered the puck along the left boards and found Cooley, who beat Rowe from the slot for his fifth goal of the season. The Broncos evened the score at the 8:11 mark when Polin scored from the slot. Washe then put WMU ahead, 2-1, with 1:10 remaining in the first period by completing a 2-on-1 rush from Gallant. Western Michigan extended its lead with a pair of goals in the second period. Jack Perbix scored an unassisted tally at the 6:40 mark, then Washe notched his second of the game at 11:03 after Mbereko made a pair of saves but couldn't stop Washe's flip shot from in front. Gallant collected his second assist of the contest on the play. The Tigers couldn't capitalize on three power-play opportunities in the middle frame, attempting just four shots on goal during the six minutes with a man advantage. Neither team found the net in the third period.

30th Year For The Gold Pan
This season marks the 30th 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, the team currently in possession of the trophy keeps it. After clinching the Gold Pan last season, Denver has hoisted the trophy 16 times, compared to 13 for Colorado College.

For The Record
Colorado College is 10-13-1 overall and 6-7-1 in the NCHC, good for fifth place in the league standings. The 6-7-1 conference record is the best after 14 games since the 2011-12 season (9-5-0) ... No. 5 Denver is 19-7-0 overall and 10-4-0 in league play after getting swept at St. Cloud State last weekend. The Pioneers are tied for first place with St. Cloud State in the NCHC.

The Coaches
Kris Mayotte is in his second season at the helm of the Tigers. He came to Colorado College after serving two years as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan. Mayotte was an assistant coach for Providence College when the Friars won the NCAA Division I title in 2015. In addition, he has won a pair of gold medals and a bronze in four stints as an assistant coach with Team USA at the World Junior Championships … David Carle is in his fifth season as head coach at Denver. He led the Pioneers to the NCAA Division I title last season. Carle served as an assistant coach for the Pioneers the previous four and a half seasons following a season and a half as an assistant coach with the Green Bay Gamblers.

Previous Meetings
Colorado College and Denver have met 332 times, with the Pioneers holding a 190-121-21 advantage in the series, including a 109-52-11 record in Denver. The Tigers have lost seven straight games to the Pioneers and are 1-11-1 since sweeping Denver to close the 2018-19 regular season, the last time CC won the Gold Pan. Ball Arena will be the sixth different venue in the CIty of Denver that the teams have played, including Coors Field in the Battle on Blake in 2016, McNichols Arena, Magness Arena, DU Arena and the Denver Coliseum. This will be the first game in Ball Arena for Colorado College. The 332 games played between CC and DU are the second most among two schools in college hockey history. Michigan and Michigan State have played each other 335 times.  

Up Next
The Tigers continue the Battle for the Gold Pan against Denver on Saturday, Feb. 4, at Ed Robson Arena. The  game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

Tiger Tales
Hunter McKown continues to lead the nation with 10 power-play goals and is tied for 11th overall with 14 goals ... Kaidan Mbereko is second in the country among freshmen with a .924 save percentage, and is fourth among first-year players with a 2.44 goals-against average ... The Tigers are 21st in the nation in power-play percentage (22.1%) and penalty kill (82.1%) ... In conference games only, CC leads the NCHC in penalty kill pct. (.881) ... The Tigers have won the first game in each of the first four months of the season for the first time since the 2006-07 season ... McKown leads the team with 19 points (14g,5a), followed by Noah Laba (8g,6a), Stanley Cooley (5g,9a) and Bryan Yoon (1g,13a) with 14 points apiece ... Yoon, a graduate student, is the only current Tiger that has been a part of a CC team that had possiession of the Gold Pan (2018-19).       

McKown and Mbereko Nominated For Hobey Baker Award
Junior forward Hunter McKown and freshman goaltender Kaidan Mbereko are among 82 student-athletes nominated for the 2023 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. Consideration is given for scholastic achievement and sportsmanship. Colorado College has had two winners since the first Hobey Baker was awarded in 1981, Peter Sejna (2003) and Marty Sertich (2005). McKown, an assistant captain from San Jose, Calif., leads the Tigers so far this season with 19 points (14g,5a). He posted the second hat trick of his career in a 6-4  victory over Omaha on Dec. 9, and has three game-winning goals this season. Mbereko, from Aspen, Colo., is the reigning two-time NCHC Goaltender of the Month, winning the award in November and December. Mbereko represented his country as part of Team USA at the 2023 World Junior Championships in Canada.

Mbereko Repeats as NCHC Goaltender of the Month
Freshman Kaidan Mbereko earned his second consecutive NCHC Goaltender of the Month award after posting a 3-1 record in December. Mbereko, from Aspen, Colo., continued his stellar play for the Tigers in December, starting four of their six games. He recorded shutouts in half of his starts last month, while ranking second in the NCHC in December with a .940 save percentage. His 31.25 saves per game were tops in the NCHC during the month, while his 125 total saves were second. Mbereko's 2.00 goals-against average ranked third in the NCHC in December. Mbereko began December with a 39-save shutout in a 3-0 victory at Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 2. He then made 22 saves in the series finale at UMD in a loss. A weekend later, Mbereko compiled 64 saves to backstop CC to a home sweep of Omaha, including a career-high 40 saves in a 1-0 shutout win over the Mavericks.

Six Future Tigers Sign National Letter of Intent
Six future Tigers have signed a National Letter of Intent to attend and play hockey at Colorado College. Owen Beckner (Salmon Arm Silverbacks - BCHL), Philippe Blais-Savoie (Tri-City Storm - USHL), Ryan Koering (Eden Prairie High School - MN), Gavin Lindberg (Waterloo Black Hawks - USHL), Fisher Scott (Dubuque Fighting Saints - USHL) and Riley Stuart (Dubuque Fighting Saints - USHL) will don the black and gold in coming years.

Mbereko, Laba Played For Team USA at World Junior Championship
Freshmen Kaidan Mbereko and Noah Laba were selected to the 2023 U.S. National Junior Team and represented their country at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in Moncton, New Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The tournament began on Dec. 26 and concluded on Jan. 5. Team USA claimed a bronze medal with an 8-7 overtime victory over Sweden after falling to Canada, 6-2, in the semifinal. Mbereko appeared in two games during the tournament, including the third period and overtime frame against Sweden. Laba made his tournament debut in the bronze-medal game.

Tigers Picked Sixth in NCHC Preseason Poll
Colorado College was picked eighth in the 2022-23 NCHC Preseason Poll.
1.    Denver – 180 points (19 first-place votes)
2.    North Dakota – 160 (4)
3.    Minnesota Duluth – 136
4.    St. Cloud State – 115
5.    Western Michigan - 86
6.    Colorado College – 64
7.    Omaha - 59
8.    Miami - 28