Colorado College has released its full 2023-24 hockey schedule, once again one of the most demanding slates in the country. The Tigers will play 12 of its 34 games this upcoming season against teams that competed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, including national runner-up Minnesota, and 18 against teams that were ranked in the final 2023 USCHO Top-20 poll. 
 
"We are excited to release our schedule as it begins the process of working toward a new season with new expectations and possibilities.," head coach Kris Mayotte said. "I am already excited thinking about the atmosphere we will have at Robson Arena starting this fall. This year's schedule gives our fans the opportunity to see programs they may not have seen before."
 
Following an exhibition game against Simon Fraser University on Saturday, Oct. 7, the Tigers stay in the state of Colorado for their first eight regular-season contests. They open against Union College, Oct. 13-14, at Ed Robson Arena, then host Long Island University, Oct. 20-21.
 
Non-conference games at Air Force (Oct. 27 for the Pikes Peak Trophy) and home against Augustana College (Oct. 28) precede the first two games in the annual Battle for the Gold Pan against the University of Denver, Nov. 3-4. The teams will play at Magness Arena on Nov. 3, and Robson Arena on Nov. 4.
 
"LIU and Augustana are new programs who are making names for themselves through recruiting, and in LIU's case, big wins against historically dominant programs," Mayotte said. "We are also excited for the battle for the Pikes Peak Trophy to be a single game winner take all this season.  I think it will be a great environment and experience to play Air Force for a single game with such high stakes."
 
The following weekend, CC travels to Miami University (Nov. 10-11), then returns home to host Western Michigan, who the Tigers upset in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, on Nov. 17-18. The 2023 calendar year closes out with Arizona State at home, Dec. 1-2, at North Dakota on Dec. 8-9 and an exhibition game vs. Minot State at Robson Arena on Dec. 29.
 
Following the final non-conference series of the season at Minnesota on Jan. 7-8, Colorado College will play 16 consecutive league games, starting at Minnesota Duluth on Jan. 12-13, followed by a home weekend against Miami on Jan. 19-20. Also during the second half of the season, CC will host St. Cloud State (Feb. 2-3), North Dakota (Feb. 16-17) and Minnesota Duluth (Mar. 1-2), and travel to Western Michigan (Jan. 26-27) and Omaha (Feb. 23-24).
 
"Finishing non-conference with Arizona State and Minnesota will be a great test," Mayotte added. "Both programs know what it takes to win at the highest level and will be great challenges. As always, the NCHC schedule speaks for itself. It is the best league in the country and this year will be no different."
 
The Battle for the Gold Pan concludes on the final weekend of the regular season, with CC and DU facing off at Robson Arena on Mar. 8 and Magness Arena on Mar. 9.
 
Once again, all eight league teams will play five teams in both home and away series, while facing the other two teams for just one series. Colorado College will not host Omaha or travel to St. Cloud State in '23-24.
 
Following the regular season, the NCHC Tournament begins with the best-of-three quarterfinal series March 15-17, with the top four seeds hosting the bottom four seeds on campus sites. The series winners then advance to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul for the NCHC Frozen Faceoff with the semifinals scheduled for Friday, March 22 and championship game on Saturday, March 23. The Frozen Faceoff champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
The Tigers advanced to the NCHC Championship Game for the first time last season after posting the program's first-ever road playoff sweep at 7^th-ranked Western Michigan and blanking 3^rd-ranked Denver, 1-0, in the Frozen Faceoff semifinal.
 
For the second consecutive season, the Tigers sold out every home game at Robson Arena.  For information on becoming a new season ticket holder, please contact Riley Dunlop at 719-389-6324 or rdunlop@coloradocollege.edu, or visit www.cctigers.com/tickets.

The television schedule and game times will be announced at a later date.