The Colorado College Tigers return home for an NCHC weekend series, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, against the No. 3-ranked Western Michigan Broncos at Ed Robson Arena. The series opener on Friday, Jan. 31, is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. (MT), and will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network. Live streaming and live stats links can be found at CCTigers.com.

How To Listen / Watch
Both games this weekend will be broadcast live 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. Friday's contest will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network with Alex Heinert, Dave Starman and Shireen Saski on the call. Saturday's game will be televised on SOCO CW with Josh Howe and Kyle Huson and streamed on NCHC.tv.  

Last Time Out
The Tigers split a weekend series at No. 11 Arizona State last weekend in Tempe ... On Friday, ASU scored three times in the second period and rolled to a 4-1 victory. Following a scoreless first period, the Sun Devils took over the game in the middle frame. ASU's Cole Gordon opened the scoring at the 11:11 mark of the second period, then Ethan Szmagaj made it 2-0 with a shorthanded goal at the 15:14 mark after taking a pass from Bennett Schimek, Dylan Jackson scored with 6.6 seconds remaining in the period for a 3-0 lead. Kyle Smolen put ASU's fourth goal on the board with a power-play tally at 5:05 of the third period. Owen Beckner put the Tigers on the board with his fourth goal of the season at the 12:51 mark of the third period. Ty Gallagher took a shot from the top of the right circle that ASU goalie Luke Pavicich got a glove on, but the puck snuck behind him and Beckner cleaned up the rebound on the goal line. Noah Laba collected his team-high 13th assist on the play ... On Saturday, the Tigers rallied from a 4-1 deficit and scored five goals in the third period claim a 5-4 victory. Ryan Kirwan put the Sun Devils on the board with a power-play goal 4:28 into the contest, then scored his second of the game just 1:53 into the second period. Noah Laba cut the deficit to one just 20 seconds into the third period when he took a pass from Owen Beckner at the ASU blue line, raced down the right boards, around the net and scored on a wraparound. Charlie Schoen put the Sun Devils back up by two at the 1:43 mark of the final frame and made it 4-1 at the 6:17 mark, but Laba responded with his second of the game just seven seconds later after taking a centering pass from Burkholder. Chase McLane made it 4-3 at the 7:14 mark, putting home a rebound after Homer saved a shot from Ty Gallagher, then Burkholder evened the game with a blast from the point after a scrum in front of the net at the 11:26 mark of the final frame. Drew Montgomery scored the game winner at the 14:37 mark, taking a beautiful pass from behind the net from Gavin Lindberg and beating Homer for the fifth goal of the frame. Carsen Musser had 30 saves in his first career win.

The Coaches
Kris Mayotte is in his fourth 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, and was an assistant coach for Providence College when the Friars won the NCAA Division I title in 2015. Mayotte is the reigning NCHC Coach of the Year … Pat Ferschweiler is in his fourth season as head coach at Western Michigan after spending two seasons as an associate head coach with the program. Prior to rejoining the WMU staff, he spent four years as an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings.  

Previous Meetings
Western Michigan leads the all-time series against Colorado College, 25-13-7, including a 10-6-4 advantage in Colorado Springs. WMU went 1-0-1 against the Tigers earlier this season in Kalamazoo.

Five Goals in a Period
The Tigers scored five goals in a period for the first time since Oct. 13, 2023, a 7-3 victory over Union (2nd period), and the first time in the third period since an 8-2 win over Western Michigan on Feb, 23, 2019.

Pair of Three-Goal Comebacks Very Rare
The Tigers have collected two wins rallying from a three-goal deficit in a season for the first time in at least 25 years.

Tough Schedule on the Horizon
Colorado College will play six of its final 10 regular-season games against teams in this week's USCHO.com Top 20 poll.  

Balanced Scoring
10 Tigers have at least 10 points this season, led by Noah Laba (7g,13a) with 20. Max Burkholder (6g,12a) and Ty Gallagher (5g,13a) follow with 18 apiece, while Owen Beckner (5g,10a) has 15. Drew Montgomery (6g,6a) has 12, while Gleb Veremyev (7g,4a) and Klavs Veinbergs (5g,6a) each have 11 and Stanley Cooley (4g,6a), Zaccharya Wisdom (4g,6a) and Bret Link (2g,8a) each have 10. Laba and Veremyev lead the team with seven goals, while Laba and Gallagher share the team lead with 13 assists.

Tiger Tales
Noah Laba has both of CC's multi-goal games this season (three vs. UMD on Jan. 17 and two last Saturday at ASU) ... Klavs Veinbergs is tied for second in the NCHC in faceoff percentage (59.7%) ... Ty Gallagher is fourth in the NCHC with 40 blocked shots and tied for eighth with 71 shots ... Laba is ninth in the league with 1.05 points per game ... Kaidan Mbereko is the seventh goaltender in program history to record 40 victories in a career ... Mbereko was named to the Mike Richter Award "Watch List" for the nation's top goalie; He was a finalist for the award last season ... The Tigers are 12th in the country in penalty killing (84.1%) and opponents are 8-for-46 on the power play in the last 12 games ... CC is ninth in the country in faceoff percentage (54.3%).
    
Laba, Mbereko and Gallagher Named Hobey Baker Nominees
Juniors Noah Laba and Kaidan Mbereko and graduate student Ty Gallagher are among 95 student-athletes nominated for the 2025 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).

Mbereko Named National Co-Goaltender of the Month For November
Junior Kaidan Mbereko was named the National Co-Goaltender of the Month for November after leading the NCHC in wins during the month. Mbereko posted a 5-2-1 record in CC's eight games, allowing just 14 goals. He was fourth in the NCHC in goals-against average (1.71) and save percentage (.941). Mbereko had a season-high 41 saves vs. Arizona State on Nov. 9 and blanked St. Cloud State on Nov. 23.

Tigers Picked Third in NCHC Preseason Poll
Colorado College was picked third in the 2024-25 NCHC Preseason Poll.

1.    Denver – 263 points (24 first-place votes)
2.    North Dakota – 241 (4)
3.    Colorado College – 200 (1)
4.    St. Cloud State – 149
5.    Omaha - 137
6.    Western Michigan - 127 (1)
7.    Minnesota Duluth – 115
8.     Arizona State - 80
9.    Miami - 38

Tied for Second in Nation in OT WIns
Colorado College is tied for second in the country with four overtime victories this season. Michigan has five, while CC is tied with Providence, Omaha and Michigan Tech.

Most NHL Draft Picks on Roster in Two Decades
With six of the 12 newcomers (three transfers and three freshmen) joining Noah Laba, Klavs Veinbergs and Zaccharya Wisdom as National Hockey League draft picks, the 2024-25 roster has nine players that have been drafted by the NHL. That tied for the third-most on a roster in program history. The 2003-04 and '04-05 rosters each had 10 draft picks, while there were nine on the 2002-03 roster.

CC to Have 17 Games Televised This Season
Colorado College announced that 14 home games will be broadcast live by television partner SOCO CW during the 2024-25 season. SOCO CW is available to viewers throughout Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Southern Colorado. In addition, CBS Sports Network will televise two games nationally from Robson Arena, Jan. 17, against Minnesota Duluth and Jan. 31, against Western Michigan.