Last weekend in hockey, the Colorado College Tigers played the Varsity Reds of the University of New Brunswick in an exhibition match. The game turned out to be a phenomenal opener, with a final score of five to zero in the Tigers’ favor.
While this is the last time seeing the Reds this year, it is safe to say that we can expect an exciting season for the Tigers as they enter the newly formed National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC.)
This new conference will be characterized by exciting, high-quality play, time after time. “Each and every night you’re playing against the very best,” says Scott Owens, the Tigers’ head coach. While he believes the season will be challenging, he knows that to compete within this new division, the Tigers will need “to play to [their] very best each night.”
We can expect the Tigers team to commit to having a winning season, and in doing so, be within the top four teams in the NCHC. While shaping up to be thrilling, this year also brings some harrowing facts.
The Tigers no longer have Rylan Schwartz, who finished as the top scorer in the NCAA last year. Coach Owens also mentioned William Rapuzzi, “a great two-way player,” as well as Joe Howe, who stepped up his performance “especially during the last two weeks of the season,” as two more players who will be missed.
Despite the loss of a strong senior class last year, the Tigers can turn to the leadership of Eamonn McDermott, this year’s captain. Coach Owens acknowledges that it will be “very much a team concept this year,” and after the standout plays by both the under and upperclassman, there are good things coming the Tigers’ way.
Coach Owens says that there will be “exciting and entertaining play in the World Arena” every time they step on the ice. If you missed out on last week’s game, keep your eye on the Tigers’ schedule and make sure to catch as many home games as possible.
You can catch them in action this Saturday at the World Arena as they take on the USA U18 National Team.
Standouts from the weekend’s game:
Alexander Krushelnyski (Sr) Hat trick in the third period.
Alex Roos (Fr) Game opening goal within five minutes
Ian Young (Jr) Power play goal in the final five minutes
Josh Thorimbert (Sr), Courtney Lockwood (Jr), Tyler Marble (Fr), All three goalies played a period, amounting a total of 30 saves.