The unranked Colorado College Tigers upset the No. 10 University of Connecticut Huskies 4-2 on Friday, Oct. 3, but lost 1-5 the following night in their season-opening campaign at Ed Robson Arena. The series showcased the potential and volatility of the young team, with new players in important roles.
“What I was most proud of is just how we looked against a team with that much experience and winning,” Kris Mayotte, head coach of the Colorado College Tigers, said following Friday’s game. “We played a ton of young guys, we played young guys in big moments, and there wasn’t anything that was going on out there that I was nervous about.”
On Friday, the Tigers took a punch to the mouth early as Huskies winger Joey Muldowney scored just 52 seconds into the game to put the visitors up early. But the hosts recovered quickly, settling into what was the first NCAA game for 10 freshmen in CC’s starting lineup, and evened the score at 19:31 in the first.
Owen Beckner ‘28, who led the Tigers in points last season, scored the first goal of this one, faking left then sliding the puck in right. It capped off a period that was more dominant than the score suggested: the Tigers attempted 25 shots, 16 of which were on target, compared to 12 and five from the visitors, respectively.
CC poured it on in the second, with freshman Brayden Schuurman scoring his first of the season 2:20 into the period. They added to the lead two minutes later, when defender Phillippe Blais-Savoie ‘28 was left open for an unassisted slapshot goal from the right circle. The Huskies drew closer with a second goal at 12:08.
Despite the Huskies push to even the score in the third period, the Tigers prevented an equalizer. Goaltender Kaidan Mbereko ‘26 made a couple of crucial blocks en route to a 27-save performance. CC put the nail in the coffin with 45 seconds to go as junior center Klavs Veinbergs scored an empty-netter to put the Tigers up 4-2.
Saturday night, the Tigers struck first at 10:31 when defenseman Ryan Koering ‘28 poked away the puck from and hit first-line winger Bret Link ‘27 in stride for a breakaway goal–their only of the night.
The Huskies equalized at 18:45 with a goal from center Ryan Tattle to kick off what would be a long night for the Tigers.
A minute and five seconds into the second, a mishap in coverage led to UConn defenseman Tom Messino being wide open for a goal from the left circle. 2-1 Huskies.
The visitors continued to convert in what was a five-penalty second period for the Tigers, scoring on a 5-on-3 after winger Wilson Björck ‘29 was sent to the box for high-sticking and defenseman Fisher Scott ‘28 quickly joined him on a cross-checking penalty. Joey Muldowney, who scored for the Huskies the night prior, added to the lead with an even-sided goal with 11:57 in the second.
“With the penalties, it just became a slow game. It became a choppy game, you lose your momentum a little bit, you lose your flow a little,” Mayotte said. “Similar to what happened last night, they capitalized on their power plays. I thought our power plays generated chances. They didn’t end up in the back of the net, but I thought they generated chances.”
“We had it in moments, it just wasn’t consistent enough,” Mayotte added.
In the third, Kaden Shahan scored at 4:04 on another 5-on-3 to make the final score 5-1. CC was outshot 32-27 after outshooting UConn 38-29 the night before. Five different Tigers scored a goal over the series, and six different Tigers recorded an assist– showcasing the depth that Mayotte said would be a strength this season.
“We’ve got a great team this year,” said Link after Friday’s game. “All four lines can make a difference.”
The Tigers will face two different opponents next weekend, first taking on Bentley University at home in Ed Robson Arena at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, before traveling to Cadet Ice Arena to face Air Force in the Battle for Pikes Peak at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11.