So much for momentum, the Tigers were beaten by the USA U-18 team today in a game played just for fun. The Tigers used the opportunity to play some lesser-used players and get some guys used to the speed of the game. I'm pretty bummed to lose an exhibition, but these players are future NHL stars and did just win a world tournament, plus it was our lower line players so I'll let it go. The Tigers better rest up quickly as they host Minnesota this upcoming weekend.
Missy J sent me some great pics from the game, they'll be up Monday night (I gotta sleep since work begins at 7am!)

U.S. Under-18 Team rallies past Tigers
CC suffers 3-2 exhibition loss
David Civitarese-Athletic Media Relations

They may be young, but the players on the United States Under-18 Team continue to show that they are very capable of competing against anyone.

On Sunday afternoon at the World Arena, a week after winning the 2009 Five Nations Tournament in Sweden, they pulled off what no other opponent has done against Colorado College all season.

Third-period goals by Jeremy Morin and Ryan Bourque rallied the visiting USA squad from a 2-1 deficit after 40 minutes of play and lifted them to a come-from-behind 3-2 exhibition victory over the Tigers.

Fortunately, the loss doesn’t count for CC, which officially remains undefeated (11-0-6) this 2008-09 campaign when ahead entering the third period.

Tallies by freshman right wing David Civitarese just 1:16 into the contest and senior center Chad Rau with 2:15 left in the middle frame staked the Tigers to leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in this one.

But, after Morin pulled Team USA even for the second time at 7:40 of the final stanza, Bourque beat sophomore goaltender Tyler O’Brien with a quick wrist shot after a steal at the blue line by A.J. Treais. The game winner came with 4:43 remaining in regulation.

Colorado College pulled O’Brien with a little more than a minute to play, but could not strike for the equalizer. O’Brien made 23 saves in the game while Under-18 net minder Adam Murray finished with 44, including 18 in the third period.

Morin and Drew Shore combined to set up a power-play goal by Nick Mattson that tied the score at 1-1 midway through the second period. Shore also assisted on Morin’s red lighter as Team USA improved to 7-9-1 against NCAA Division I opponents in ‘08-09.

The loss was CC’s first ever against the Under-18 Team after four consecutive victories dating back to February 2003.