The Tigers started out a little slow and had some early defensive breakdowns that hung Bachman out to dry twice, but after 10 minutes the Tigers were onto their game. The Tigers played their game and used their crisp passing and smooth skating to sail past the Golden Bears 5-2. The bears were finishing up their 3rd straight game against the Front Range teams and I'm impressed they played as well as they did. The team from Edmonton played hard and stayed with the Tigers for the most part but started to run out of gas in the 3rd.

Some notes and observations from ice level:

• Chad Rau had 2 goals and 2 assists and looks to be the big time sniper the Tigers need
• Billy Sweatt looks even faster this season
• Dan Quilico looks like a boy playing among grown men, haha
  
• Drew O'Connell came in at 10 minutes of the 2nd period and only faced 9 shots
  
• The crowd was very good considering it was an exhibition game (listed at 5589)
• Players now have "TIGERS" lettering on their helmets instead of the logo
• All beer is now $6 at the Arena (pretty sure Bud was $4 or $5 previously)
• The goalies on the bench wore their masks the whole game, not sure if it's an official WCHA rule this season but I know they had talked about it last year for safety
  
• Alberta players all wore half-shields like Canadian Major Juniors
  

The Tigers looked pretty good in their exhibition opener against the Alberta Golden Bears and Chad Rau looks all that he's hyped up to be. Sorry for the late update but I'm still uploading pics from last night, we sat at ice level next to the penalty box so I've got a ton. I also got the intro vid but I recorded it vertically so I have to reformat it, bummer. Full review from my POV coming up shortly.

The University of Alberta rides into southern Colorado Springs tonight to face the Tigers in an exhibition contest. Alberta has been on a three night trip down the Front Range and has yet to win against the strong Colorado teams. They had their best chance Saturday night against DU until the Pios scored the winning goal with 1.8 seconds left to win 5-4. Sunday night, Alberta was on the north side and was taken down by AFA 3-1. The Tigers hope to send them back to Edmonton 0-for-3 and get tuned up for the regular season. It will be interesting to see how CC plays, whether they will treat it like a WCHA game or go easy and just work the bugs out. I would be suprised to see Bachman play the entire game, though it certaintly doesn't hurt getting game-speed practice in.

Also, Bachman and Hobey-snubbed Chad Rau were named first team on the Preseason All CHN Team.

Bachman gets some ink in the Denver Post with regard to DU's new goalie Marc Cheverie and what may have been and what will be.

J.P. Testwuide is one of 4 Pios who were suspended for their game Saturday.

The University of Alberta Golden Bears will be running through the Front Range Meat Grinder this weekend in a series of exhibition games for DU, AFA and CC. They must be looking for either conditioning or their scheduling department was ticked because they get DU Saturday, AFA Sunday and CC Monday. Nothing against UA but that's a tough task from any team, let alone traveling out-of-country and playing at altitude three nights in a row! They currently hold a 3-1 record and are coming off a win over Sasketchewan.


Couple fun facts about hockey there;
The Golden Bears have won a record 13 CIS University Cup Championships.
The women's hockey team it the Alberta Pandas.

Read a little about the downtown Edmonton school here.