I had a rare Sunday mid-day game today so my schedule is all wacked-but here are the pics from the weekend sweep of the Gophers. The pics from Friday with the Tigers in white are courtesy of my dad and Saturday night with the massive amounts of gold on the ice are from Missy J. The Tigers are still "bubblelicious" and could provide some crazy drama to end the WCHA season if they can manage a sweet up at North Dakota.
Note: the Tigers play Saturday and Sunday night up at the Ralph.

Pics from Saturday night vs Minnesota

Pics from Friday night vs Minnesota

The Tigers got their first series sweep in what seems like forever as they beat Minnesota 5-3 Saturday night.
Unofficial box and summary

The Tigers pulled out a gritty, exciting win Friday night and beat Minnestoa 4-3. Richard Bachman had 4 HUUUGE dramatic saves in the last 1:30 to seal the win. Mike Testwuide's backhander won in for the Tigers. CC blew leads of 2-0 and 3-1 yet showed some grit in one of the more exciting games of the season. The Tigers now have 29 points in the tight WCHA race. I'll update the standings above on Sunday. The announcers were two of the stupidest I have ever heard on TV. I'm fine with getting the feed from hometown announcers but c'com! These guys are terrible! BUT, game was awesome, pics will be up tomorrow!

As if you can't put any more emphasis on the two games this weekend, how about home ice for the WCHA playoffs AND a potential NCAA invite hanging in the balance?

Tigers want to be home for WCHA playoffs
FRANK SCHWAB
THE GAZETTE

In a week, Colorado College should have a better idea if it can make plans for a home series in the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs.

The Tigers host a pair of games this weekend against Minnesota, which is sixth in the WCHA. The Gophers are a point behind CC, but the Tigers have played one more league game. The top five teams in the WCHA host first-round playoff series.

The Tigers are 10-8-5 in the WCHA, tied for fourth with St. Cloud State. CC had a chance to make a move in the standings but settled for a tie against Denver in its only game of the weekend.

"That makes this series even more important," coach Scott Owens said.

The Tigers were the second team among others receiving votes in Monday's USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. Air Force didn't receive any votes after splitting a pair of games at Bentley.

CC and Air Force are tied for 20th in the U.S. College Hockey Online PairWise rankings, which mimic the NCAA Tournament selection committee's rankings. Usually a team needs to be in the top 12 or 13 to receive an at-large bid to the NCAAs.

The Tigers' immediate concern isn't the NCAA Tournament, but their seeding in the WCHA playoffs. The Tigers are two points ahead of seventh-place Minnesota-Duluth and three points behind third-place Wisconsin. North Dakota and Denver are tied for first with 29 points, four ahead of CC.

"I think we're just right in the middle," Owens said. "We're right there, and it's going to be a battle."

The Tigers held off the Gophers this afternoon to hand UM their 2nd WCHA loss of the season. Bachman stole the show and Addison DeBoer's 1st period short-handed goal was the difference. Good game for the Tigers but slightly annoying to watch as the announcers treated CC like the retarted kid on the corner, ofter suprised CC even knows how to pass. I know they are UM announcers but c'mon, do you guys even know the sport? Near the end, CC dumped the puck in on Kangas and one announcer uttered a "drrrr), ha. Oh, and it was the first time since 1955 that the Tigers have shutout Minnesota in Minnesota.

USCHO didn't seem to think the game was close with their "Minnesota Romps over CC" headline. I watched the 2nd and 3rd periods and I don't think "romp" is quite the term, but the Tigers were a step behind and again struggled to score. Of course, you can't give up 3 PP goals and expect to beat anyone in the WCHA, let alone the upside-down "W" so that was a problem. Minnesota definitely has got some snipers, CC is still trying to find an identity. Hopefully they will bounce back tonight, though they sure looked flat. Good news is there is still a whole 'nother half of the season left after the Christmas break so hopefully they will be refreshed for the final run. Game two is this afternoon at 3PM, links from last night are below.

USCHO

Gazette (complete with a picture of the Tigers playing Mankato...)

CHN Tale of the Tape

The scoring troubles continue as the Tigers can only muster 26 shots on goal and Alex Kangas stops all but one (one being a point-blank empty net). More to come later tonight

I've been pretty slacktastic with my postings on the site due to work so I decided to toss in a few links regarding the Minnesota game that will air Saturday and Sunday nights on FSN. No the Tigers don't play tonight, something I just found out myself as I was writing this. So on that note, here are some links to read while you suffer through a Friday night without hockey. As for myself, I have my first game in the Durango Adult Hockey league tonight so that should be fun. I played inline hockey in highschool and grew up on roller blades playing in our tiny driveway but never played on ice until a month ago. Should be a good time!

Chad Rau and his ancient stock photo made the front of USCHO today and the WCHA column gives the Tigers a C- for their report card at this point and addresses the fact that we all are wondering how the Tigers have remained so high in the polls.

CHN now allows you to check scores from your cell phone, a great feature for those of us who love college hockey and can't find a score update anywhere!

And CC Athletics previews the weekend below, full press release here (PDF)
by CC Athletics

A pair of former No. 1-ranked teams square off this Saturday and Sunday when Colorado College and the University of Minnesota meet in a regional televised two-game series at Mariucci Arena on the UM campus in Minneapolis.

Only one point separates the second-place Gophers and fourth-place Tigers in the unusually tight WCHA standings. While league-leading Wisconsin takes the weekend off, CC and Minnesota are among five teams with a shot at catching or surpassing the Badgers in the WCHA standings.

This is the last weekend of conference play until January.

Still in the thick of the upper division despite winning just two of their last six league outings, the Tigers are 9-5-4 overall and 6-4-2 in WCHA play after tying (1-1) and losing (7-4) to Minnesota Duluth at the World Arena last weekend. Only two points out of first place, they currently are ranked No. 9 and 10 in the two national polls. Minnesota is No. 2 in both.

This weekend's series in Minneapolis will feature four of the WCHA’s top 11 point producers. Colorado College’s Chad Rau (10g,14a) and Eric Walsky (9g,13a) rank second and in a tie for third, respectively, with 24 and 22 points overall, while Gopher standouts Ryan Stoa (11g,9a) and Jordan Schroeder (7g,12a) are eighth and tied for 10th with 20 and 19.

From WCHA.com

Colorado College Picked to Repeat as WCHA Champions
in 2008-09 in Annual Grand Forks Herald WCHA Coaches' Poll
by Brad Elliott Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald

Oct. 1, 2008

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The opinions of Western Collegiate Hockey Association coaches varied greatly when it came to picking a preseason rookie of the year and a preseason player of the year. There's one thing the coaches can pretty much agree on, though: Colorado College is still the team to beat.

The defending MacNaughton Cup champion Tigers received eight first-place votes and are picked to finish first in the 38th annual Grand Forks Herald WCHA preseason Coaches' Poll. UND received two first-places and is projected to finish second, followed by Denver. Minnesota and Wisconsin are tied for fourth.

"I think a lot of it is based on last year," Colorado College coach Scott Owens said. "I think the strength for us is going to be in our quality depth at forward. We also have five of the six guys who played regularly for us on defense back and all three goalies.

"I think everyone is excited to get back at it. It's an older team with good leadership."

The bottom five projected teams, in order, are St. Cloud State, Minnesota State, Mankato, Minnesota Duluth, Michigan Tech and Alaska Anchorage.

"I think CC is an improved team from last year, and they were a great team last year," UND coach Dave Hakstol said. "I think every team in the league can say they've found ways improve. What a heck of a league we have."

What perhaps best demonstrates the league's outstanding talent level this year is the coaches' votes for player of the year and rookie of the year.

UND's Ryan Duncan has a Hobey Baker Memorial Award sitting in his attic, but he didn't receive a single vote for preseason player of the year. Denver's Joe Colborne was the Canadian Junior A Player of the Year and the highest-drafted freshman in the country (first round, 16th overall), but he didn't receive a single vote for preseason rookie of the year.

Those honors went elsewhere.

Colorado College sophomore goaltender Richard Bachman is the preseason player of the year, getting three votes. St. Cloud State forward Ryan Lasch got two, as did Minnesota Duluth goalie Alex Stalock and Denver forward Tyler Bozak. CC's Chad Rau got one vote.

North Dakota's Jason Gregoire and Minnesota Duluth's Jack Connolly are the co-preseason rookies of the year. Both players received three votes, while Minnesota rookies Aaron Ness and Jordan Schroeder each got two.

Last Monday the official preseason polls made their debut and the Tigers will start out well. USAToday/HockeyMag ranks the Tigers #5 and has 5 WCHA teams in the top 10. Defending champ BC gets the obvious top spot (this isn't college football where politics determine number one this season) followed by evil Michigan and Notre Dame. The WCHA powerhouse teams go the next three with North Dakota, CC and DU at 4-5-6 respectively, and Minnesota at #9.

I am a little surprised at CC's rank and apparent high expectations (The Tigers recieved 2 first place votes, third most) and rank after last season's playoff face-plant. Voters obviously see the Tigers' regular season as a sign of things to come and not a fluke and that they will learn from their experiences last season. Personally, I think the Tigers will be very good and will probably have a shot at a second MacNaughton Cup but it will be a battle for an outright win. I think it will be a season of "As Bachman goes, so go the Tigers", no pressure Richard!
DU is a little of a question to me, they played poorly a lot last season but could win the big games and tournaments, something CC needs to learn. North Dakota will be strong and is probably my favorite for the WCHA title right now. Minnesota is my ? for the preseason. They limped through the season last year and barely made the WCHA tourney and promptly preformed very well, with a little help from CC's weak showing. Should be a great season!

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll
September 22, 2008

No.	Team (First-place votes)	Points	Last Poll
1.	Boston College (27)	490	1
2.	Michigan (4)	432	2
3.	Notre Dame	376	3
4.	North Dakota (1)	371	4
5.	Colorado College (2)	355	8
6.	Denver	299	9
7.	New Hampshire	287	6
8.	Miami	263	5
9.	Minnesota	223	12
10.	Boston University	203	NR
11.	Clarkson	173	10
12.	Michigan State	159	7
13.	Wisconsin	103	13
14.	Northern Michigan	75	NR
15.	St. Cloud State	69	14

Also receiving votes: Princeton 51, Cornell 30, Harvard 30, Minnesota State 28, Air Force 24, Massachusetts 9, UMass Lowell 9, Niagara 9, Vermont 6, Maine 3, Northeastern 3.