Review of the Lightning Classic from CC Athletics

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Tigers fall to UMass in overtime
Sitting on a two-goal lead after 20 minutes of play, Colorado College made things hard on itself in Sunday’s championship game of the Lightning College Hockey Classic. This time, there was no happy ending. Matt Burto scored for the University of Massachusetts at 1:55 of overtime, giving the Minutemen a 5-4 victory and tournament title at the St. Pete Times Forum. CC wasted not only its early advantage, but also a pair of dramatic tallies by junior center Chad Rau that rallied his team from one-goal deficits. But UMass prevailed, winning on its 44th shot on goal of the contest when senior left wing Burto picked up a loose puck in front of the net and buried it past netminder Drew O’Connell, who had no chance. Rau’s first red lighter, a shorthanded effort, came just 19 seconds after Massachusetts scored the third of three consecutive goals in the second period to grab a 3-2 edge. His second tied the game at 4-4 midway through the final frame. O’Connell finished with a career-high 39 saves. Rau, along with Jimmy Kilpatrick and Nate Prosser, were named to the all-tournament team.

Schultz

CC stages furious rally to stun Engineers
The rabbit jumped out of yet another hat on Saturday, turning Colorado College’s debut in the state of Florida into a very memorable one. Freshman right wing Stephen Schultz (who played for the Lincoln Stars last season) scored on a deflection with 7.6 seconds left in regulation, lifting the shorthanded Tigers to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the opening round of the Lightning College Hockey Classic in Tampa. CC shoots for a fifth regular-season tournament title in its last six tries on Sunday, meeting the University of Massachusetts in the championship game at the St. Pete Times Forum. UMass defeated host Notre Dame, 4-3, in Saturday’s other first-round match-up. Senior winger Jimmy Kilpatrick made Schultz’ heroics possible, striking twice earlier in the third period to wipe out a 2-0 deficit. Kilpatrick’s first red lighter, set up by Andreas Vlassopoulos, cut RPI’s lead in half at 2:47 of the frame. His second, off a nice set-up by Erik Walsky, pulled the Tigers even with just 3:39 remaining. Schultz’ game winner came during CC’s fourth power play of the contest, after defenseman Brian Connelly took a shot from along the right boards. Defenseman Nate Prosser also assisted on both of the last two goals, while freshman netminder Richard Bachman finished with 16 saves in the triumph.

Tigers lose in OT in tourney final

from USCHO

UMass Tops Colorado In OT:Burto Notches Game Winner
Compiled by USCHO Staff

TAMPA, Fla. (Dec. 30) — Massachusetts defeated Colorado College 5-4 in overtime Sunday evening to win the Lightning College Hockey Classic. Matt Burto scored the game winner 1:55 into overtime to propel the Minutemen to their first tournament championship in team history. UMass is now 5-1-1 against nationally ranked opponents this season, and have won their last three games against top-10 teams.

UMass trailed by two goals after the first period, but rallied with three goals in the second period. With the score tied after two periods, UMass took the lead early in the third period on a goal from Cory Quirk. Colorado College answered with a goal of their own to tie the score and set up the game-winner by Burto.

After the Minutemen took a penalty just one minute into the first period, Colorado went to work on the ensuing power play, but was unable to get one past UMass netminder Paul Dainton.

The Tigers struck first five minutes into the opening frame when Jack Hillen skated around a UMass defenseman and fired a shot on goal. The puck hit Dainton on his shoulder and trickled into the net.

The lack of discipline by UMass continued, as the Minutemen took another penalty just after the goal. While on the penalty-kill, Alex Berry had a shorthanded chance as he skated down the right side and shot five-hole on O’Connell, but the Tigers’ goalie closed up his pads to refute the scoring opportunity.

Midway through the period, the Tigers increased the pressure in the Minutemen defensive zone and forced UMass into icing the puck constantly. UMass had a chance to get back into the game when they were awarded a five-on-three power play, but the aggressive penalty killing of the Tigers did not allow the Minutemen to set up their power play, as the Tigers got their sticks in the passing lanes and blocked shot attempts by the UMass defensemen.

The Tigers extended their lead to two when Eric Walsky scored his seventh goal of the season on a great individual effort. Walsky skated into the UMass zone, spun around a UMass defenseman and threw the puck past Dainton.

UMass turned up the heat in the second period, scoring three goals in the middle frame, but a late Tigers’ goal tied it 3-3.

The Minutemen began the period on the power play, and Mike Kostka nearly got UMass on the board when he hit the post after some good puck movement by the UMass power play unit.

Just after the penalty expired, Berry scored his third goal of the season when he ripped a shot from the point that got through traffic and past O’Connell.

The line of Burto, Brian Keane and Scott Crowder put lots of pressure on the Tigers’ defense and threw multiple shots on net throughout the middle stanza.

UMass tied the score with five minutes to play in the frame when Mike Lecomte netted his fifth goal of the season, banging home a rebound. Two minutes later, the Minutemen took their first lead of the game while on a five-on-three power play. P.J. Fenton took a pass and fired a shot from the left faceoff dot that beat O’Connell top corner.

The Tigers answered right back, however, as Chad Rau scored a shorthanded goal just 14 seconds after UMass had taken the lead.

UMass continued their offensive explosion early in the third period, as Cory Quirk scored his sixth goal of the season just 48 seconds into the period to give UMass the 4-3 lead. The Minutemen continued to pressure the Tigers, peppering O’Connell with shots. Burto looked to extend the lead when he streaked down the left side of the ice and deked to the right, but O’Connell made a glove save to keep his team in the game.

After the Minutemen took another penalty, the Tigers scored to tie the game at four when Rau took a pass from the corner of the rink and rocketed a shot that beat Dainton to the right side. The teams traded chances for the rest of the period, but neither squad could score and the game headed into overtime.

Looking to avoid a shootout to decide a winner, the Minutemen set to work in hopes of taking home the Championship trophy. The Tigers opened the overtime with tons of pressure in the UMass end, and Dainton did his best to scramble around the net to prevent the puck from crossing the goal line. The Minutemen ended the game when Marcou took a pass from Lecomte and fired a shot from the right. The initial shot was saved by O’Connell, but he left the rebound out to the left, where Burto crashed in and buried the puck for the game winner.

The Minutemen will take next weekend off before they return to action on January 11 and 12 for a home-and-home series against UNH.

Saturday Reading

The Tigers start out their holiday tournament tonight against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 6 p.m. down in Tampa Florida and will be without some key members of the team as they take on an unfamiliar team.

Take a look at the overview of the Lightning Classic Tournament

If you haven't heard, 2 Tigers have been suspended, the biggest being Cody Lampl who has been suspended until January 2009 for a violation of student conduct, the school has been tight-lipped regarding just what occurred to deserve a year long suspension.

The US Junior team jumps to 2-0 after beating Switzerland 4-2

Tigers ready to rock

The Colorado College Tigers get ready to return to action after their Christmas break
From CC Athletics

Florida-bound Tigers return to the ice
Christmas has come and gone, and it’s back-to-business time for Tiger Hockey. Colorado College, tied for first place in the WCHA halfway through its 2007-08 league schedule, puts its No. 4 national ranking on the line this weekend with a pair of non-conference outings at the Lightning College Hockey Classic in Tampa, Fla. Playing in that state for the first time ever, CC takes on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in an 8:05 p.m. (EST) first-round contest at the St. Pete Times Forum on Saturday, then meets either the University of Massachusetts or Notre Dame on Sunday. The championship game, featuring Saturday’s winners, is scheduled for 8:05 p.m., shortly after completion of the 5:05 p.m. consolation tilt. Notre Dame, a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, is ranked No. 6 in the national polls. UMass, of Hockey East, is No. 9, while ECAC member RPI is No. 17 in one poll and has received votes in the other. The Tigers practice at the World Arena on Wednesday and Thursday before flying to Florida on Friday.
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