Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey


The Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Colorado College. The Tigers are a member of National Collegiate Hockey Conference. They play at the World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

History

Early history

In 1938 Spencer Penrose and Charles Tutt developed plans to convert The Broadmoor's unused equestrian center into an indoor ice arena, known as the Broadmoor Ice Palace. After three weeks at a cost of $200,000 the Ice Palace opened and became the home of the Tigers Hockey program and the Broadmoor Skating Club. Colorado College Tiger Hockey began in 1938 playing in the Pikes Peak Hockey League with various local teams sponsored by Colorado Springs area businesses., The Tiger's opened play on January 21, 1938 in a 1-8 loss to a team sponsored by Giddings Department Store. Garrett Livingston took over as head coach fin 1939 from John Atwood, who served as player/coach for the first season. Livingston increased recruiting, bringing players from Canada and New England and transitioned the program from the Pikes Peak Hockey League into an NCAA Division I independent program. The Tigers swept Michigan 4-2 and 4-3 in the program's first-ever intercollegiate series early in the 1939-40 season. That same season Colorado College also played games against Colorado School of Mines, Montana School of Mines, and University of Southern California.
The program and college was suspended during World War II from 1942 to 1944. Colorado College, with the cooperation of The Broadmoor, sponsored the first National Collegiate Athletic Association Ice Hockey Championship to conclude the 1947-48 season. The tournament was held at the Ice Palace for the next 10 years, during which time CC participating seven times. Cheddy Thompson became the program's third head coach in 1945 after coming to Colorado Springs on assignment by the Air Force during the war. Thompson lead CC to the program's first NCAA championship in 1950 with a 13-4 win over Boston University. Colorado College became one of the founding members of the Mid-West Collegiate Hockey League in 1951 with University of Denver, Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan Tech, Minnesota, and North Dakota. The league became the Western Intercollegiate Hockey League in 1953 and became the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in November 1959. The Tigers also finished as runner-up in 1952 and 1955, losing to Michigan in both appearances in the championship game. In addition, he was named national Coach of the Year in 1952 by the United States Hockey Coaches Association. The Tigers returned to the championship game in 1957 with Tom Bedecki behind the bench. CC beat Clarkson 5-3 in the semifinal round and won the school's second hockey championship with a 13-6 win over Michigan. In 1961 the Ice Palace became known as the Broadmoor World Arena. The 1957 championship was the final appearance in the NCAA Tournament until 1978. The Tigers finished the regular season and captured the school's first and only WCHA Tournament Championship and received a bid to the NCAA Tournament, in the first round the Tigers lost to Bowling Green State 3-5.

The lean years

Bedecki abruptly resigned in 1958, and the Tigers went into a decline that would last for almost four decades. From 1958 to 1993, the Tigers would have only three winning seasons. The low point came in 1961-62, when the Tigers finished with a 0-23 record, still the worst in school history.

Recent history

In 1993 Don Lucia became the head coach of the Tigers. In his first season, 1993–94, he led the team to win the MacNaughton Cup, given to the WCHA regular season champion. It was Colorado College's first Cup win since 1957. After serving as the Tigers' home ice for 55 years the Broadmoor World Arena closed in March 1994 and later demolished by The Broadmoor to make room for the resort's expansion. Colorado College was then invited by the Air Force Academy to play at their home ice, the Cadet Ice Arena until the new World Arena opened in 1998 on the southern side of Colorado Springs and continues to be the home ice for both the Colorado College Tiger hockey team and Broadmoor Skating Club. The Tigers returned to the NCAA post season in 1995 for the first time since 1978. The Tigers lost in the quarterfinal round to Minnesota 2-5. The following season CC made a second straight NCAA tournament appearance, receiving a number one seed in 1996 NCAA Tournament. Colorado College beat UMass Lowell 5-3 in the quarterfinals and Vermont 4-3 in the semifinal round beforing losing to 3-4 in overtime to Michigan in the championship game. CC returned to the Frozen Four under Lucia for a second straight season in 1997 before losing to North Dakota 6-2. Lucia lead the Tigers to two additional NCAA Tournament appearances in 1998 and 1999 before leaving Colorado College to become head coach at Minnesota.
Scott Owens took over as head coach of the program in 1999 and lead the Tigers to three straight NCAA Tournaments in 2001, 2002, and 2003. In the 2005 Tournament The Tigers returned to the Frozen Four with a 4-3 victory over Michigan in the Midwest Regional Final. In the Semifinal round the Tigers fell to the eventual national champion and rival Denver 2-6. Owens lead CC to the NCAA Tournament again in 2006 Tournament and in 2008 Tournament, ending in first round exits both times. The Tigers returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2011. The Tigers upset the number one ranked team and defending National Champions, Boston College 8-4. The Tigers' win was led by freshman Jaden Schwartz, a first round draft choice of the St. Louis Blues making his St. Louis debut in the West Regional. The Tigers' season ended in the Regional final in a 1-2 loss to Michigan.

New arena in 2021

In 2018, CC announced plans to build a new $38 million arena located on campus. The facility will be named Edward J. Robson Arena in honor of 1954 CC alum and former Tigers hockey player Edward Robson. The new arena will have a capacity of 3,376, less than half that of The Broadmoor World Arena. The new arena will also feature an NHL-sized rink instead of the World Arena's Olympic-size rink. Robson Arena will sit around 6,050 feet above sea level, about 200 feet below the Broadmoor World Arena. Colorado College planned to break ground for the new arena in 2018, initially hoping for it to be ready for play by 2020. Changes made during the planning process, most notably the addition of a parking garage and a shift in the arena footprint within its city block, led to delays. While demolition on the project began in 2018, groundbreaking for the new arena is now set for 2020, with a planned opening for the 2021–22 season.

Season-by-season results

Coaches

Awards and honors

Hockey Hall of Fame">List of members of the Hockey Hall of Fame">Hockey Hall of Fame

Individual Awards

Hobey Baker Award
Spencer Penrose Award
Tim Taylor Award
NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Scoring Champion
NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
AHCA First Team All-Americans
AHCA Second Team All-Americans

Individual Awards

WCHA Player of the Year
WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year
WCHA Defensive Player of the Year
WCHA Freshman/Rookie of the Year
WCHA Coach of the Year
MCHA / WIHL / WCHA Scoring Leader
MCHA / WIHL / WCHA Goaltending Leader
WCHA Most Valuable Player in Tournament
First Team All-WCHA
Second Team All-WCHA
Third Team All-WCHA
WCHA All-Rookie Team

Individual Awards

NCHC Rookie of the Year
NCHC Sportsmanship Award
First Team All-NCHC
Second Team All-NCHC
NCHC All-Rookie Team
This is a list of Colorado College alumni who have played or coached on an Olympic team.

Colorado College Athletic Hall of Fame

The following is a list of people associated with the Colorado College men's ice hockey program who were elected into the Colorado College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Career points leaders

PlayerYearsGPGAPtsPIM
Dave Delich1975–1979153111174285
Brian Swanson1995–199916788144232
Doug Palazzari1970–197411795133228
Bruce Aikens1978–1982137100117217
Rob Doyle1983–198715351151202
Jim Warner1974–197814289109198
Greg Whyte1977–198114986111197
Peter Sejna2000–20031269199190
Jay McNeill1992–199615810089189
Dave Feamster1976–198015045139184
Brett Sterling2002–200615010876184

Career Goaltending Leaders

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Minimum 50 Games
PlayerYearsGPMinWLTGASOSV%GAA
Richard Bachman2007–20097041763920111567.9222.24
Curtis McElhinney2001–2005915153621581999.9112.32
Matt Zaba2003–2007110634955421025610.9132.42
Jeff Sanger1998–200212774667645430916.9062.48
Colin Zulianello1997–200160312113522.60

Statistics current through the start of the 2018-19 season.

Players

Roster

As of August 1, 2019.

Tigers in the NHL

Over 170 Colorado College alumni have gone on to play professionally, including over 30 current and former NHL players:
PlayerPositionTeamYearsStanley Cup|
Ryan BachGoaltenderLAK1998–19990
Richard BachmanGoaltenderDAL, EDM, VAN2010–Present0
Rick BohCenterMNS1987–19880
Noah ClarkeLeft WingLAK, NJD2003–20080
Bob CollyardCenterSTL1987–19880
Joey CrabbRight WingATL, TOR, WAS, FLA2008–20140
Mark CullenRight WingCHI, PHI, FLA2005–20120
Dave FeamsterDefensemanCHI1981–19850
Kris FredheimDefensemanMIN2011–20120
Trevor FrischmonCenterCBJ2009–20100
Bill HayCenter'1959–19671
Jack HillenDefensemanNYI, NSH, WAS, CAR2007–20150
Doug LidsterDefensemanVAN, ', STL, '1983–19992
Dean MageeCenterMNS1977–19780
Paul ManningDefensemanCBJ2002–20030
Curtis McElhinneyGoaltenderCGY, ANA, OTT, PHO, CBJ, TOR, CAR2007–Present0
Eddie MioGoaltenderEDM, NYR, DET1979–19860
Gustav OlofssonDefensemanMIN2015–Present0
Doug PalazzariCenterSTL1974–19790

PlayerPositionTeamYearsStanley Cup|
Toby PetersenCenterPIT, EDM, DAL2000–20140
Richard PetiotDefensemanLAK, TBL, EDM2005–20110
Tom PreissingDefensemanSJS, OTT, LAK, COL2003–20100
Nate ProsserDefensemanMIN, STL2009–Present0
Chad RauCenterMIN2011–20120
Brian SalcidoDefensemanANA2008–20090
Jaden SchwartzLeft Wing'2011–Present1
Peter SejnaLeft WingSTL2002–20070
Jaccob SlavinDefensemanCAR2015–Present0
Greg SmithDefensemanCAL, CLE, MNS, DET, WAS1975–19880
Brett SterlingLeft WingATL, PIT, STL2007–20120
Colin StuartLeft WingATL, BUF2007–20120
Mark StuartDefensemanBOS, ATL, WPG2005–20170
Mike StuartDefensemanSTL2003–20060
Brian SwansonCenterEDM, ATL2000–20040
Bill SweattLeft WingVAN2011–20130
Lee SweattDefensemanVAN2010–20110
Jim WarnerRight WingHFD1979–19800
Matt ZabaGoaltenderNYR2009–20100