(above) Colorado College suffered another third period meltdown, this time to to the USA National Development Team on Sunday afternoon at World ArenaFrom: Colorado Springs Gazette
by Frank Schwab
Colorado College's "Weekend Of Horror" continued on Sunday afternoon with a shocking defeat to the USA's National Development Team. Led by three players who will wear the crimson and gold for the University of Denver next season, USA's Under-18 Team came from behind for a dramatic 3-2 victory.
Denver's future goaltender, Adam Murray, calmly turned aside 44 shots, while another future Pioneer Drew Shore added two assists. A third DU recruit, defenseman William Wrenn started on the blueline for Team USA.
Although only an exhibition game, losing to a team of high school players certainly isn't what you'd expect from a team picked by the experts to win the WCHA Championship before the season started. Nobody expected Colorado College to have an abundance of energy for Sunday's exhibition, considering Friday's emotional tie against the University of Denver. However, the Tigers did expect to win.
Instead, the Under-18 team knocked off CC at World Arena, scoring twice in the third period. The game-winning goal was scored with 4:43 left by Ryan Bourque, who is the son of former Avalanche defenseman Ray Bourque.
In four previous meetings against the United States Under-18 team, CC had a 4-0 record and a 23-7 goal differential. None of the games were closer than three goals. The game didn't count in the standings and the Tigers gave their young players more playing time than usual, but the loss was still a bit shocking.
"I'm very disappointed," CC coach Scott Owens said.
The Tigers had two familiar problems Sunday: They couldn't score enough goals, and they lost a third-period lead. CC had 46 shots on net but only two goals. The first came 1:16 into the game from David Civitarese. Chad Rau scored in the second period after the U.S. team tied it. The Tigers couldn't score in the third period despite a couple of full power plays.
"I'm bothered by it," Owens said. "I'm bothered we didn't take charge offensively."
Despite the number of shots, there weren't enough quality opportunities. Adam Murray stopped most of the good chances CC had.
"A lot of perimeter shots, not getting anything tight," Rau said.
In the third period, U.S. forward Jeremy Morin tied it with 12:20 remaining and Bourque scored on a three-on-one rush for the game-winner. The Tigers rested senior defenseman Jake Gannon and starting goaltender Richard Bachman, giving Tyler O'Brien the start in goal, but most of the Tigers' players were on the ice.
"We wanted to do a little better," Rau said.
Denver's future goaltender, Adam Murray, calmly turned aside 44 shots, while another future Pioneer Drew Shore added two assists. A third DU recruit, defenseman William Wrenn started on the blueline for Team USA.
Although only an exhibition game, losing to a team of high school players certainly isn't what you'd expect from a team picked by the experts to win the WCHA Championship before the season started. Nobody expected Colorado College to have an abundance of energy for Sunday's exhibition, considering Friday's emotional tie against the University of Denver. However, the Tigers did expect to win.
Instead, the Under-18 team knocked off CC at World Arena, scoring twice in the third period. The game-winning goal was scored with 4:43 left by Ryan Bourque, who is the son of former Avalanche defenseman Ray Bourque.
In four previous meetings against the United States Under-18 team, CC had a 4-0 record and a 23-7 goal differential. None of the games were closer than three goals. The game didn't count in the standings and the Tigers gave their young players more playing time than usual, but the loss was still a bit shocking.
"I'm very disappointed," CC coach Scott Owens said.
The Tigers had two familiar problems Sunday: They couldn't score enough goals, and they lost a third-period lead. CC had 46 shots on net but only two goals. The first came 1:16 into the game from David Civitarese. Chad Rau scored in the second period after the U.S. team tied it. The Tigers couldn't score in the third period despite a couple of full power plays.
"I'm bothered by it," Owens said. "I'm bothered we didn't take charge offensively."
Despite the number of shots, there weren't enough quality opportunities. Adam Murray stopped most of the good chances CC had.
"A lot of perimeter shots, not getting anything tight," Rau said.
In the third period, U.S. forward Jeremy Morin tied it with 12:20 remaining and Bourque scored on a three-on-one rush for the game-winner. The Tigers rested senior defenseman Jake Gannon and starting goaltender Richard Bachman, giving Tyler O'Brien the start in goal, but most of the Tigers' players were on the ice.
"We wanted to do a little better," Rau said.
Box Score
12 comments:
That is pretty shocking. It is my understanding though that this team has beat some NCAA D1 hockey teams this year. If memory serves me correctly they did beat a Michigan school and perhaps another school. I am not sure that they have beaten anyone in the WCHA until know though. I guess I don't get CC they are like the polar opposites of the sioux program. Where they have a excellant start and then they have a poor second half.
The USA Development team beat UAA earlier in the season. They are 2-2-0 against WCHA teams this season.
CC has some great players (Bachman, Rau) but they probably lack the depth of the other big 4 teams in the WCHA.
They could be tough in the playoffs with their goaltending.
USA! USA! USA!
At least they all have a bedpan to use while they're all in the hospital treating their smashed egos and broken dreams.
I was hoping the development team would do this -- the three DU recruits surely had to be really fired up for this one!! You know they wanted to impress, especially with their game being on the same weekend as the big rivalry game.
USA! USA! USA!
CC wasn't playing Bachman but you would think they would be a little bit sharper at this point in the year to be able to beat a team of teenagers (great teenagers, but still teenagers).
Disappointing for CC, to be sure.
Does CC get a participants ribbon to hang with pride in the rafters for this one?
Bachman gets no help from his Defense. They are going to get eaten up in the playoffs, and unless they win the whole thing, they won't make nationals anyway.
That said, DG, DU needs 4 of 5 or they will be injeopardy in the WCHA and National picture
I could see DU finishing second in the WCHA with 3 out of 5, but what the heck, lets just win the last 13 in a row and sweep the National Championship like BC did last season.
Come on, let's lighten up on the kitties. After all, these poor kids battle to maintain their winning program while ALSO going through the rigors of the block program.
That is quite the challenge!
LOL
9:53.....excellent points. you neglected to mention, however, that along with the block plan CC students also have to cope with the cheeba and wading through 8 ft high fields of ganga on the way to the rink.
Well, if DU can't beat CC at least our recruits can. I'm looking forward to seeing all of those new guys in Pioneer jerseys in the fall.
Not that I'm complaining, but CC has been a complete enigma to me. I thought they would win the MacNaughton again, based on Bachman and the talent around him. Bachman was so good last year--I'm not shocked he regressed a little, but the surrounding cast has not played to their potential. I think they really miss Hillen.
Anon 11:10 ..
Granted CC is much more notorious for that than is DU; but ahh ... to act like there isn't a ton of stoners at DU is just ignorant. :D
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