Hansen’s happy homecoming

Colorado College junior Matt Hansen played in his hometown of St. Cloud, Minn. for the first time since his sophomore year of high school at St. Cloud Tech when the Tigers took on SCSU Friday.

It was fun and a little strange for the wing. He did not make the trip his freshman season due to a high ankle sprain and CC did not travel to the Huskies last season.

“It’s a little weird to be out here,” Hansen said after Friday morning’s short practice. He is one of six Tigers who hail from Minnesota.

Six of his family and friends watched him on Friday. Twelve are expected for Saturday’s series finale. It remains a business trip for Hansen, who saw most of these folks a couple weeks ago over the holiday break.

“I wouldn’t say it is more motivation because I try to be equally motivated every night but it is exciting,” he said.

There was nothing wrong with your TV’s color

With the start of the second half of the season, all National Collegiate Hockey Conference games will feature the home team wearing their dark jerseys while visitors will wear white or lighter colors for the remainder of the 2015-16 regular season. The usual white for home/higher seeds will resume during the league playoffs.

The Tigers wore white while No. 4 St. Cloud State donned its red jerseys. The league rule was adopted this past offseason.

CC penalty kill silences nation’s No. 1 power play

The Tigers penalty kill proved effective against SCSU and its second-ranked power play, which came into the contest humming at 30.6 percent (22 for 72). Instead, CC won the special teams battle with a power-play goal and held SCSU scoreless with five man-advantages.

“Our penalty kill was really good,” coach Mike Haviland said. “(Goalie Jacob) Nehama played well and made some big saves on the PK.”

CC managed two shorthanded chances  — including a shot by Teemu Kivihalme that went off the left post of the SCSU net – during the second period as well. The Tigers did a good job clearing away rebounds for Nehama.

“They packed around their net so we didn’t have a lot to shoot at and we got frustrated,” SCSU coach Bob Motzko said. “You cannot get frustrated. You have to honor the game.”

Ice chips

Former Tigers defenseman Gustav Olofsson was named to the American Hockey League’s Pacific Division All-Star team. … North Dakota goalie Cam Johnson set a school and NCHC record shutout streak lasting 298 minutes, 25 seconds; the second-longest streak in Division I history. He recorded 118 saves on 119 shots in December. The feat garnered him league and Hockey Commissioners Association player of the month honors. … The only NCHC team without a shutout this season is Colorado College. … Former Mr. Hockey Minnesota Avery Peterson transferred from Nebraska-Omaha to Minnesota-Duluth to be near his older brother, Evan, who is battling a rare and terminal genetic brain disease called metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). The Wild draft pick will be able to play for the Bulldogs in January 2017. … The No. 4 Huskies have been ranked in the top 20 in every poll this season. … CC owns a 48-39-7 record against the Huskies all-time despite an eight-game winning streak for the Huskies dating back to a 4-3 CC win on Feb. 22, 2013. The programs first played on Jan. 23, 1989; a 5-2 Huskies win in Colorado Springs. … Both teams dressed five players from Minnesota and one each from Colorado. SCSU had four from Finland.