Another 2nd period run fuels Colorado College Tigers sweep of Union
For the second game in a row, Colorado College pulled away in the second period.
Perhaps equally as important, the Tigers showed some improvement from the season opener in Saturday’s 6-2 win by finishing off Union with a solid third-period performance.
Senior captain Logan Will and Ray Christy scored in the third to secure the nonconference series sweep. The Tigers penalty kill kept Union (1-2) from mounting a comeback over the final 13 minutes behind 11 of goalie Kaidan Mbereko’s 28 saves.
“I liked the way we finished,” CC coach Kris Mayotte said. “Obviously we still ended up taking three penalties in the third, which is disappointing. We got to fix that but our kill was really good tonight. It’s coming back which is good.”
Tigers sophomore Noah Laba scored twice in a three-goal second period to spark CC, which pulled away much like it did by recording five in the middle frame in Friday’s 7-3 victory. The 13 goals were the most by CC in a series since 13 in a road split at Alaska-Anchorage to open the 2018-19 season.
The top line of sophomore Ryan Beck, Laba and freshman Bret Link generated quality scoring chances and displayed good offensive chemistry, making them a true No. 1 line in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.
“(Laba) can create stuff on his own but he has got two really smart wingers with him that think the game really well and put him in good spots,” Mayotte said. “That has been the vision for that line. With the Logan Will line (wingers Gleb Veremyev, Zaccharya Wisdom), we like what we have going in the top six right now.”
Those two lines recorded four goals and four assists, including Link’s first NCAA point, before an announced crowd of 3,611 at Ed Robson Arena.
“I have some experience playing with Beck (during last season’s playoff run) and Linker has come in and been a great fit,” Laba said. “He drives to the net hard and gets to the dirty areas down low. He’s not afraid to do it all. We have a good mix of guys.”
Saturday’s game was the reverse of Friday. Instead of building off a strong first period with an explosive second, and coasting in the third, the Tigers (2-0) started slow and pulled away over the final two periods.
“We really got better as we went,” Mayotte said. “That’s a hard thing, getting a sweep. I give credit to (Union). They were on their toes early.”
CC freshman Evan Werner showed off his speed and deceptive shot on a breakaway to open the scoring and record his first collegiate goal.
Colorado Col. forward Zaccharya Wisdom (2) battles Union forward Ville Immonen (18) and goaltender Kyle Chauvette (36) in front of the Union goal during the second period Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at Ed Robson Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
