Maturity is the mindset for Colorado College hockey this weekend. 

The Tigers host National Collegiate Hockey Conference opponent Arizona State on Friday and Saturday, with opening faceoffs at 7 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. 

The Tigers and Sun Devils last battled in Arizona back in November, where CC (10-11-3, 4-7-3) won four of available six points toward conference standings with a tie (shootout loss) and a regulation win. 

The difference between the fall series and the winter series is the growth in the mindset of the players, CC coach Kris Mayotte said. 

“We’re both fairly young in terms of freshmen and so that game is early November. Now, I think you look at rosters and you don’t see them as freshmen anymore. It’s just your team, and so we’re both probably in the same spot that way,” Mayotte said. “We’ve seen a lot of guys have to play minutes and have to rely on them.”

CC’s group of defensemen had to learn quickly. The Tigers lost junior captain Max Burkholder to a lower-body injury the second weekend of the season. Burkholder’s injury led to a shakeup in the team’s defensive corps, which the Tigers have managed in addition to routine injuries to players such as sophomore Philippe Blais-Savoie and freshman Colton Roberts, who is currently sidelined. 

“I mean, obviously losing Max it’s a big loss. He’s a leader. He plays every situation, power play, (penalty kill). But I think we’ve done a great job just next man up. Lot of guys stepped into bigger roles and have done really good,” Blais-Savoie said. 

The Tigers hope to build off last weekend’s series at Omaha. CC fell 3-1 in the first game but won by the same margin on Night 2. Omaha outshot the Tigers 21-8 in the first period of the second game. CC responded, outshooting the Mavericks 27-10 in the second and third periods for the win. 

The Tigers are in the basement of the NCHC standings, tied with the Mavericks. But only a few points separate CC from fifth-place St. Cloud State. For Blais-Savoie, this upcoming weekend against Arizona State is about mentality.

“It’s right within striking distance. I know Arizona State’s only like five points ahead of us so we have a good weekend here. I think just understanding that it’s not going to go your way for 60 minutes, … but I think just staying with it, sticking with our game plan is something we got to go to here down the stretch,” he said. 

There are a few aspects of the Tigers’ play in last week’s series that they’ll look to continue agains the Sun Devils. 

Mayotte said he liked the way his team played defensively at Omaha and also mentioned how it was a successful weekend in terms of forechecking and rush opportunities. 

“I liked the conviction we played with in the defensive zone. I like how connected we were. If we’re able to really get going here. I think that will be a staple for us,” he said.  

One area in which CC can improve is penalties. The Tigers were penalized four times in the second period of the first game of the Omaha series and three penalties in the opening period of the second game.  

Blais-Savoie making the most of scoring opportunities for Tigers 

CC lost a big playmaker in Burkholder. The blueliner from Chaska, Minn. was top-10 in scoring for the Tigers his freshman year and in a three-way tie for second last season. 

Blais-Savoie has answered the call from an offensive standpoint in recent weeks. The sophomore has six goals on the season, tied for second-most on the team. His third-period goal in the Tigers’ first game at Omaha marked his third score in four games. He scored twice in the team’s 3-3 tie at Miami of Ohio on Dec. 13. 

“I mean shot feels good. I feel confident. Obviously missed some time in the first half, so just been getting my feet back under me, been feeling more comfortable skating and creating plays. So, yeah, just been shooting the puck a lot. It’s been going in. 

Injury report 

Roberts is day-to-day and doubtful for the weekend with an upper-body injury. Rookie winger Brandon Lisowsky is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.