Every college hockey team can identify its most difficult stretch of the season, but few begin on opening night.
Colorado College is one of those few and hoping to come out of its brutal six-game stretch proud.
The 10th-ranked Tigers open tonight against No. 3 Minnesota at the Colorado Springs World Arena. The teams conclude the two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association Saturday night.
Next weekend, CC visits No. 8 New Hampshire for two nonconference games before returning to WCHA play at No. 1 North Dakota on Nov. 2-3.
“With the start we have, it’s just very important for us to pick up some points early,” CC coach Scott Owens said.
Owens has an experienced team that features 19 lettermen, including last season’s top four scorers. CC’s only question mark is between the posts.
Owens hasn’t decided on who will start tonight in goal, but junior Drew O’Connell and freshman Richard Bachman from Highlands Ranch could play in the series. O’Connell has played in eight career games but is just six months older than Bachman, a Dallas Stars draftee.
Minnesota is on a six-game winning streak against CC, which captured four of five wins against the Gophers in 2004-05 when the Tigers seniors were freshmen. This is the only series between the teams this season.
The Gophers will be without Avalanche-drafted forwards Ryan Stoa (knee injury) and Mike Carman (suspended), but will still have 13 NHL draft picks in the lineup this weekend. They are coming off a pair of 4-3 victories over RPI and Michigan last weekend in St. Paul, Minn.
“They’re a little big more battle tested than we are right now, so I think they have a little advantage there, but halfway through (tonight) we’ll I’m confident that we’ll get into a good rhythm,” Owens said.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
