Western Collegiate Hockey Association

Colorado College Hockey: 2007-08 Season Preview

Don't blink. Another hockey season has arrived. And, unless you're paying close attention from the very outset, you'll run the risk of missing some pretty exciting stuff with regard to Colorado College.

Itching for a fresh start after last season's disappointing finish, the Tigers stare opportunity in the eye right off the bat in 2007-08 with early two-game series against perennial powerhouses Minnesota, New Hampshire and North Dakota. If they survive those first three weeks, and can follow up with additional success through early December, the new campaign just may shape up to be one of CC's most rewarding yet.

"I'm looking forward to it," says Scott Owens, now in his ninth year as head coach. "I like a lot of the pieces, and it's going to be a challenge to pull them together."

No fewer than 19 veterans, including the top four point producers from 2006-07, eagerly return for the program's 70th anniversary season that will culminate with another NCAA West Regional at the Colorado Springs World Arena as well as the 2008 NCAA Men's Frozen Four at Denver's Pepsi Center. Throw in a half dozen talented freshmen, along with an experienced transfer chomping at the bit to feel the thrill of competition again, and this newest version of Tiger Hockey has plenty of potential.

But there are some obvious question marks, too.

Gone from between the pipes is workhorse Matt Zaba, who graduated last May with the best career saves percentage (.913) of any goaltender in the history of Tiger Hockey. Zaba posted 10 shutouts and 55 victories, along with 2,682 saves, in his four seasons to rank second, third and fourth, respectively, all-time in those three categories. His heir apparent, junior Drew O'Connell, has logged just nine starts and 12 appearances overall during his first two years. O'Connell, who was 3-3 in net last season with a 3.02 goals-against average and .886 saves percentage, will battle for playing time with a pair of freshmen - 2006 Dallas Stars' draft pick Richard Bachman and East Coast prep school product Tyler O'Brien.

The blue-line corps is almost as young. Jack Hillen returns as the only senior and Jake Gannon the only junior back there, providing Cody Lampl continues to play a forward position as planned. But Owens is banking on sophomores Brian Connelly, Kris Fredheim and Nate Prosser - all of whom made signicant strides throughout the course of last season - to respond and help fill a void left by the graduation of '06-07 co-captains Brandon Straub and Lee Sweatt. Connelly played in 35 games his rookie year and finished second among all CC defensemen with 17 points (2g,15a). Fredheim, a 2005 draft choice of the Vancouver Canucks, appeared in 23 while Prosser skated in 21. A pair of highly-skilled freshmen - Ryan Lowery and Brett Wysopal - rounds out the group.

"The key is going to be those three sophomores and how quickly the other two youngsters (Lowery and Wysopal) can contribute," Owens says. "They're going to be thrown into the mix pretty quickly, but we're hoping that the team defense, the forwards, will help them out enough to take some of the pressure off."

In all, 12 forwards are back from the 2006-07 CC roster. Ten of them combined for 77 goals. Senior right wing Jimmy Kilpatrick (7-25-32), junior center Chad Rau (14-17-31) and sophomore Bill Sweatt (9-17-26) finished one-two-three on the team in scoring a year ago. Senior left wing Scott McCulloch led Colorado College?with 18 goals. Forward Scott Thauwald (7-6-13), who will serve as team captain in '07-08, and right winger Derek Patrosso (3-7-10) team up with Hillen (7-8-15), Kilpatrick and McCulloch to round out a solid senior class.

Like Rau, Lampl and Erik Walsky are juniors. Swing man Lampl (2-7-9) is a physical player who provides a gritty presence up front. Walsky, who finally is eligible after sitting out a year, led Alaska Anchorage in scoring (3-12-15) in 2005-06 before transferring to CC.

Sophomores Andreas Vlassopoulos (5-11-16), Addison DeBoer (5-5-10) and Mike Testwuide (8-2-10) made nice contributions as freshmen. Brian McMillin (1-1-2), who played in 22 games last season, joins Matt Overman and Dan Quilico among the group of six forwards returning for their second season with the Tigers.

Owens, who saw his team score just 63 five-on-five goals and average only 2.85 overall per outing in '06-07, expects those numbers to translate into increased offensive production.

"I think scoring will come a bit easier just because everyone's going to have that year under their belts," he says. "All those guys will be older, more experienced and a little more comfortable, so I'm really anticipating that our scoring is going to be better."

A pair of very capable freshmen - Stephen Schultz and Tyler Johnson - also will add to the mix. Schultz collected 68 points, including 31 goals, for the USHL's Lincoln Stars last season. Johnson arrives after an outstanding career at Cloquet (Minn.) High School.

Nearly all the key personnel from special teams return in '07-08 after helping Colorado College finish fourth nationally (22.2%) on the power-play and seventh (87.1%) in penalty-killing a year ago. Of the Tigers' 46 power-play goals in 2006-07, only nine were tallied by seniors. McCulloch scored 10, Hillen and Rau six apiece, while Bill Sweat and Testwuide each had four.

As if the usual 28-game WCHA grind isn't tough enough, Colorado College's 2007-08 schedule also features six games in all against four non-conference opponents - Air Force, Clarkson, New Hampshire and either Massachusetts or Notre Dame - that competed in the NCAA playoffs last spring.

"It's going to be a great challenge," says Owens, who feels that the Tigers have all the ingredients necessary to earn another home-ice playoff berth, reach the WCHA?Final Five and ultimately return to the NCAAs as a participating host.

"Obviously, it starts with our goaltending and our team concept, our five-on-five scoring and everybody buying into playing team defense, as well as doing well in some of those non-conference games."

Returning Players (19)
Forwards (12): Addison DeBoer (5g,5a); Jimmy Kilpatrick (7g,25a); Scott McCulloch (18g,6a); Brian McMillin (1g,1a); Matt Overman (0g,0a); Derek Patrosso (3g,7a); Dan Quilico (0g,0a); Scott Thauwald (7g,6a); Chad Rau (14g,17a); Bill Sweatt (9g,17a); Mike Testwuide (8g,,2a); Andreas Vlassopoulos (5g,11a).
Defensemen (6): Brian Connelly (2g,15a); Kris Fredheim (1g,3a); Jake Gannon (1g,1a); Jack Hillen (7g,8a); Cody Lampl (2g,7a); Nate Prosser (0g,3a).
Goalies (1): Drew O'Connell (3-3-0, 2.90 GAA, .886 Svs.%).

Newcomers (7)
Forwards (3): Tyler Johnson, Fr. (5-8, 170); Stephen Schultz, Fr. (6-0, 185); Eric Walsky, Jr. (5-11, 196).
Defensemen (2): Ryan Lowery, Fr. (5-11, 185); Brett Wysopal, Fr. (5-8, 165).
Goalies (2): Richard Bachman, Fr. (5-11, 180); Tyler O'Brien, Fr. (6-2, 180).