MERRIMACK FALLS TO COLORADO COLLEGE, 5-0

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Colorado College used the strength of two second period power play goals to post 5-0 win over Merrimack College in non-conference hockey action at the 2006 NYE Frontier Classic in Alaska.

Jack Hillen, Derek Patrosso, Brandon Polich, Braydon Cox and Addison DoBoer scored for the No. 15 Tigers, who remained undefeated on the season at 3-0-1. The loss drops the Warriors to 0-2 heading into next weekend’s home opener against the Terriers of Boston University.

The Warriors opened the game with two penalties in the first 90 seconds as freshmen Matt Jones (Kentwood, MI) (elbowing) and Pat Bowen (Marshfield, MA) (holding) were sent to the penalty box. MC managed to kill off the two penalties, holding CC to five shots while they were short-handed.

The Tigers finished the opening period with a 10-9 edge in shots and a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Hillen. Hillen took a pass from Chad Rau and beat freshman netminder Andrew Braithwaite (Kingston, Ontario) over the shoulder at 12:24.

The score remained 1-0 Colorado throughout the first 10 minutes of the second period before Merrimack senior Mike Alexiou (Pickering, Ontario) received a game misconduct for checking from behind. With sophomore Chris Kane (Irvine, CA) serving the major penalty for Alexiou, the Tiger struck twice to increase the lead to 3-0.

The second CC goal, scored when Patrosso tipped home a point shot by Brian Connolly at 13:36, was an even-strength goal as Kris Fredheim was serving a hooking penalty for CC. Polich followed with his first goal of the year 1:39 later, beating Braithwaite off a feed from Connolly.

Cox scored an unassisted goal 4:59 into the third period as he walked out in front of Braithwaite from the right corner and tucked the puck under the MC netminder. CC made it a 5-0 game when DoBoer snapped a wrist shot over Braithwaite’s glove at 10:07 of the third.

Later, senior Matt Byrnes (Denver, CO) received a game misconduct for checking from behind at 12:42, giving the Tigers their second extended power play of the evening. The Warriors penalty killers managed to keep the puck out of the net before the final horn.

Braithwaite finished the night with 24 saves in his first career start while Drew O’Connell stopped all 20 shots he faced for Colorado College. The Tigers went 2-13 on the power play while the Warriors were 0-3. The Warriors racked up 48 minutes in penalties compared to 16 for the Tigers.

The Warriors contest against the Terriers next Saturday at J. Thom Lawler Arena begins at 7 p.m.