Junior Alex Kim scored both Colorado College goals Friday night as the No. 15 Tigers defeated Calgary 2-1 in an exhibition at the World Arena.
Kim, a transfer from Miami playing his first game for the Tigers, scored on the power play in the second period and added an even-strength goal in the third.
The Tigers got off to a quick start in the second period, killing off a late first period penalty and then capitalizing on a power play of their own. Kim, off a long carry from sophomore defenseman Tom Priessing, flipped the puck past Dinosaurs goaltender Scott Rideout to put Colorado College on the board at 2:23.
Colorado College was just as quick out of the blocks in the third period. At 1:40, Kim found the back of the net again off a rebound shot from junior right wing Jesse Heerema. Freshman left wing Colin Stuart assisted on the goal to put the Tigers up 2-0.
“Our line needed to work harder,” Kim said. “Once we did, the offensive chances started to happen. We need to practice hard and remember that for [the regular-season opener against] Mankato next weekend.”
Both teams were slow out of the blocks. Rideout faced 11 shots and two power-play opportunities in the first period and was still able to stonewall the Tigers. CC goalie Jeff Sanger turned away five shots to keep the first period scoreless.
Colorado College changed up its last line of defense at 13:17 of the second, and senior goaltender Colin Zulianello took his place between the pipes.
The Dinosaurs climbed within one goal at 13:40 of the third period, when defenseman Sheldon Nedjelski and forward Darren Cian teamed up to get the puck over to center Colin Embly. Embly fired the puck past CC goaltender Colin Zulianello, who relieved Sanger.
Rideout faced 40 shots and made 38 saves. The Tigers overwhelmingly outshot the visiting Dinosaurs 40-18.
“We held our own against a quicker team, and we played solid defensively,” Calgary assistant coach Kevin Kobelka said.
“This three-game swing (vs. Colorado College, Air Force and Denver) is a great team-building trip. It gives us a chance to see good competition and get tuned up for our league opener next weekend.”
Calgary was not the only team to use this exhibition as preparation.
“Calgary has a classy program, and this game was a perfect springboard for our series against Minnesota State-Mankato next weekend,” CC coach Scott Owens said.
