College Hockey   CC Tigers and USAFA Falcons Hockey

Colorado College’s new league finally has a TV agreement. And it’s not too shabby.

The Colorado Springs-based National Collegiate Hockey Conference announced a multi-year deal Tuesday with CBS Sports Network for broadcasts that will begin in the startup league’s first season, in 2013-14. A minimum of 18 games will be televised each season, including both semifinals and the championship game from the NCHC Tournament.

In a statement, NCHC commissioner Jim Scherr said, “We are delighted to be associated with the preeminent national broadcaster of college hockey.” He added that the NCHC’s goal is to become “the premier single-sport conference in intercollegiate athletics, and the unmatched exposure and production quality” by CBS Sports Network will go a long way.

CBS Sports Network is carrying 23 games this season from all five conferences, and for a Feb. 17 broadcast between No. 11 CC and Nebraska-Omaha, the network spent this week in Colorado Springs, interviewing Jaden and Rylan Schwartz and taping them in classes. In the same statement, CBS Sports Network senior vice president for programming Dan Weinberg said, “With top teams and passionate fan bases, the (NCHC) is poised to be an elite college hockey conference, and we’re thrilled to be the national television partner.”

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazettehockey. Google+: Brian Gomez. YouTube: Colorado College Hockey, Covered by The Gazette. For the CC homepage, visit www.gazette.com/sections/sports/collegehockey. For the CC blog, visit http://collegehockey.freedomblogging.com.

Colorado College was 11th in both national rankings released Monday, climbing a spot in the USCHO.com poll and falling a place in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.

The USCHO.com poll puts Minnesota-Duluth first and Minnesota second, while the USA Today poll has Minnesota in the top position, followed by Minnesota-Duluth. Both polls have Boston University third, Merrimack fourth and Boston College fifth. Denver is 13th in both polls, and North Dakota improved a position to 17th in the USCHO.com poll.

The Tigers (14-9-1, 11-7 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) head into a home-and-home series this weekend against Denver (15-8-3, 10-5-3) tied for fourth in the WCHA with North Dakota. They trail Minnesota by eight points, Minnesota-Duluth by three and Denver by one with 10 games left – Minnesota and North Dakota have each played two more games than the rest. The top six teams host the first round of the WCHA playoffs.

Just as important, CC is 17th in the PairWise rankings used to predict the 16-team NCAA Tournament field, meaning if the season ended today, the Tigers wouldn’t make it. They split the first half of their season series against Denver, so they need three points – a win and a tie – to reclaim the Gold Pan, which the Pioneers have owned the past two seasons. CC expects Saturday’s game to sell out Tuesday, with about 100 tickets left for purchase.

ALSO: Former CC goaltender Chris Kawano has scored his reality TV debut, appearing at 5 p.m. Tuesday on the MTV show “Made,” in which he helps a high school girl learn how to play his position. Click HERE for a preview, including comments from Kawano.

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazettehockey. Google+: Brian Gomez. YouTube: Colorado College Hockey, Covered by The Gazette. For the CC homepage, visit www.gazette.com/sections/sports/collegehockey. For the CC blog, visit http://collegehockey.freedomblogging.com.

Colorado College fell a spot Monday to 12th in the USCHO.com poll and climbed a spot to 10th in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll, coming off a split at Minnesota.

Both rankings have Minnesota-Duluth in the top position, followed by Boston University, Minnesota, Notre Dame and Merrimack. Denver remained 15th in both polls, and North Dakota is 18th in the USCHO.com poll. Air Force didn’t receive a vote in either poll.

The Tigers (14-9-1, 11-7 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) also dropped two spots to 11th in the Inside College Hockey poll. They’re third in the WCHA with 10 games left – and even though they’re idle this weekend, they’ll be no worse than fourth going into a Feb. 3-4 series against Denver. The top six teams host first-round WCHA playoff series.

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazettehockey. Google+: Brian Gomez. YouTube: Colorado College Hockey, Covered by The Gazette. For the CC homepage, visit www.gazette.com/sections/sports/collegehockey. For the CC blog, visit http://collegehockey.freedomblogging.com.

Josh Thorimbert made 35 saves, but No. 11 Colorado College went 0 for 4 on the power play, took seven penalties and was saddled with a 37-20 shot deficit Saturday in a 2-1 loss to No. 4 Minnesota at Mariucci Arena.

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazettehockey. Google+: Brian Gomez. YouTube: Colorado College Hockey, Covered by The Gazette. For the CC homepage, visit www.gazette.com/sections/sports/collegehockey. For the CC blog, visit http://collegehockey.freedomblogging.com.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES AND A FAN CHAT.

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazettehockey. Google+: Brian Gomez. YouTube: Colorado College Hockey, Covered by The Gazette. For the CC homepage, visit www.gazette.com/sections/sports/collegehockey. For the CC blog, visit http://collegehockey.freedomblogging.com.

Only two changes for Saturday’s finale between No. 11 Colorado College and No. 4 Minnesota at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis. Charlie Taft moves into the left wing position on a fourth line that features Friday’s hero, Tim Hall, at center and Andrew Hamburg at right wing, replacing Michael Morin, who suffered what’s probably a season-ending injury to his right foot. And Peter Stoykewych starts in the third defensive pairing alongside Arthur Bidwill, playing in place of Ian Young. No surprise that Josh Thorimbert again gets the nod in goal over Joe Howe, who is 0-4 against the Gophers.

FORWARDS

1. LW Jaden Schwartz, C Rylan Schwartz, RW Jeff Collett

2. LW Alexander Krushelnyski, C Nick Dineen, RW Scott Winkler

3. LW Archie Skalbeck, C David Civitarese, RW William Rapuzzi

4. LW Charlie Taft, C Tim Hall, RW Andrew Hamburg

DEFENSEMEN

1. LD Gabe Guentzel, RD Joe Marciano

2. LD Aaron Harstad, RD Mike Boivin

3. D Peter Stoykewych, RD Arthur Bidwill

GOALTENDERS

1. Josh Thorimbert

2. Joe Howe

INJURED

RW Dakota Eveland (upper body)

D Eamonn McDermott (left knee)

LW Michael Morin (right foot)

HEALTHY SCRATCHES

D Ted Behrend

LW Jordan DiGiando

G Courtney Lockwood

D Peter Stoykewych

LW Scott Wamsganz

D Ian Young

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazettehockey. Google+: Brian Gomez. YouTube: Colorado College Hockey, Covered by The Gazette. For the CC homepage, visit www.gazette.com/sections/sports/collegehockey. For the CC blog, visit http://collegehockey.freedomblogging.com.

MINNEAPOLIS – Colorado College left wing Michael Morin might be lost for the rest of the season after he badly injured his right foot Friday in a 2-1 win against Minnesota.

A sophomore playing on the fourth line, Morin was seen after the game on crutches, with his foot heavily wrapped. It’s unclear when or how Morin was hurt, and CC coach Scott Owens wouldn’t reveal the severity of the injury, saying only that he’s out “indefinitely.” Morin has no points in seven games, and he has scored one goal in 15 career outings.

The No. 11 Tigers lost defenseman Eamonn McDermott last week to an injured left knee, and right wing Dakota Eveland didn’t travel to Minneapolis either due to what Owens is dubbing an upper-body injury. McDermott is expected to miss at least three more weeks, while Eveland could be capable of returning for a Feb. 3-4 series against No. 15 Denver. Charlie Taft likely will take Morin’s place Saturday against Minnesota, joining a line that features Friday’s hero, Tim Hall, at center and Andrew Hamburg at right wing.

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com.  Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazettehockey. Google+: Brian  Gomez. YouTube: Colorado College Hockey,  Covered by The Gazette. For the CC homepage, visit www.gazette.com/sections/sports/collegehockey.  For the CC blog, visit http://collegehockey.freedomblogging.com.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES AND A FAN CHAT.

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com.  Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazettehockey. Google+: Brian  Gomez. YouTube: Colorado College Hockey,  Covered by The Gazette. For the CC homepage, visit www.gazette.com/sections/sports/collegehockey.  For the CC blog, visit http://collegehockey.freedomblogging.com.

Colorado College right wing Dakota Eveland (above) is sidelined for this weekend’s series at No. 4 Minnesota because of an upper-body injury that he suffered this week during practice. With No. 11 CC idle after this weekend, he might not be out more than these two games. Jeff Collett goes onto the top line Friday, while William Rapuzzi returns to the third line and Aaron Harstad is back on defense. Josh Thorimbert starts in goal over Joe Howe.

FORWARDS

1.LW Jaden Schwartz, C Rylan Schwartz, RW Jeff Collett

2. LW Alexander Krushelnyski, C Nick Dineen, RW Scott Winkler

3. LW Archie Skalbeck, C David Civitarese, RW William Rapuzzi

4. LW Michael Morin, C Tim Hall, RW Andrew Hamburg

DEFENSEMEN

1. LD Gabe Guentzel, RD Joe Marciano

2. LD Aaron Harstad, RD Mike Boivin

3. LD Ian Young, RD Arthur Bidwill

GOALTENDERS

1. Josh Thorimbert

2. Joe Howe

INJURED

RW Dakota Eveland (upper body)

D Eamonn McDermott (left knee)

HEALTHY SCRATCHES

D Ted Behrend

LW Jordan DiGiando

G Courtney Lockwood

D Peter Stoykewych

RW Charlie Taft

LW Scott Wamsganz

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com.  Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazettehockey. Google+: Brian  Gomez. YouTube: Colorado College Hockey,  Covered by The Gazette. For the CC homepage, visit www.gazette.com/sections/sports/collegehockey.  For the CC blog, visit http://collegehockey.freedomblogging.com.

The 15-minute segment of The CC Hockey Show features an interview with Minnesota coach Don Lucia as the Gophers prepare to host Colorado College this weekend and a look at Lucia’s previous success with CC.

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazettehockey. Google+: Brian Gomez. Blog Talk Radio: The CC Hockey Show. YouTube: Colorado College Hockey, Covered by The Gazette. For the CC hockey homepage, visit www.gazette.com/sections/sports/collegehockey. For the CC hockey blog, visit http://collegehockey.freedomblogging.com.