CC refocusing for regionals

As Colorado College prepares to face defending national champion Michigan State, its focus is inward.

"We've just got to play our game," right wing Mike Testwuide said of Friday's matchup in the NCAA Tournament's West Regional at World Arena.

Inconsistency plagued CC's offense last weekend at the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Five. The Tigers ranked first this season in the low-scoring WCHA - averaging 3.39 goals in 28 games - but against Minnesota and North Dakota struggled to capitalize on rebounds and sustain pressure in the offensive zone.

"For us, it always comes back to, ‘Are we moving our feet or not?'" CC coach Scott Owens said. "Last weekend, we did it in spurts. But for this time of the year, we were quite inconsistent."

If the Tigers keep the puck wide and uses cross-ice passes in the neutral zone, it might be able to burn the Spartans in transition. Michigan State is 2-2 on the Olympic-sized ice sheet, its two losses in early February at Northern Michigan.

"The width of the rink will help us, but we still need to skate and move and get through them," Owens said.

When the Tigers get into the offensive zone, the forwards need to keep it there by supporting one another.

"Our down-low play is key to our consistency," Testwuide said. "Last weekend, it was back and forth a lot....It hurts the defense and gets them really tired. It gets us out of rhythm in their offensive zone."

But CC, which took the majority of its shots from the fringes last weekend, still will need to bring the grittiness required on the more compact NHL-sized surface.

"You've still got to get to the same spot," right wing Jimmy Kilpatrick said. "You've got to penetrate through the defensemen....Bearing down, more than anything, is what we need to do."

Local TV out
Despite interest from local stations in televising Friday's game, the contract between ESPNU and the NCAA voids the possibility, said Scott Lowenberg, CC's assistant athletic director for marketing.

Slap shots
Today's practices at World Arena are open to the public. No. 4 seed Notre Dame will practice at 11 a.m., No. 1 seed New Hampshire will practice at 12:45 p.m., No. 3 seed Michigan State will practice at 2 and CC will practice at 3:15... About 900 three-game ticket packages remain for the regional after tickets were returned Wednesday by the visiting schools. Packages are $74 for upper-bowl seats and $89 for lower-bowl seats, plus tax and fees....Notre Dame practiced Wednesday while Michigan State and Notre Dame will practice today for the first time at World Arena