CC hockey turns attention to replacing Bachman in net

Now that sophomore Richard Bachman has signed with the Dallas Stars, Colorado College has to figure out who's next at goaltender.

With backup Drew O'Connell graduating, there's not much left over. Tyler O'Brien will return, but he played in two games and faced only 11 shots last season. Joe Howe, who has spent the past two years with Waterloo in the United States Hockey League, is the lone incoming freshman goalie although coach Scott Owens said the Tigers will fill Bachman's scholarship with another goalie.

The departure of Bachman, who was the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Player of the Year as a freshman, leaves a big hole. The initial plan is to use a rotation. 

"You probably won't see a one-goalie situation next year," Owens said.

O'Brien is in the mix, Owens said, because of his experience. Howe is a wild card. He's coming off a fantastic season in junior hockey when he posted the fourth best goals-against average in the USHL at 2.12. But he's slumped this season with a 3.51 goals-against average and has started only one game over the past month.

Howe said he isn't worried about his slump because he thinks the adversity and extra year of seasoning has prepared him well for CC.

"I haven't had the ideal season this year, but I've learned about myself and goaltending," he said.

Howe said Monday that he was prepared for the possibility of Bachman leaving. He said it was a no-lose situation, either with the possibility of more playing time as a freshman or learning behind Bachman, who he called one of the best goaltenders in college hockey.

Colorado College will be young next season. Aside from the normal graduation losses and Bachman's departure, the Tigers also lost defenseman Brian Connelly. Forward Bill Sweatt said Monday he hasn't decided whether to turn pro.

But a freshman goaltender can be a success. Bachman had an outstanding freshman season and North Dakota's Brad Eidsness posted a 2.56 goals-against average and was named third-team all-WCHA as a freshman this season.

"Freshmen can play, you see it all the time now," Owens said. "You'd like to have some seasoning but when you lose two goalies in the same year, it's difficult."