Defenseman John Moore slipped a little bit in the draft, going 21st to Columbus, which traded up to get him. Moore slipping isn’t the worst thing for CC - especially if the Blue Jackets push him to play college instead of junior hockey next season.
Moore ties Mark Stuart’s record. Stuart was the highest-drafted player in CC history, at 21st overall.

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced it has voted to add Bemidji State and Nebraska-Omaha to the league, starting in the 2010-11 season.
Bemidji State applied months ago but in late April, league members decided they didn’t want to add only one team. WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod was instructed to actively pursue a second team to join the league.
Nebraska-Omaha’s location and facilities made it a natural fit. Alaska-Fairbanks was also discussed as a possibility.
The expansion is the first in the league since Minnesota State-Mankato joined as the 10th member for the 1999-2000 season.

Defenseman John Moore is a likely first-round pick in Friday’s NHL draft, and the CC recruit would become the highest Tigers player ever drafted if he is selected before the 21st pick.
Here’s a sampling of where some NHL mock drafts predict Moore will go in the draft, and comments from the predictors:

SI.com: 14th, Florida Panthers
“Moore’s name has gained a lot of heat in the past few weeks. Offensively, that’s easy to understand. He’s a smooth skater and savvy playmaker who makes great reads in the other team’s zone. But in his own zone, he remains something of an adventure.”

ESPN.com: 14th, Florida Panthers
“In the long run, Moore fills the hole created by free agent Jay Bouwmeester’s predicted departure from South Florida.”

CBC.ca: 16th, Columbus Blue Jackets
“The Jackets like their forward depth but will look for the best defenseman available at No. 16.”

Canada.com: 19th, New York Rangers
“Rangers need big bodies up front, but it’s hard to pass up this talent who could drop into their lap.”

Ottawa Sun: 16th, Columbus Blue Jackets
“He has the size and skill to go along with great playmaking abilities. A tremendous skater, Moore started the 2008-09 season outside of the first round but with solid play from start to finish of season, ISS scouts feel he has moved ahead of most all the other highly rated blueline prospects.”

Adam Kimelman, NHL.com: 14th, Florida Panthers
“Some scouts believe he’s the best skater in the draft.”

Brad Holland, NHL.com: 14th, Florida Panthers
“Moore’s skating and passing ability make him a dynamic addition on defense.”

Shawn Roarke, NHL.com: 11th, Nashville Predators
“Rapidly rising defenseman can skate like the wind.”

Pierre McGuire, TSN.ca: 14th, Florida Panthers
“There is no better skater on defence and Moore brings mobility to the blueline.”

Craig Button, TSN.ca: 16th, Columbus Blue Jackets
“He’s a quick skater that loves to get into the attack.”

USA Today: 14th, Florida Panthers
“Has the type of range, skating speed, and puck rushing ability the Panthers will be losing in Jay Bouwmeester, and he will be the triggerman on their PP in a couple of years.”

NHLDraftsite.com: 9th, Ottawa Senators

MyNHLDraft.com: 13th, Buffalo Sabres

Defenseman John Moore, a CC recruit and probable first-round pick in the NHL draft this week, has stated a few times over the past couple of months his desire to come play for CC in the fall. Now, Moore says he’ll weigh all of his options with his family after the draft, which will be held Friday and Saturday.
Earlier this month, Moore said junior hockey teams had been calling his house, but he was “really happy” with CC. He called the decision to go play for the Tigers “kind of a no-brainer.”
Even if Moore is still a good bet to come to CC, he wouldn’t say this week it’s a sure thing.
“I guess I don’t really know,” Moore said. “It’s something I’ll have to think about when this whole thing is over. But I can’t stress enough what a great option CC is.”

Defenseman John Moore, CC’s prized recruit and projected by many to be a first-round pick in the NHL draft later this month, has fielded plenty of calls from junior teams wanting his services. Once again, however, Moore expressed that he is definitely coming to CC in the fall.
“They’re calling my house, but I’m really happy with CC,” said Moore, who has maintained all year that he plans to attend college in the fall.
Moore said when he was at the NHL combine last week, teams told him how he could grow as a hockey player and a person at Colorado College. He said he likes the fact that he can get a great education while playing Division I hockey.
“To me, it’s kind of a no-brainer,” Moore said. “It’s the best of both worlds and I can’t wait to get out there.”

On the NCAA’s academic progress rate report (APR), the Tigers’ men’s hockey team had a score of 983, which ranks in the 70th to 80th percentile among men’s ice hockey teams and all NCAA sports. The women’s soccer team recently was honored for its perfect score in the report for a fifth straight year. The APR is calculated based on eligibility, retention and graduation of a school’s scholarship student-athletes.

Jake Gannon, a senior defenseman and captain for CC last season, was awarded the WCHA’s annual $10,000 postgraduate scholarship. Gannon wants to get a master’s degree in business. Gannon is an economics major with a 3.62 grade-point average and is scheduled to graduate from CC later this month.

Forward Bill Sweatt will return to Colorado College for his senior season. Sweatt will be CC’s leading returning scorer. He had 12 goals and 11 assists last year. His 23 points ranked fourth on the Tigers.
“I’m really excited to come back,” Sweatt said.
CC coach Scott Owens said having Sweatt’s experience will help next season. Owens said during a meeting Sweatt told him he wanted to come back so he could finish school.
“I think he understands the value of a degree in this day and age,” Owens said.
CC also recently got two commitments for the 2009-10 freshman class: goaltender Hudson Stremmel, who played with highly-touted incoming CC freshman defenseman John Moore with the USHL’s Chicago Steel last year, and forward William Rapuzzi, who played in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers.
Stremmel was 11th in the USHL with a 3.19 goals-against average this past season. Rapuzzi had 21 goals and 30 assists with Green Bay.

For what will be a young team in transition, Colorado College’s early schedule in 2009-10 is loaded with home games.

From the start of the regular season on Oct. 9 against Northeastern through the first annual meeting against the Denver on Dec. 4, 11 of CC’s first 15 games are at World Arena. The only road games are Oct. 16-17 at Wisconsin, which is the start of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association schedule, and a Nov. 13-14 trip to Minnesota State.

CC coach Scott Owens said the schedule is difficult, featuring some tough non-conference teams and the typical challenging WCHA slate, but having many home games early will help.

“We’re basically starting with young players and players that haven’t played much,” Owens said. “It’s a good schedule for us. It could give us some confidence and let the team come together.”

CC also plays DU in Denver on Dec. 5, and finishes the regular season with another home-and-home weekend at Denver on March 5 and at CC on March 6. The Tigers host Air Force on Feb. 5.

CC will also play in the Florida College Classic in Estero, Fla. Dec. 29 and 30.

2009-10 Colorado College hockey schedule

Sat., Oct. 3 Calgary (exhibition)
Fri.-Sat., Oct. 9-10 Northeastern
Fri. -Sat., Oct. 16-17 at Wisconsin
Fri.-Sat, Oct. 23-24 Michigan Tech
Fri.-Sat, Nov. 6-7 Minnesota-Duluth
Fri.-Sat., Nov. 13-14 at Minnesota State-Mankato
Fri.-Sat., Nov. 20-21 Robert Morris University
Fri. -Sat., Nov. 27-28 Alaska-Anchorage
Fri., Dec. 4 Denver
Sat., Dec. 5 at Denver
Fri.-Sat., Dec. 11-12 at St. Cloud State
Tues., Dec. 29 vs. Cornell (Florida College Classic in Estero, Fla.)
Wed., Dec. 30 vs. Maine or Princeton (Florida College Classic in Estero, Fla.)
Fri. -Sat., Jan. 8-9 at Minnesota-Duluth
Fri.-Sat., Jan.15-16 Wisconsin
Fri.-Sat., Jan. 22-23 at Alaska-Anchorage
Fri.-Sat., Jan.29-30 St. Cloud State
Fri., Feb. 5 Air Force
Sat., Feb. 6 Mercyhurst
Fri.-Sat., Feb. 19-20 at Minnesota
Fri.-Sat., Feb. 26-27 North Dakota
Fri., March 5 at Denver
Sat., March 6 Denver

Colorado College passed out its annual hockey awards at the year-end banquet, and senior center Chad Rau won three.
Rau won the Thayer Tutt Award as the team’s most valuable player, the M.B. Hopper Award as leading scorer and the Steve Ebert Award, given to the player that displays a combination of dedication, desire, ability and sportsmanship.
Senior Eric Walsky and junior forward Brian McMillin split the Dave Peterson Award for most improved player. Senior defenseman Jake Gannon won the Rodman Award, given to the player who demonstrates the highest degree of sportsmanship and leadership. Defenseman Gabe Guentzel won the Bob Johnson Award given to the team’s top freshman. The Joni Brandner Memorial Award, given to an individual “who has given his or her heart and soul through dedication to Tiger hockey,” was presented to Karen Crews, a fan and longtime employee of the college who retired this spring.
Also, junior right wing Mike Testwuide was named the team’s captain for next season.