No. 1 Colorado State and No. 15 Northern Colorado will also co-host the tournament in Fort Collins and Greeley.
Colorado is 9-6-1-1 on the season and could use a good showing over the weekend to improve their number five ranking in the ACHA West division.
The Western Classic has grown a reputation as being one of the premier weekend events in the American Collegiate Hockey Association with some of the best teams from West region participating each year. Eight schools will participate at this year’s event.
Other than CU, CSU and UNC, the five other teams in the tournament will be No. 3 Eastern Washington, No. 9 Northern Arizona, No. 7 San Diego State, No. 13 Texas A&M and No. 2 Utah State. Colorado will play four of the five visiting teams with Utah State being the only school CU won’t face in the four days of competition.
Colorado will begin the tournament on Thursday at 8 p.m. against the Texas A&M Aggies before playing a big Friday night game against the Eastern Washington Eagles at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday the Buffs will play the Northern Arizona Ice Jacks at 7:30 p.m. and will then finish the weekend off on Sunday morning against the San Diego State Aztecs at 10 a.m.
Friday’s game versus EWU will be broadcasted live on CU TV. Audio broadcasts of all four CU games will also be available at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cubuffshockey.
Last season Colorado finished second in the Western Classic with them losing 4-3 to rival Colorado State in the championship game.
This year there will be a new setup on how the champion will be decided as the school with the largest goal differential (goals for minus goals against) in their four games will be crowned the winner.
The Buffs four games in the Western Classic will be their final ones of the fall semester before the team goes on hiatus for winter break. CU will return to action on Jan. 14-16 at the Gulf Coast Clash Tournament in Fort Myers, Fla. The Buffs won’t play a home game in the spring until Feb. 11 when they square off against CSU.
Admission to all CU games in the tournament will be $5 for the general public and $3 for students with a valid Buff One Card.
Colorado Western Classic Schedule
Thu. Dec. 2 vs. Texas A&M, 8 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 3 vs. Eastern Washington, 8:30 p.m.
Sat. Dec. 4 vs. Northern Arizona, 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Dec. 5 vs. San Diego State, 10 a.m.
All game will be played at the CU Ice Arena which is located inside the Student Recreation Center on campus.
