Drew Montgomery’s celebratory fist pump told the whole story.

The junior left wing and assistant captain scored an empty-net goal from his own zone in the final minute of play to secure a 3-1 win for Colorado College hockey over host Omaha.

After going down a goal early, the Tigers scored three unanswered at Baxter Arena in Omaha. The win marks the first of the season for CC against the Mavericks and snaps a seven-game losing streak to the Nebraska-based team. The Tigers split the weekend series with the Mavericks.

CC (10-11-3, 4-7-3 NCHC) earned the win after a dominant second period. The Tigers were outshot 21-8 in the opening 20 minutes and went to the penalty box three times. 

The sluggish start led to the Mavericks’ lone goal of the evening right after CC killed a penalty. Mavericks forward Brett Hyland scored from the left circle at the 12:04 mark. 

The Tigers responded in a big way in the middle frame, outshooting the Mavericks 16-4, and scoring twice. 

Junior center Klavs Veinbergs scored the Tigers’ first power-play goal of 2026. He deflected the puck into the net at the crease at the 6:49 mark. Veinbergs entered the weekend without a point in his previous seven games. Saturday’s goal marked his second of the weekend and his seventh score of the season. 

Freshman center Connor Hvidston netted his third goal of the season at 15:58 of the period, beating Omaha netminder Simon Latkoczy with a wrist shot from the right circle.

Saturday was another good outing for Tigers senior goaltender and captain Kaidan Mbereko, who stopped 30 shots. Following Omaha’s 21-shot first period, the Mavericks registered only 10 the rest of the way as CC outshot them 35-31. 

Despite the win, CC remains tied for last place in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. 

The Tigers return to Ed Robson Arena next week, hosting conference foe Arizona State.