North Dakota’s first destination game took place ten years ago, as UND hosted Clarkson at Bell MTS Place, home of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets. The five showcase events that have built up to this Saturday night have almost all gone the way of the Green and White:
2012: Bell MTS Place (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
North Dakota 3, Clarkson 1
2013: T.D. Ameritrade Park (Omaha, Nebraska)
North Dakota 5, Omaha 2
2016: Madison Square Garden (New York City)
North Dakota 4, Boston College 3
2018: Orleans Arena (Las Vegas, Nevada)
North Dakota 3, Minnesota 1
2021: Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, Tennessee)
Penn State 6, North Dakota 4
This writer was able to witness the last three performances firsthand, and while it is difficult to measure “which team wants it more”, it is clear that the UND hockey program does not take these opportunities for granted.
On Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, Nevada), #6/#7 North Dakota (3-2-1) will face off against unranked Arizona State (4-4-0); the two teams have never met on the ice. The Sun Devils have competed at the Division I level in men’s ice hockey as an independent since the 2015-2016 season and have had mixed results across those seven campaigns:
2015-2018 (three seasons): 21-62-8 (.275)
2018-2020 (two seasons): 43-24-4 (.634) and two NCAA tournament bids
2020-2022 (three seasons): 46-44-7 (.510)
Greg Powers has been the only head coach in Arizona State Division I men’s hockey history. Powers, a former goaltender from the Sun Devils’ club level (WCHL/ACHA) days, graduated from ASU in 1999 and is a member of the Arizona State Athletic Hall of Fame.
Because last year’s North Dakota – Penn State contest was pushed back one year due to COVID-19, UND fans have the opportunity to travel to a destination game for the second consecutive season this weekend. The Green and White return to Las Vegas but will see an upgrade in facilities (and capacity) by hosting at T-Mobile Arena, home of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights. At Orleans Arena, the announced attendance was a sold-out 7412. T-Mobile has a capacity of 17,500 for ice hockey. North Dakota and Arizona State have never met on the ice.
Since it is difficult to compare teams that have never faced off, we need to look deeply into the won-loss records for both sides this season:
Arizona State (4-4-0):
October 1st: 2-3 (OT) road loss at #19 Minnesota Duluth
October 2nd: 1-4 road loss at #19 Minnesota Duluth
October 7th: 3-0 road win at Bemidji State
October 8th: 4-5 (OT) road loss at Bemidji State
October 14th: 2-0 home win over Colgate
October 15th: 0-4 home loss to Colgate
October 21st: 5-3 home win over Colorado College
October 22nd: 6-1 home win over Colorado College
North Dakota (3-2-1):
October 7th: 6-0 home win over Holy Cross
October 8th: 4-1 home win over Holy Cross
October 14th: 5-5 home tie vs. #7 Quinnipiac
October 15th: 2-6 home loss to #7 Quinnipiac
October 21st: 2-3 (OT) road loss at #1 Minnesota
October 22nd: 5-4 (OT) road win over #1 Minnesota
After this year’s contest, it will be at least several seasons before North Dakota plans another destination game. Cities that have been mentioned in the past are Anaheim, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, or Tampa.
Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald reports that fans traveled to the 2018 Vegas game from 44 states; as of Friday afternoon, he had heard of travelers from 43 different states this time around (and yes, Alaska and Hawaii are represented!). The only states without a pin on the map are Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia.
After tonight’s “neutral site’” Hall Of Fame Game matchup against Arizona State, three of UND’s four non-conference games during the 2022-2023 campaign will be played at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks:
November 25th: at Bemidji State
November 26th: vs. Bemidji State
January 6th: vs. Lindenwood
January 7th: vs. Lindenwood
UND is tops in the nation in shooting percentage at an astounding 15.3% (24 goals on 157 shots). By comparison, Arizona State is 23rd in the country at 10.6% (23 goals on 218 shots). This means that although ASU generates more shots per game (27.3 to UND’s 26.2), North Dakota has outscored the Sun Devils to this point in the season despite playing in two fewer games. The Fighting Hawks also lead ASU in both Corsi and Fenwick, two key puck possession statistics.
One key area to watch this weekend is the face-off circle. The Fighting Hawks are the nation’s tenth-best team on draws (55.2%), while Minnesota clocks in at just 45.8% (46th).
For UND, sophomore Jake Schmaltz has been making a living on draws, winning 75 of 126 (59.5%). Junior Louis Jamernik V has won 59 of 112 (52.7%), while freshman Owen McLaughlin has been nearly even (40 of 79, 50.6%). Sophomore Matteo Costantini has chippied in with 12 wins in 16 opportunities (75.0%).
For the Sun Devils, senior Robert Mastrosimone has had the most success on faceoffs, winning 58 of 120 (48.3%). After that, it’s been more of a challenge, with sophomore Jack Jensen (41 of 88, 46.6%) and senior Ty Jackson (25 of 64, 39.1%) both struggling.
To this point in the season, North Dakota has had far the better of the specialty teams play. UND has been a combined +9, with eleven power play goals scored (11 for 31, 35.5%, 2nd in the country) and only two power play goals allowed (18 of 20, 90.0%, 7th). Arizona State has posted a-1, with six power play goals scored (6 of 25, 24.0%, 22nd) and seven allowed (25 of 32, 78.1%, 35th). The Fighting Hawks scored four power play goals last weekend on seven man-advantage opportunities at #1 Minnesota.
North Dakota is 5th in the country in scoring offense (4.00 goals scored/game) but just 34th in the country in scoring defense (3.17 goals allowed/game) after allowing eighteen goals over the past two weekends against Quinnipiac and Minnesota. Arizona State is 27th in the country in scoring offense (2.88 goals scored/game) but a more respectable 17th in scoring defense (2.50 goals allowed/game).
North Dakota is strong on the back end this season, with junior Tyler Kleven and senior Ethan Frisch leading the way. A trio of graduate students (Chris Jandric, Ty Farmer, and Ryan Sidorski) match up well with sophomore Brent Johnson and junior Cooper Moore to form a defensive corps not unlike the one that took UND all the way to the national title seven years ago.
Arizona State Team Profile
Head Coach: Greg Powers (8th season at ASU, 92-123-16, .433)
National Ranking: NR/NR
This Season: 4-4-0 overall
Last Season:
Team Offense: 2.88 goals scored/game – 27th of 56 teams
Team Defense: 2.50 goals allowed/game – 17th of 56 teams
Power Play: 24.0% (6 of 25) – 22nd of 56 teams
Penalty Kill: 78.1% (25 of 32) – 35th of 56 teams
Key Players: Senior F Lukas Sillinger (1-5-6), Sophomore F Josh Doan (2-4-6), Senior F Robert Mastrosimone (4-2-6), Graduate Student F Demetrios Koumontzis (3-1-4), Sophomore F Jack Jensen (1-3-4), Senior F Ty Jackson (1-3-4), Junior F Ryan O’Reilly (2-2-4), Junior D Tim Lovell (1-4-5), Sophomore D Ethan Szmagaj (0-3-3), Sophomore G TJ Semptimphelter (4-4-0, 2.48 GAA, .933 SV%, 2 SO)
North Dakota Team Profile
Head Coach: Brad Berry (8th season at UND, 165-79-26, .659)
National Rankings: #6/#7
This Season: 3-2-1 overall, 0-0-0 NCHC
Last Season: 24-14-1 overall (NCAA Regional Semifinalist), 17-6-1 NCHC (t-1st)
2022-23 Season Statistics:
Team Offense: 4.00 goals scored/game – 5th of 56 teams
Team Defense: 3.17 goals allowed/game – 34th of 56 teams
Power Play: 35.5% (11 of 31) – 2nd of 56 teams
Penalty Kill: 90.0% (18 of 20) – 7th of 56 teams
Key Players: Junior F Riese Gaber (5-2-7), Sophomore F Jake Schmaltz (2-2-4), Junior F Louie Jamernik V (0-5-5), Senior F Gavin Hain (4-1-5), Graduate Student Mark Senden (3-2-5), Freshman F Jackson Blake (4-4-8), Graduate Student D Chris Jandric (1-9-10), Senior D Ethan Frisch (1-3-4), Sophomore D Brent Johnson (0-3-3), Junior D Cooper Moore (1-3-4), Graduate Student G Drew DeRidder (2-1-0, 2.97 GAA, .912 SV%, 1 SO)
Game News and Notes
Only two players on UND’s roster played in the 2018 Vegas game: Gavin Hain and Mark Senden. The Fighting Hawks went 2 of 6 on the power play last weekend. North Dakota has outscored opponents 9-4 in the first period this season.
Media Coverage
Tonight’s game can be seen live on Midco Sports or online at NCHC.tv. All UND men’s hockey games, home and away, can be heard on stations across the UND Sports Home of Economy Radio Network as well as through the iHeart Radio app.
Social Media
Keep up with the action live during all UND hockey games by following @UNDmhockey and @UNDInsider on Twitter. Fans can also read the action via Brad Schlossman’s live chat on the Grand Forks Herald website.
The Prediction
Any time two teams meet for the first time, there is a feeling-out process. Expect some tentative play in the first ten minutes or so, with ebbs and flows of momentum throughout the game. As always, goaltending and specialty teams will both play a huge factor in this one, with the “neutral” crowd at T-Mobile Arena providing an edge for the Green and White. North Dakota has a talent advantage and is coming off of a strong weekend at #1 Minnesota. Under the neon lights of Las Vegas, I see the Fighting Hawks rising to the occasion. UND 4, ASU 2.
As always, thank you for reading. I welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions. Follow me on Twitter (@DBergerHockey) for more information and insight. Here’s to hockey!
Minnesota Team Profile
Head Coach: Bob Motzko (5th season at Minnesota, 87-51-11, .590)
National Rankings: #1/#1
This Season: 3-1-0 overall, 0-0-0-0 Big Ten
Last Season: 26-13-0 (NCAA Frozen Four participant), 17-4-1-2 Big Ten (1st of 7 teams)
2022-23 Season Statistics:
Team Offense: 4.00 goals scored/game – 7th of 56 teams
Team Defense: 2.00 goals allowed/game – 9th of 56 teams
Power Play: 26.3% (5 of 19) – 21st of 56 teams
Penalty Kill: 84.6% (11 of 13) – 19th of 56 teams
Key Players: Sophomore F Rhett Pitlick (0-5-5), Freshman F Logan Cooley (2-3-5), Freshman F Jimmy Snuggerud (4-0-4), Senior F Jaxon Nelson (1-2-3), Sophomore F Matthew Knies (2-1-3), Senior D Jackson LaCombe (0-4-4), Senior D Ryan Johnson (0-4-4), Junior D Brock Faber (1-2-3), Senior G Justen Close (2-1-0, 1.34 GAA, .941 SV%, 1 SO)
North Dakota Team Profile
Head Coach: Brad Berry (8th season at UND, 164-78-26, .660)
National Rankings: #7/#7
This Season: 2-1-1 overall, 0-0-0 NCHC
Last Season: 24-14-1 overall (NCAA Regional Semifinalist), 17-6-1 NCHC (t-1st)
2022-23 Season Statistics:
Team Offense: 4.25 goals scored/game – 5th of 56 teams
Team Defense: 3.00 goals allowed/game – 28th of 56 teams
Power Play: 29.2% (7 of 24) – 14th of 56 teams
Penalty Kill: 92.9% (13 of 14) – 5th of 56 teams
Key Players: Junior F Riese Gaber (3-1-4), Sophomore F Jake Schmaltz (1-1-2), Junior F Louie Jamernik V (0-4-4), Senior F Gavin Hain (4-0-4), Graduate Student Mark Senden (1-2-3), Freshman F Jackson Blake (3-3-6), Senior D Ethan Frisch (1-1-2), Sophomore D Brent Johnson (0-3-3), Graduate Student D Chris Jandric (1-6-7), Junior D Cooper Moore (1-2-3), Graduate Student G Drew DeRidder (1-0-0, 2.26 GAA, .912 SV%, 1 SO)
By The Numbers
Last meeting: November 27, 2021 (Grand Forks, ND). One night after falling 5-1 to the visiting Gophers, the homestanding Hawks scored a goal in each period to build a 3-0 lead. Minnesota goals at 7:35 (power play) and 16:30 (extra attacker) of the final frame left the outcome in doubt, but the Maroon and Gold could not find the equalizer in the closing minutes and had to settle for a road split. UND outshot Minnesota 26-13 for the contest and were led offensively by Mark Senden, who assisted on the first North Dakota goal and scored twice to lead the Green and White to victory.
Last meeting in Minneapolis: November 29, 2019. UND built a 3-1 lead through two periods of play and made that lead hold up in a 3-2 victory which secured a rare road sweep of the Gophers for the Fighting Hawks. Eight different players found their way on the scoresheet for the Green and White. North Dakota won Friday’s opener by an eye-popping final score of 9-3.
What Happens In Vegas: October 27, 2018 (Las Vegas, NV). The “Duel in the Desert” left #5 Minnesota feeling high and dry as #17 North Dakota played the Gophers even through a scoreless opening period before outshooting their guests 25-12 over the final forty minutes of play. UND’s Colton Poolman scored two goals for the Fighting Hawks, while fellow blueliner Hayden Shaw assisted on all three goals in a 3-1 North Dakota victory. Attendance was recorded as 412 Gopher fans and 7000 fans of the Green and White.
Most important meeting: March 24, 1979 (Detroit, MI). North Dakota and Minnesota met to decide the national championship, and the Gophers prevailed, 4-3. Neal Broten scored the game-winning goal for the U of M, and Steve Janaszak was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
All-time: Minnesota leads the all-time series by a seven-game margin, 141-134-15 (.512), including a 75-53-8 (.581) advantage in games played in Minneapolis. The teams first met in 1948.
Last ten: North Dakota has gone 5-4-1 in the last ten meetings between the schools, outscoring Minnesota 30-24 in those games.
Game News and Notes
North Dakota first-year forward Jackson Blake has six points in his first four collegiate games, the first UND freshman to record six points in his first four games since T.J. Oshie (2005-06). The Golden Gophers made the 2022 NCAA Frozen Four, but were trounced by Minnesota State by a final score of 5-1 in the national semifinal. In 2019, UND’s last visit to Minneapolis ended in a sweep for the Fighting Hawks, the first since January 2007. In an effort to alleviate parking concerns, Minnesota fans are asked to park in St. Paul and walk to 3M Arena at Mariucci.
Broadcast Information
Friday’s contest will be broadcast live on Bally Sports North Extra, while Saturday’s rematch will be shown live on Bally Sports North. Both games are also available via webcast at B1G+. All UND men’s hockey games (home and away) can be heard on 96.1 FM and on stations across the UND Sports Network (as well as through the iHeart Radio app).
Social Media
Keep up with the action live during all UND hockey games by following @UNDmhockey and @UNDInsider on Twitter. Fans can also read the action via Brad Schlossman’s live chat on the Grand Forks Herald website.
The Prediction
Let’s get this out of the way first: Minnesota is ranked higher than North Dakota and is playing at home, but I think both of these games will be close. UND is deep enough up front that having last line change may not matter for Bob Motzko. However, Minnesota still has two advantages: experience on the wider sheet of ice and a raucous home crowd. Well, make that one advantage. The last time these two teams tangled in Minneapolis, the crowd was heavily tilted toward the Green and White. It should be 60-40 either way this weekend, with many fans traveling down I-94 and a large North Dakota alumni base in the Twin Cities. I’m looking at a few key factors: faceoffs, goaltending, and the ability to score in bunches. Either one of these teams could ride the wave of momentum to victory, and in a rivalry matchup, whichever team keeps unnecessary penalties to a minimum has the advantage.
I know it feels like a cop-out to call a split, but it’s too early in the season for one team to have that much of an advantage. UND 4-3, Minnesota 4-2.
As always, thank you for reading. I welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions. Follow me on Twitter (@DBergerHockey) for more information and insight. Here’s to hockey!