#14 North Dakota (11-7-1 overall, 5-2-1-0 NCHC) travels to Tempe, Arizona this weekend to square off against #16 Arizona State (10-7-1 overall, 4-2-1-1 NCHC), the newest member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. This key league series will mark just the second and third times that the two teams have ever met on the ice.
On October 29th, 2022, UND and ASU battled at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the Sun Devils coming back from a 2-0 deficit and prevailing by a final score of 3-2. Current UND netminder T.J. Semptimphelter was the winning goaltender for Arizona State in that contest; he only had to make thirteen saves to secure the victory.
That loss was the second straight destination-game defeat for the Green and White, as they also lost 6-4 to Penn State at Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, Tennessee) on October 30th, 2021.
Prior to those two losses, North Dakota had won four straight showcase events:
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
UND’s next destination game has been scheduled for Saturday, October 31st, 2026 in Austin, Texas; the opponent for that contest will be Michigan State.
Prior to this year, the Sun Devils competed at the Division I level in men’s ice hockey as an independent for nine seasons, with mixed results:
2015-2018 (three seasons): 21-62-8 (.275)
2018-2020 (two seasons): 43-24-4 (.634) and two NCAA tournament bids
2020-2023 (three seasons): 42-54-4 (.440)
2023-2024 (one season): 24-8-6 (.711)
In the fall of 2022, ASU moved from Oceanside Ice Arena to Mullett Arena, a beautiful 5,000 seat rink on the Arizona State University Campus. Mullett, also known as “The Party Barn”, served as a temporary home for the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes before that team’s hockey assets (players, staff, and draft picks) were transferred to the Utah Hockey Club, an expansion franchise based in Salt Lake City.
Turning our attention to this weekend’s games, North Dakota bench boss Brad Berry has a healthier lineup than he’s had virtually all season. Senior forward Cameron Berg (4-4-8 in seven games) is expected to play this weekend, and that leaves just senior defenseman Bennett Zmolek and junior goaltender Kaleb Johnson on the sidelines. Zmolek is out for the season, while Johnson is out long-term.
For Arizona State, junior transfer Cruz Lucius may make his first appearance of the season. Lucius scored 34 points in each of his two seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers before entering the portal.
As I’ve stated many times before, a half-point per game or better is my benchmark for solid offensive production, and the Sun Devils have nine players who meet or exceed that threshold, including two averaging a point per game or better: senior forward Bennett Schimek (7-11-18) and graduate defenseman Noah Beck (3-15-18). Other solid offensive contributors include graduate forward Ryan Kirwan (11-5-16), graduate forward Artem Shlaine (5-5-10), sophomore forward Kyle Smolen (4-10-14), graduate forward Dylan Jackson (5-7-12), graduate forward Lukas Sillinger (1-11-12), graduate forward Ty Jackson (4-7-11), and freshman forward Cullen Potter (6-4-10).
Two seasons ago, Sillinger scored the game-tying goal against UND in Las Vegas and also assisted on the game-winner.
*UPDATE* It has been reported that both Dylan and Ty Jackson will miss this weekend’s series.
In addition to six freshman, Arizona State head coach Greg Powers brought in six players through the transfer portal. Four of the six ASU freshmen are defensemen, including three who have seen significant playing time.
North Dakota boasts similar scoring depth, with nine players at a half-point per game or better. The aforementioned Cameron Berg leads the way in scoring average with his eight points in seven games. Other consistent contributors include freshman forward Sacha Boisvert (8-9-17), graduate forward Louis Jamernik V (4-5-9 in thirteen games), junior forward Owen McLaughlin (1-12-13), sophomore forward Jayden Perron (6-6-12), freshman forward Mac Swanson (2-9-11), junior forward Dylan James (5-5-10), sophomore defenseman Jake Livanavage (2-12-14), and sophomore defenseman Abram Wiebe (4-10-14).
Despite being the younger team overall, UND will definitely have a size advantage in this series. On average, North Dakota players are more than an inch taller and more than ten pounds heavier (the Fighting Hawks are the nation’s fourth-heaviest team; ASU, the seventh-lightest).
In terms of specialty teams, both squads are a plus-2 to this point in the season. Arizona State has scored eleven power play goals and allowed ten while scoring three shorthanded goals and giving up two. North Dakota has a 16-14 edge in power play goals scored and is even in the shorthanded tallies ledger (2-2).
So far this season, Arizona State has outscored opponents 58-44 while playing the 21st-most difficult schedule in the country (according to KRACH). North Dakota has enjoyed a scoring margin of 61-51 while facing the 17th-toughest slate of opponents.
The other underlying metrics seem to favor UND. The Fighting Hawks are scoring on 10.7% of their shots on goal, good for 13th in the country; the Sun Devils clock in at 9.7% (32nd).
Faceoffs and puck possession metrics also favor the Green and White:
UND has won 54.6% of draws this season (5th-best in the nation) and now sees Cameron Berg return to the lineup; the senior center won 60 of his 100 faceoffs before being injured. ASU has won just 49.6% (38th).
Corsi: North Dakota 53.6 (15th); Arizona State 52.2 (25th)
Fenwick: North Dakota 53.2 (20th); Arizona State 53.0 (23rd)
Corsi measures the share of shot attempts for each team at even strength, while Fenwick measure the share of unblocked shot attempts for each team at even strength.
If North Dakota has an area to clean up, it is the penalty kill. UND has allowed fourteen power play goals through the first nineteen games of this season and has a success rate of just 77.8% when shorthanded; that mark ranks in the bottom third in the country (42nd of 64 teams). Last season, the Fighting Hawks allowed just nineteen power play goals all season (40 games).
In terms of common opponents, both of these teams have faced #5 Providence, #6 Denver, #18 Cornell, and unranked Minnesota Duluth and Robert Morris this season.
Arizona State lost twice at Providence (1-4, 1-2), won twice at Denver (3-2, 5-2), swept Duluth at home (5-3, 3-2 OT), and defeated both Robert Morris (7-3) and Cornell (4-0) at home.
North Dakota beat Providence 5-2 in its home opener before getting swept on the road at Cornell (1-4, 3-5). UND swept at Duluth (7-3, 4-1) and dropped two home games to Denver (2-5, 2-3) before a home sweep of Robert Morris (4-3 OT, 1-0).
If you’re keeping score at home, ASU’s combined record against those five teams is 6-2, while UND’s is 5-4.
This is a pivotal series, with both league points and Pairwise positioning at play. Arizona State currently sits in third place in the NCHC standings, just two points behind North Dakota (Western Michigan is in first place, two points ahead of UND). The WMU Broncos are off this weekend but will face off against the Fighting Hawks at Ralph Engelstad Arena next weekend (January 17th and 18th).
The Sun Devils are not scheduled for a return series in Grand Forks this season.
Arizona State Team Profile
Head Coach: Greg Powers (10th season at ASU, 140-155-23, .476)
National Ranking: #16/#15
Pairwise Ranking: 16th
KRACH: 16th (204.5)
This Season: 10-7-1 overall, 4-2-1-1 NCHC (3rd of 9 teams)
Last Season: 24-8-6 overall (missed NCAA tournament)
Team Offense: 3.22 goals scored/game – 16th of 64 teams
Team Defense: 2.44 goals allowed/game – 20th of 64 teams
Power Play: 20.8% (11 of 53) – 28th of 64 teams
Penalty Kill: 80.0% (40 of 50) – 32nd of 64 teams
Key Players: Senior F Bennett Schimek (7-11-18), Graduate F Ryan Kirwan (11-5-16), Graduate F Artem Shlaine (5-5-10), Sophomore F Kyle Smolen (4-10-14), Graduate F Dylan Jackson (5-7-12), Graduate F Lukas Sillinger (1-11-12), Graduate F Ty Jackson (4-7-11), Freshman F Cullen Potter (6-4-10), Graduate D Noah Beck (3-15-18), Freshman D Sam Court (2-5-7), Senior G Luke Pavicich (7-4-0, 2.36 GAA, .916 SV%), Junior G Gibson Homer (3-3-1, 2.01 GAA, .927 SV%, 2 SO)
North Dakota Team Profile
Head Coach: Brad Berry (10th season at UND, 217-111-34, .646)
National Rankings: #14/#17
Pairwise Ranking: 20th
KRACH: 17th (198.2)
This Season: 11-7-1 overall, 5-2-1-0 NCHC (2nd of 9 teams)
Last Season: 26-12-2 (NCAA tournament appearance), 14-4-1-5 NCHC (1st)
Team Offense: 3.21 goals scored/game – 19th of 64 teams
Team Defense: 2.68 goals allowed/game – 29th of 64 teams
Power Play: 27.6% (16 of 58) – 3rd of 64 teams
Penalty Kill: 77.8% (49 of 63) – 42nd of 64 teams
Key Players: Freshman F Sacha Boisvert (8-9-17), Junior F Owen McLaughlin (1-12-13), Junior F Dylan James (5-5-10), Sophomore F Jayden Perron (6-6-12), Freshman F Mac Swanson (2-9-11), Senior F Jake Schmaltz (3-6-9), Senior F Cameron Berg (4-4-8 in seven games), Sophomore D Jake Livanavage (2-12-14), Sophomore D Abram Wiebe (4-10-14), Junior D Caleb MacDonald (2-3-5), Graduate G T.J. Semptimphelter (10-5-1, 2.56 GAA, .903 SV%, 1 SO)
Game News and Notes
UND is 6-1-1 in its last eight games, outscoring opponents 24-17 over that stretch. Arizona State has won seven games in a row. In 2023-24, Arizona State played its last season as an independent. Despite a record of 24-8-6, the Sun Devils finished in 20th in the Pairwise and missed the NCAA tournament. 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.
Media Coverage
Friday’s game (9:06 p.m. Central Time) will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network, while Saturday’s rematch (6:05 p.m.) will be available on Midco Sports and via webcast at NCHC.tv. (Friday’s game will not be available on NCHC.tv due to conference broadcasting rights.) 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
Both teams ended the first half on a high note, and Arizona State picked up right where they left off with an impressive pair of victories over Robert Morris and Cornell to ring in the new year. When two teams without a lot of history get together, there’s usually a bit of a feeling-out period before both teams ramp up their compete levels, and that’s what I’m expecting in the first period of Friday’s opener. I am also very curious to see how these games will be officiated. North Dakota is at its best when it can finish every check and yet stay at even strength. If the Fighting Hawks can roll four lines all weekend, they can earn more than a split out of this series. At some point, though, we will most likely see a parade to the penalty box, and that favors the Sun Devils. I like the home team tonight, with the Fighting Hawks earning the split in tomorrow’s rematch. ASU 3-2, UND 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!