#17 North Dakota (21-14-2 overall, 11-8-4-1 NCHC) squares off against #3 Western Michigan (28-7-1 overall, 15-1-4-4 NCHC) in the semifinals of the last-ever NCHC Frozen Faceoff, and UND must get past the Broncos AND win the championship game (against either #6 Denver or #11 Arizona State) on Saturday night to earn an NCAA tournament bid and extend its season.
Earlier this month, the Broncos clinched the program’s first-ever Penrose Cup as NCHC regular season champions; WMU and Denver will make the NCAAs regardless of results this weekend.
Three weeks ago, UND earned a split at Kalamazoo, losing 6-4 on Friday night before rebounding for a 4-3 overtime victory in the rematch.
The Fighting Hawks hosted WMU two months ago, and while the home squad had a chance in Friday’s opener, it was all Broncos in the rematch. UND drew a penalty late in regulation in game one, but an interference call just 24 seconds later negated the advantage. Early in the extra frame, Western Michigan scored a power play tally to earn the 3-2 victory. On Saturday night, the game was probably closer than the 5-1 final score, but WMU continually frustrated North Dakota in all three zones.
In the NCHC preseason poll, UND was picked to finish in second place (behind Denver), while the Broncos ended up in sixth place (ahead of Duluth, Arizona State, and Miami). Finishing in first and second place in the NCHC, Western Michigan and the Sun Devils were the two biggest surprises in the conference. DU finished in third place, while the Fighting Hawks ended up in fifth.
The NCHC has been the premier hockey conference since its inception, and particularly over the past ten seasons. The eight teams in the league have gone 532-275-85 (.644) in non-conference action since the start of the 2014-15 season and sent thirteen teams to the Frozen Four (UND and Omaha in 2015, UND and Denver in 2016, Denver and Duluth in 2017, Duluth in 2018, Denver and Duluth in 2019, Duluth and St. Cloud State in 2021, and Denver in both 2022 and 2024) over that nine-year stretch (there was no national tournament in 2020). Conference members North Dakota (2016), Denver (2017, 2022, 2024), and Minnesota Duluth (2018, 2019) have won six of the last eight national titles.
This year, it appears as though there will be fewer NCAA tournament berths for NCHC teams. The league’s out-of-conference winning percentage was just .586, the worst since the league’s first season (.533 in 2013-14).
Only Western Michigan (5th in the Pairwise) and Denver (10th) are safe; as mentioned above, both Arizona State (15th) and North Dakota (17th) will need to win two games this weekend to extend their season.
Two seasons ago, UND managed to take five of six league points on the road at Kalamazoo (2-2 tie/shootout win; 3-0 win), but the Broncos swept the Fighting Hawks at Ralph Engelstad Arena (4-0, 7-6) to take the season series.
Last year, in the only series between the teams, North Dakota swept Western Michigan at home (5-3, 3-0) to capture the program’s sixth Penrose Cup. In the eleven completed seasons of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, only UND, Denver, and St. Cloud State have hoisted the Penrose.
Fourth-year head coach Pat Ferschweiler (WMU ’93) recently earned a contract extension that will keep him behind the Broncos’ bench through April 2030. Ferschweiler, who had previously been the WMU associate head coach under Andy Murray, also spent four seasons as an assistant coach for the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings.
In his rookie campaign three seasons ago, Ferschweiler went 26-12-1 and brought his team within one game of the Frozen Four, falling to Minnesota in the regional final. In September of 2022, the Western Michigan bench boss was extended through the 2025-26 season. Two seasons ago, he led the Broncos to a 2nd-place finish in the NCHC, an overall record of 23-15-1, and another NCAA tournament appearance. Last season, Ferschweiler once again led his team to the NCAA tourney with an overall mark of 21-16-1.
This year might turn out to be Ferschweiler’s best behind the bench.
After losing seven of his top nine point producers – forwards Luke Grainger (14-34-48 last season), Dylan Wendt (23-21-44), Sam Colangelo (24-19-43), Chad Hillebrand (7-19-26), and Ethan Phillips (9-14-23) and defensemen Zak Galambos (9-12-21) and Carter Berger (4-16-20) – Ferschweiler has his team scoring at a HIGHER rate this season (4.06 goals scored per game in 2024-25; 3.58 in 2023-24).
And the scary part is that this year’s version of the Broncos is much better defensively than any we’ve seen in the Ferschweiler era:
2024-25: 2.08 goals allowed/game
2023-24: 2.55 goals allowed/game
2022-23: 2.62 goals allowed/game
2021-22: 2.59 goals allowed/game
Western Michigan has the luxury of starting either graduate netminder Cameron Rowe (15-2-0, 2.00 goals-against average, .924 save percentage, one shutout) or freshman Hampton Slukynsky (13-5-1, 2.03 GAA, .919 SV%, 1 SO) between the pipes. After alternative for much of the season, Slukynsky has started the last six consecutive games.
Rowe played two seasons at Wisconsin before transferring to WMU, winning just two of his ten starts in his final season with the Badgers with a 4.30 GAA and a save percentage of just .861.
Slukynsky was slated to attend Northern Michigan University before head coach Ryan Potulny departed the program to become the head coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). Slukynsky got out of his NLI and chose to attend WMU along with his brother Grant Slukysnky, who entered the portal after playing one season (6-3-9 in 34 games) under Potulny.
In the Division I era (since 1975), the Broncos have had sixteen twenty-win seasons, with nine of those coming between 1984 and 1996 under head coach Bill Wilkinson. At 23-6-1, Pat Ferschweiler has already led his team to twenty victories for the fourth consecutive year.
In the first round of last season’s NCAA tournament, Western Michigan led Michigan State 4-2 heading into the third period. The Spartans pulled within one with eleven minutes remaining and scored an extra-attacker goal with just 55 ticks on the clock. MSU scored less than nine minutes into the first overtime period to complete the comeback.
Turning our attention to this weekend’s matchup, a half-point per game or better is my benchmark for solid offensive production, and the Broncos boast TEN lineup regulars who meet that threshold: sophomore forward Alex Bump (20-23-43), sophomore forward Grant Slukysnky (8-25-33), sophomore forward Owen Michaels (14-15-29), senior forward Liam Valente (12-16-28), freshman forward Zach Nehring (13-14-27), graduate forward Tim Washe (14-18-32), freshman forward Iiro Hakkarainen (11-14-25), senior forward Matteo Costantini (8-14-22), junior defenseman Samuel Sjolund (3-24-27), and freshman defenseman Joona Vaisanen (4-18-22).
Matteo Costantini spent his first two seasons at North Dakota (10-14-24 in 60 games played) before transferring to Western Michigan. After amassing 21 points in a brilliant freshman campaign, the fifth-round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres only managed three points in a disappointing sophomore season. Costantini was not in the UND lineup for the final six games of 2022-2023.
Liam Valente spent his last two seasons at Providence, scoring seven goals and adding thirteen assists in 59 games played.
North Dakota bench boss Brad Berry will have a few more players to work with while fielding a lineup this weekend:
Freshman defenseman E.J. Emery (19:33 per game) played four Saturdays ago after serving a one-game league suspension for fighting; since that time, he has been dealing with a lower-body injury and did not suit up at Western Michigan or in any of the four games against Omaha. Emery traveled with the team and is considered day-to-day.
Senior defenseman Bennett Zmolek (out for the season) and junior goaltender Kaleb Johnson (out long-term) remain on the sidelines.
Johnson looks to be sidelined for an extended period of time; the team brought in Aleksi Huson to be the third goaltender on the roster. Huson backstopped Shakopee High School last season, serving as team captain while posting a record of 20-5-1 with a goals-against average of 2.13 and a save percentage of .934.
UND has lost a combined 116 games due to injury this season, with thirteen of 24 skaters missing at least one game.
This weekend, North Dakota will have seven players in the lineup at a half-point per game or better. Cameron Berg leads the way in scoring average with his 21 points in 25 games. Other consistent contributors include junior forward Owen McLaughlin (5-23-28), junior forward Dylan James (14-8-22), freshman forward Sacha Boisvert (16-14-30), sophomore forward Jayden Perron (10-9-19), sophomore defenseman Jake Livanavage (4-24-28), and sophomore defenseman Abram Wiebe (4-20-24).
Here is a quick peek at how North Dakota and Omaha stack up in various categories:
Goals per game: WMU 4.06 (1st of 64 teams); UND 3.19 (17th)
Goals allowed per game: WMU 2.08 (6th); UND 2.89 (31st)
Shooting percentage: WMU 11.6% (5th); UND 11.2% (9th)
Save percentage: WMU .920 (10th); UND .898 (38th)
Shots on goal/game: WMU 35.1 (4th); UND 28.6 (37th)
Shots on goal allowed/game: WMU 25.9 (10th); UND 28.4 (24th)
Power play efficiency: WMU 25.5% (8th); UND 25.9% (6th)
Penalty kill efficiency: WMU 87.1% (4th); UND 76.6% (50th)
Faceoff win percentage: WMU 54.6% (3rd); UND 51.3% (20th)
Corsi: WMU 57.6% (2nd); UND 50.3% (27th)
Fenwick: WMU 58.3% (2nd); UND 50.4% (29th)
Western Michigan Broncos
Head Coach: Pat Ferschweiler (4th season at WMU, 98-50-4, .658)
National Rankings: #3/#3
Pairwise Ranking: 5th
KRACH Ranking: 439.6 (5th)
This Season: 28-7-1 overall, 15-1-4-4 NCHC (1st of 9 teams)
Last Season: 21-16-1 overall (NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinalist), 10-8-1-5 NCHC (6th of 9 teams)
2024-2025 Season Statistics:
Team Offense: 4.06 goals scored/game – 1st of 64 teams
Team Defense: 2.08 goals allowed/game – 6th of 64 teams
Power Play: 25.5% (25 of 98) – 8th of 64 teams
Penalty Kill: 87.1% (81 of 93) – 4th of 64 teams
Key Players: Sophomore F Alex Bump (20-23-43), Sophomore Forward Grant Slukysnky (8-25-33), Graduate F Tim Washe (14-18-32), Sophomore F Owen Michaels (14-15-29), Senior F Liam Valente (12-16-28), Freshman F Zach Nehring (13-14-27), Junior D Samuel Sjolund (3-24-27), Freshman D Joona Vaisanen (4-18-22), Freshman G Hampton Slukynsky (13-5-1, 2.03 GAA, .919 SV%, 1 SO)
North Dakota Team Profile
Head Coach: Brad Berry (10th season at UND, 227-118-35, .643)
National Rankings: #17/#17
Pairwise Ranking: 17th
KRACH: 193.2 (18th)
This Season: 21-14-2 overall, 11-8-4-1 NCHC (5th of 9 teams)
Last Season: 26-12-2 (NCAA Regional Semifinalist), 14-4-1-5 NCHC (1st)
2024-2025 Season Statistics:
Team Offense: 3.19 goals scored/game – 17th of 64 teams
Team Defense: 2.89 goals allowed/game – 31st of 64 teams
Power Play: 25.9% (26 of 102) – 6th of 64 teams
Penalty Kill: 76.6% (89 of 117) – 50th of 64 teams
Key Players: Freshman F Sacha Boisvert (16-14-30), Junior F Owen McLaughlin (5-23-28), Junior F Dylan James (14-8-22), Freshman F Mac Swanson (2-16-18), Sophomore F Jayden Perron (10-9-19 in 30 games), Senior F Jake Schmaltz (6-10-16), Senior F Cameron Berg (12-9-21 in 25 games), Sophomore D Jake Livanavage (4-24-28), Sophomore D Abram Wiebe (4-20-24), Junior D Caleb MacDonald (3-7-10), Graduate G T.J. Semptimphelter (18-10-2, 2.66 GAA, .908 SV%, 1 SO, 1 post-game scrap)
By The Numbers
Last Meeting: March 1, 2025 (Kalamazoo, MI). Western Michigan took a 3-2 lead in the third period thanks to two Ty Hendricks goals just two minutes apart. UND battled back and forced overtime on an extra-attacker tally by Sacha Boisvert with just 36 seconds remaining in the game, and the Fighting Hawks’ Jake Livanavage completed the comeback with a power play marker late in the five-minute overtime session. The Broncos outshot North Dakota 36-18 but were continually stymied by UND netminder T.J. Semptimphelter, who finished with 33 saves.
Last Meeting at the NCHC Frozen Faceoff: March 18, 2022 (St. Paul, MN). After Judd Caulfield gave UND an early 1-0 lead, the Broncos stampeded back with three straight goals. North Dakota’s Nick Portz drew the Green and White within one with just seven seconds remaining in the middle frame, but the Fighting Hawks managed just six third-period shots and surrendered an empty-net goal in a 4-2 loss. UND went 0-for-5 on the power play. North Dakota had won the four prior neutral-site games between the two teams.
Most Important Meeting: March 24, 2012 (St. Paul, MN). North Dakota upended Western Michigan 3-1 in the NCAA West Regional semifinal. Brock Nelson had two points, including an empty net goal with 25 seconds remaining that sent UND to the regional finals against Minnesota. Aaron Dell made 24 saves for the Green and White. The Broncos, who have played at the Division I level since 1975-76, have nine NCAA tournament appearances.
A Trip Down Memory Lane: Saturday, March 22, 2014 (Minneapolis, MN). North Dakota faced a must-win situation in the 3rd place game at the inaugural NCHC Frozen Faceoff, and did not disappoint the partisan crowd. The Green and White rolled to a 5-0 victory behind two first-period goals from Conner Gaarder. UND netminder Zane Gothberg made 25 saves for the shutout, and Dave Hakstol’s crew played the waiting game for several more hours before discovering that they had indeed made the NCAA tournament for the twelfth consecutive season.
All-Time Series: In the short history between the schools, UND has won 31 of the 47 games (31-15-1, .670). Before the 2016-17 season in which Western Michigan won three of the four meetings, WMU’s lone victory over North Dakota was a 2-1 road win on March 8th, 2014. The teams first met in 1997.
Last Ten: Western Michigan has a slight 5-4-1 (.550) advantage in the last ten meetings between the two teams, even though only four of those ten games were played in Kalamazoo. The combined score of the last ten contests? Broncos 33, Fighting Hawks 30.
Game News and Notes
Western Michigan moved up to the Division I ranks beginning with the 1975-76 season and has advanced to the NCAA tournament nine times. The Broncos have made the NCAA tourney four times (2017, 2022, 2023, 2024) in their first eleven seasons in the NCHC after advancing to the national tournament twice (2011, 2012) in the last three seasons in the now-defunct CCHA. UND senior forward Cameron Berg has four goals and nine points in his fourteen career games against WMU while junior forward Owen McLaughlin has ten points in his ten matchups against the Broncos. North Dakota freshman forward Sasha Boisvert was just named NCHC Rookie of the Year, joining Brock Boeser, Shane Pinto, and Jackson Blake as UND’s winners in the twelve-year history of the league.
The Prediction
This is as plainly as I can put it: Western Michigan is the best team North Dakota has faced this year. The Broncos have everything it takes to make a deep NCAA tournament run, and they don’t have a weakness. The Fighting Hawks will rely on two advantages tonight: a partisan crowd, and the reality that for this squad, there is no tomorrow. UND will need to get pucks deep, stay out of the penalty box, and get great goaltending to compete tonight. It’s close, but I think Brad Berry’s squad will get the job done and advance to the title game. UND 4-3.
Bonus Prediction
Arizona State will topple the Denver Pioneers, setting up an epic Frozen Faceoff championship between two teams who both need a victory to secure an NCAA tournament berth.
Broadcast Information
Puck drop is set for 7:37 p.m. Central Time on Friday night, with the game broadcast exclusively on CBS Sports Network. All UND men’s hockey games can be heard on stations across the UND Sports Home of Economy Radio Network as well as through the iHeart Radio app.
As always, thank you for reading. I welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions. Follow me on X-Twitter (@DBergerHockey) for more information and insight. Here’s to hockey!