Author: Dave Berger

NCHC 2015-16 Season Preview and Predictions

There are plenty of unanswered questions heading into the third season of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, a league that sent six teams to the NCAA tournament a year ago.

And there’s a recurring theme: the teams with an established goaltender feel like they can contend for the league title and beyond, and the teams with question marks between the pipes will be searching for answers.

Minnesota-Duluth (Kasimir Kaskisuo, career record of 20-15-5), Denver (Tanner Jaillet, 16-9-0), Miami (Ryan McKay, 32-27-7), St. Cloud State (Charlie Lindgren, 24-22-2), Western Michigan (Lukas Hafner, 21-19-8), and Colorado College (Tyler Marble, 5-20-2) all appear to have their goalie situations solidified, while North Dakota and Nebraska-Omaha are dealing with the losses of Zane McIntyre (58-24-9) and Ryan Massa (32-27-9), respectively.

There are two main reasons why goaltending is more important now than ever. The first is that games are more tightly contested than ever before, with most league games decided by one or two goals. And the second is that teams will rely on their netminders (especially early in the season) as new and returning players adjust to new roles and new linemates.

On the offensive side of the ledger, four top-tier teams lost more than 40 percent of their goal scoring from last season, while Minnesota-Duluth and Nebraska-Omaha have more than 80 percent of their offense returning.

Here’s how the teams ended up last season, the second year of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (goals returning, total goals last season, % of offense returning)

1. North Dakota (69 of 138, 50.0 percent)
2. Miami (57 of 130, 43.8 percent)
3. Nebraska-Omaha (97 of 105, 92.4 percent)
4. Denver (72 of 131, 55.0 percent)
5. Minnesota-Duluth (94 of 115, 81.7 percent)
6. St. Cloud State (56 of 109, 51.4 percent)
7. Western Michigan (64 of 98, 65.3 percent)
8. Colorado College (52 of 74, 70.3 percent)

And here are the combined league records for each school over the first two seasons of the NCHC:

1. North Dakota 31-15-2-0 (95 points)
2. Nebraska-Omaha 25-17-6-4 (85 points)
3. St. Cloud State 26-18-4-0 (82 points)
4. Minnesota-Duluth 23-20-5-2 (76 points)
4. Denver 23-21-4-3 (76 points)
6. Miami 20-26-2-2 (64 points)
6. Western Michigan 17-24-7-6 (64 points)
8. Colorado College 8-32-8-2 (34 points)

What follows is my prediction for the league standings, from #8 all the way up to #1 (media prediction in parenthesis). For the first time, my predictions are identical to the final preseason poll.

#8 Colorado College (#8 in the media poll)

Head Coach: Mike Haviland (2nd season at CC, 6-32-3, .183)

2014-15 Season: 6-26-3 overall, 2-19-3-1 NCHC (8th)
Team Offense: 2.11 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 3.89 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 20.0% (26 of 130)
Penalty Kill: 77.9% (106 of 136)

Key graduation losses: F Scott Wamsganz (8-11-19), F Charlie Taft (4-4-8), D Peter Stoykewych (3-8-11)

Early departure: D Jaccob Slavin (5-12-17)

Key returning players: Senior F Cody Bradley (10-20-30), Senior F Hunter Fejes (5-14-19), Junior F Sam Rothstein (6-8-14), Junior F Luc Gerdes (4-8-12), Sophomore D Teemu Kivihalme (5-6-11), Sophomore D Garrett Cecere (0-3-3), Junior G Tyler Marble (5-18-2, 3.48 GAA, .896 SV%, 1 SO)

Potential impact freshmen: F Trey Bradley, F Trevor Gooch, F Mason Bergh, D Andrew Farny, D David Radke

2015-16 season outlook: Mike Haviland has had success in the coaching ranks, but he’ll have to do it with 14 freshman and only four seniors on his roster. Netminder Tyler Marble has appeared in 30 career games and could keep the Tigers competitive, but I don’t see much here that leads me to believe that Colorado College will climb out of the basement.

#7 Western Michigan Broncos (#7 in the media poll)

Head Coach: Andy Murray (5th season at WMU, 75-61-25, .543)

2014-15 Season: 14-18-5 overall, 6-13-5-4 NCHC (7th)
Team Offense: 2.65 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.89 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 20.0% (29 of 145)
Penalty Kill: 81.0% (145 of 179)

Key graduation losses: F Justin Kovacs (6-20-26), F Will Kessel (7-13-20), D Matt Stewart (2-4-6), G Frank Slubowski (3-6-0, 3.55 GAA, .884 SV%)

Early departures: F Colton Hargrove (14-14-28), D Kenny Morrison (5-10-15)

Key returning players: Junior F Sheldon Dries (14-15-29), Senior F Nolan LaPorte (11-12-23), Sophomore F Frederik Tiffels (11-10-21), Junior D Chris Dienes (3-14-17), Senior G Lukas Hafner (11-12-5, 2.42 GAA, .914 SV%, 1 SO)

Potential impact freshmen: F Griffen Molino, F Colt Conrad, F Matheson Iacopelli, D Oliwer Kaski, D Corey Schueneman

2015-16 season outlook: Western Michigan is perhaps the most physically intimidating team in the league, but can they score enough and kill enough penalties to be relevant in the NCHC? Andy Murray’s club will be miserable to play against, but three goals will be enough to top WMU on most nights.

#6 St. Cloud State Huskies (#6 in the media poll)

Head Coach: Bob Motzko (11th season at SCSU, 208-157-41, .563)

2014-15 Season: 20-19-1 overall (NCAA West Regional finalist), 11-12-1-0 NCHC (6th)
Team Offense: 2.73 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.42 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 23.7% (37 of 156)
Penalty Kill: 80.3% (94 of 117)

Key graduation losses: F David Morley (17-12-29), F Joe Rehkamp (5-14-19), F Nick Oliver (3-2-5), D Andrew Prochno (3-12-15), D Tim Daly (1-7-8)

Early departure: F Jonny Brodzinski (21-17-38)

Key returning players: Senior F Joey Benik (16-23-39), Senior F Kalle Kossila (6-20-26), Sophomore F Patrick Russell (10-15-25), Senior D Ethan Prow (4-19-23), Junior G Charlie Lindgrem (19-18-1, 2.26 GAA, .919 SV%, 2 SO)

Potential impact freshmen: F Robby Jackson, F Mikey Eyssimont, F Jacob Benson, D Jon Lizotte, D Jimmy Schuldt

2015-16 season outlook: After winning back-to-back conference titles, the Huskies fell to 6th place in the NCHC last year. While SCSU consistently scored with the man advantage, the rest of the offense suffered. St. Cloud State only scored 1.65 even strength goals per game in 2014-15 after posting a much more respectable 2.42 goals per game in the same category two seasons ago. If Bob Motzko’s crew wants to contend for an upper-division finish, balanced scoring is key.

#5 Miami RedHawks (#5 in the media poll)

Head Coach: Enrico Blasi (17th season at Miami, 354-232-58, .595)

2014-15 Season: 25-14-1 overall (NCAA East Regional semifinalist, 14-9-1-1 NCHC (2nd)
Team Offense: 3.25 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.50 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 19.5% (33 of 169)
Penalty Kill: 83.6% (138 of 165)

Key graduation losses: F Austin Czarnik (9-36-45), F Blake Coleman (20-17-37), F Cody Murphy (13-11-24), F Alex Wideman (7-11-18), D Ben Paulides (3-7-10)

Early departure: F Riley Barber (20-20-40)

Key returning players: Junior F Anthony Louis (9-27-36), Senior F Sean Kuraly (19-10-29), Senior F Kevin Morris (5-9-14), Senior D Matthew Caito (4-20-24), Sophomore D Louis Belpedio (6-13-19), Senior G Jay Williams (19-8-0, 2.04 GAA, .917 SV%, 5 SO)

Potential impact freshman: F Jack Roslovic, F Josh Melnick, F Keifer Sherwood, D Grant Hutton

2015-16 season outlook: Miami lost more goal scoring from last season than any other team in the league, as last year’s seniors and Riley Barber accounted for 73 of the RedHawks 130 goals a year ago. Who is going to pick up the slack? I can’t quite put Miami in the top half of the conference just yet, but Jay Williams (five shutouts in 2014-15) could provide all the support they need.

#4 Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (#4 in the media poll)

Head Coach: Dean Blais (7th season at UNO, 117-99-24, .538)

2014-15 Season: 20-13-6 overall (NCAA Frozen Four semifinalist), 12-8-4-3 NCHC (3rd)
Team Offense: 2.69 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.31 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 19.3% (28 of 145)
Penalty Kill: 83.7% (113 of 135)

Key graduation losses: F Dominic Zombo (5-9-14), G Ryan Massa (14-8-6, 1.96 GAA, .939 SV%, 2 SO)

Early departures: none

Key returning players: Junior F Jake Guentzel (14-25-39), Junior F Austin Ortega (20-17-37), Sophomore F Jake Randolph (5-21-26), Junior F Justin Parizek (13-8-21), Junior D Ian Brady (5-16-21), Senior D Brian Cooper (5-11-16), Junior G Kirk Thompson (5-5-0, 2.70 GAA, .905 SV%, 1 SO)

Potential impact freshmen: F Fredrik Olofsson, F Steven Spinner, F Ryan Galt, D Lukas Buchta

2015-16 season outlook: UNO has almost everyone back from last season’s Frozen Four team. But there are still some question marks: How will the Mavericks respond to heightened expectations and a brand-new arena? Will goaltender Kirk Thompson be able to carry the load now that Ryan Massa has graduated? And finally, UNO was outshot in twenty games last season but won 13 of those. Can that trend continue?

#3 North Dakota (#3 in the media poll)

Head Coach: Brad Berry (1st season at UND, 4-0-2, .833)

2014-15 Season: 29-10-3 (NCAA Frozen Four semifinalist), 16-6-2-0 NCHC (1st)
Team Offense: 3.29 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.24 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 20.4% (34 of 167)
Penalty Kill: 84.0% (142 of 169)

Key graduation losses: F Michael Parks (12-20-32), F Mark MacMillan (16-9-25), F Brendan O’Donnell (13-8-21), F Connor Gaarder (10-10-20), D Nick Mattson (4-17-21)

Early departures: D Jordan Schmaltz (4-24-28), G Zane McIntyre (29-10-3, 2.05 GAA, .929 SV%, 1 SO)

Key returning players: Senior F Drake Caggiula (18-18-36), Sophomore F Nick Schmaltz (5-21-26), Junior F Luke Johnson (11-13-24), Junior D Paul LaDue (5-17-22), Sophomore D Tucker Poolman (8-10-18), Junior D Troy Stecher (3-10-13)

Potential impact freshmen: F Brock Boeser, F Chris Wilkie, F Shane Gersich, D Christian Wolanin, G Matej Tomek

2015-16 season outlook: Before the season started, the question was whether Cam Johnson or Matej Tomek would take over the crease from Mike Richter Award winner/Hobey Baker finalist Zane McIntyre. And now both Tomek and Johnson are injured. The job is left (for now) to junior walkon Matt Hrynkiw, and he’s been up to the challenge so far. But league games are a whole different story. If North Dakota can score enough goals until someone solidifies the goaltending position, Brad Berry’s club might be looking at back-to-back Penrose Cups.

#2 Denver Pioneers (#2 in the media poll)

Head Coach: Jim Montgomery (3rd season at DU, 47-31-8, .593)

2014-15 Season: 24-14-2 overall (NCAA East Regional finalist), 13-10-1-1 NCHC (4th)
Team Offense: 3.27 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.48 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 22.1% (32 of 145)
Penalty Kill: 82.3% (107 of 130)

Key graduation losses: F Daniel Doremus (11-23-34), F Zac Larraza (12-8-20), F Ty Loney (10-6-16), D Joey LaLeggia (15-25-40), D Josiah Didier (3-8-11)

Early departures: none

Key returning players: Sophomore F Danton Heinen (16-29-45), Junior F Trevor Moore (22-22-44), Senior F Quentin Shore (10-16-26), Senior D Nolan Zajac (5-21-26), Junior D Will Butcher (4-14-28), Junior G Evan Cowley (9-6-2, 2.16 GAA, .924 SV%, 3 SO), Sophomore G Tanner Jaillet (15-8-0, 2.35 GAA, .917 SV%, 1 SO)

Potential impact freshmen: F Logan O’Connor, F Jarid Lukosevicius, F Dylan Gambrell, D Blake Hillman

2015-16 season outlook: Denver went 15-5 at home last season but struggled to a 9-9-2 record on the road and at neutral sites. In order to make a deep playoff run again, the Pios will need to improve away from Magness Arena. DU has the luxury of two proven netminders and should make a push for the league title.

#1 Minnesota-Duluth (#1 in the media poll)

Head Coach: Scott Sandelin (16th season at UMD, 270-262-72, .507)

2014-15 Season: 21-16-3 overall (NCAA Northeast Regional finalist, 12-9-3-0 NCHC (5th)
Team Offense: 2.88 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.42 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 18.4% (29 of 158)
Penalty Kill: 81.6% (124 of 152)

Key graduation losses: F Justin Crandall (13-10-23), F Adam Krause (7-10-17), D Derik Johnson (1-4-5)

Early departures: none

Key returning players: Senior F Tony Cameranesi (9-21-30), Junior F Dominic Toninato (16-10-26), Junior F Alex Iafallo (8-17-25), Senior F Austin Farley (8-16-24), Senior D Andy Welinski (9-12-21), Junior D Willie Raskob (4-13-17), Junior D Carson Soucy (6-8-14), Sophomore G Kasimir Kaskisuo (18-14-3, 2.30 GAA, .917 SV%, 1 SO)

Potential impact freshmen: F Adam Johnson, F Parker Mackay, D Neal Pionk

2015-16 season outlook: Duluth is a legitimate title contender this year, with almost all of the key pieces returning. The Bulldogs tightened up defensively last season and could be even better this time around. If UMD stays healthy, they will have their most successful season since 2011, when Scott Sandelin hung a national championship banner inside the DECC.

So there you have it. Do you agree? Disagree? Who do you have coming out on top? Feel free to post your predictions below, and check back in December for a midseason report.

Weekend Preview: UND vs. Vermont

Vermont is opening up the 2015-16 season by playing arguably the toughest schedule in the country. The Catamounts began the year by blanking #9 Minnesota 3-0 at Mariucci Arena. #3 Nebraska-Omaha traveled to Vermont last weekend and swept the home team in two tight contests. And after this weekend’s test against #1 North Dakota, Kevin Sneddon’s club will face #7 Massachusetts-Lowell, #8 Boston University, #17 St. Lawrence, and #18 Union, all before the Christmas break.

This trip to Burlington (the first ever for North Dakota men’s hockey) is the second half of a schedule agreement that brought Vermont to Grand Forks in October 2013 (North Dakota earned a win and a tie in that series). Despite the fact that Vermont and UND have only met four times on the ice, the Catamounts roster (and particularly its blueline) has North Dakota fingerprints all over it.

Defenseman Dan Senkbeil (affectionately known as “Jim” or “Jimmer”) transferred to Vermont after playing his first two years at UND. Senkbeil sat out a season due to NCAA transfer rules and is now in his final season with Vermont. And senior defenseman Yvan Pattyn, the Catamounts’ captain, is the younger brother of former UND forward (and captain) Stephane Pattyn.

North Dakota is playing in its third season in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference after 54 seasons in the WCHA. Vermont went through a similar transition 12 years ago, moving to Hockey East after 31 years in the ECAC. Catamounts head coach Kevin Sneddon took Vermont to the Frozen Four in 2008-09 and back to the NCAA tournament the following season and in 2013-14, but he also had a three year stretch (2010-13) where his teams only won 25 games. Combined.

These early season games are critical for UND’s postseason aspirations. Last season, Dave Hakstol’s squad went 9-1-1 in regular season non-conference action and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four. North Dakota’s other non-conference opponents this season will be Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Alabama-Huntsville (all currently unranked). UND enters this week’s series at Vermont having lost just once in its last 19 nonconference games (14-1-4) dating back to the second half of the 2013-14 season.

Seven of North Dakota’s eight October games will be played on the road, with only Saturday’s home opener versus Bemidji State to satisfy the fans in Grand Forks. Beginning with a November visit from the Wisconsin Badgers, however, UND will have eight home series and only six weekends away from Ralph Engelstad Arena.

North Dakota’s penalty kill (64.3%, 49th in the country) will need to improve if the boys from Grand Forks want to compete for a league title again this year. In the first four games of the season, UND has surrendered a total of five power play goals (to put that in perspective, Dave Hakstol’s group allowed only 27 power play goals in 42 games last year). The struggle was especially apparent against last Friday night, as three Beaver power play goals fueled the Bemidji State comeback and North Dakota had to settle for a 4-4 tie despite allowing only 20 shots on goal.

The penalty kill numbers will improve as the goaltending situation improves (UND’s top two netminders – Matej Tomek and Cam Johnson – are both out with injury), but until that happens, the key will be to stay out of the penalty box.

Vermont Team Profile

Head Coach: Kevin Sneddon (13th season at Vermont, 190-206-60, .482)
National Ranking: NR/NR
This Season: 1-2-0 overall, 0-0-0 Hockey East
Last Season: 22-15-4 overall, 10-9-3 Hockey East (7th out of 12 teams)

Season Statistics:
Team Offense: 2.33 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.33 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 18.2% (2 of 11)
Penalty Kill: 92.3% (12 of 13)

Key Players: Junior F Mario Puskarich (3-1-4), Junior F Tom Forgione (1-1-2), Freshman F Liam Coughlin (0-2-2), Senior D Alexx Privitera (0-2-2), Junior D Rob Hamilton (0-2-2), Junior G Mike Santaguida (1-2-0, 2.03 GAA,.917 SV%, 1 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (1st season at UND, 2-0-2, .750)
National Ranking: #1/#1
This Season: 2-0-2 overall, 0-0-0-0 NCHC
Last Season: 29-10-3 overall (NCAA Frozen Four appearance), 16-6-2-0 NCHC (1st out of 8 teams)

Season Statistics:
Team Offense: 3.75 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.25 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 22.2% (4 of 18)
Penalty Kill: 64.3% (9 of 14)

Key Players: Senior F Drake Caggiula (1-5-6), Sophomore F Nick Schmaltz (0-3-3), Senior F Bryn Chyzyk (3-1-4), Junior F Luke Johnson (1-2-3), Junior D Paul LaDue (0-1-1), Junior D Troy Stecher (1-4-5), Junior G Matt Hyrnkiw (1-0-1, 2.82 GAA, .879 SV%)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: October 12, 2013 (Grand Forks, ND). North Dakota built an early 2-0 lead but could not make it hold up against the visitors from Vermont. Chris McCarthy’s shorthanded goal evened the game up at 2-2, and UND’s late push to win the game resulted in three shots off the post. Catamounts netminder Mike Santaguida made 31 saves, including 23 over the first two periods, to earn the tie. UND won Friday’s opener 5-3.

Most Lopsided Meeting: November 27, 1999 (Durham, NH). The Fighting Sioux blitzed the Catamounts 8-0 in the opening round of the UNH Classic. Bryan Lundbohm scored twice, Jason Ulmer picked up three points (2g, 1a), and Jeff Panzer notched three assists for North Dakota, which went 4-for-4 with the man advantage. UND would fall to host New Hampshire 6-2 in the championship game.

Most Important Meeting: Considering the two schools have only met four times on the ice, I will call Friday’s opener the most important meeting, with both teams looking to set the tone early in the season.

All-time Series: North Dakota leads the all-time series 3-0-1 (.875), outscoring the Catamounts 22-10 in those four games. The teams have never played in Vermont.

Game News and Notes

Gutterson Fieldhouse (capacity 4,035) holds an ice sheet that is 200 feet long and 90 feet wide (five feet wider than NHL ice). UND senior forward Drake Caggiula has two goals and two assists in two career games against the Catamounts. Caggiula leads all current NCAA men’s hockey players in career games played (127). North Dakota went 16-3-3 on the road last season.

Media Coverage

This weekend’s series at Vermont will not be televised, but a free live stream of both games will be available here. 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). Follow @UNDMHockey for real-time Twitter updates, or follow the action via live chat at UNDsports.com.

The Prediction

Vermont will keep the games close by scoring with the man advantage. UND will earn a sweep by staying out of the penalty box. If each side gets their share of power play opportunities, it’s anyone’s guess. I have a feeling that the Catamounts take one of these games to overtime. UND 4-1, 3-3 tie.

Weekend Preview: UND vs. Bemidji State

Strange things were afoot at Amsoil Arena (Duluth, Minnesota) last Friday night. With Bemidji State in town for the first half of a home-and-home series with the Bulldogs, a power outage caused poor ice conditions, and #2 Minnesota-Duluth’s home opener was postponed. That game was rescheduled for Tuesday, February 9th, 2016.

The following night, the Beavers kept the lights on and shocked UMD with a 3-2 victory. BSU junior forward Charlie O’Connor broke a 2-2 tie and netted the game winner with just 22 seconds remaining on the clock. The teams had earlier traded third-period goals 28 seconds apart. The visiting Bulldogs outshot the hosts 12-5 in the opening frame but headed to the locker room in a scoreless tie. Bemidji State turned the tables during the first intermission, outshooting their former WCHA foe 28-18 over the final 40 minutes of the game.

Turning our attention to this weekend’s action, North Dakota and Bemidji State will play a home and home series, with UND traveling to Bemidji for Friday’s opener before returning home to host BSU on Saturday night. The Beavers will open up conference play by hosting #14 Minnesota State next weekend, while Brad Berry’s club will travel to Burlington, Vermont to face the 20th ranked Vermont Catamounts.

These early season games are critical for North Dakota’s postseason aspirations. Last season, Dave Hakstol’s squad went 9-1-1 in regular season non-conference action and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four, while the Beavers sported a pedestrian 4-4-0 record in non-league games and missed the national tournament. UND’s other non-conference opponents this season will be Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Alabama-Huntsville (all currently unranked).

Seven of North Dakota’s eight October games will be played on the road, with only Saturday’s home opener versus Bemidji State to satisfy the fans in Grand Forks. Beginning with a November visit from the Wisconsin Badgers, however, UND will have eight home series and only six weekends away from Ralph Engelstad Arena.

The Beavers return almost all of their scoring from a year ago, graduating only two forwards. While Phil Brewer (6-7-13) and Mitch Cain (2-3-5) were the only losses up front, BSU will miss the veteran leadership of Matt Prapavessis (9-15-24), Sam Rendle (2-8-10), and Sam Windle (1-6-7) on the blue line, but with 81 of 101 goals returning, Bemidji State should be able to keep games competitive all season long.

On the other hand, North Dakota lost eight seniors (six forwards and two defensemen) who combined for 65 of UND’s 138 goals last season. Furthermore, the Green and White lost two key underclassmen on the back end. Stalwart blueliner Jordan Schmaltz (4-24-28 in 42 games) and Mike Richter award winner Zane McIntyre (29-10-3, 2.05 GAA, .929 SV%) gave up their final year of college eligibility to sign professional contracts. Schmaltz is now with the St. Louis organization and McIntyre signed with the Boston Bruins.

UND’s underclassmen will be expected to contribute early and often. Many of North Dakota’s first-year forwards (Brock Boeser, Rhett Gardner, Shane Gersich, Joel Janatuinen, and Chris Wilkie) have already made an impact, while sophomore forwards Trevor Olson, Austin Poganski, Nick Schmaltz, and Johnny Simonson will need to take on larger roles. With so much returning skill and experience on the back end (sophomore Tucker Poolman and juniors Gage Ausmus, Paul LaDue, Troy Stecher, and Keaton Thompson), Brad Berry can ease his rookie blueliners into the system. Expect a rotation among freshman defensemen Danys Chartrand, Hayden Shaw, and Christian Wolanin to start the year (Shaw and Wolanin each played a game last weekend).

Bemidji State head coach Tom Serratore, now in his 15th year behind the Beaver bench, appears to have his club headed in the right direction. After finishing in a tie for 8th place in the first season of the new-look WCHA, BSU opened the 2014-15 campaign with a disastrous 3-10-0 record. Over the final four months of the season, however, Serratore posted a mark of 13-7-5, moved up to 5th place in the conference standings, and took Ferris State to triple overtime in the WCHA playoffs before falling 3-2. The Beavers were picked to finish fourth in the ten-team conference this year.

Bemidji State Team Profile

Head Coach: Tom Serratore (15th season at BSU, 228-224-61 .504)
National Ranking: NR
This Season: 1-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 WCHA
Last Season: 16-17-5 overall, 12-11-5 WCHA (5th)

Season Statistics:
Team Offense: 3.00 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.00 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 25.0% (1 of 4)
Penalty Kill: 100.0% (4 of 4)

Key Players: Senior F Markus Gerbrandt (0-0-0), Senior F John Parker (1-0-1), Senior F Phillip Marinaccio (0-1-1), Senior F Cory Ward (0-0-0), Senior D Graeme McCormack (0-1-1), Junior D Ruslan Pedan (0-0-0), Sophomore G Michael Bitzer (1-0-0, 2.00 GAA, .933 SV%)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (1st season at UND, 1-0-1, .750)
National Ranking: #1/#1
This Season: 1-0-1 overall, 0-0-0-0 NCHC
Last Season: 29-10-3 overall (NCAA Frozen Four appearance), 16-6-2-0 NCHC (1st)

Season Statistics:
Team Offense: 3.00 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 1.55 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 28.6% (2 of 7)
Penalty Kill: 71.4% (5 of 7)

Key Players: Senior F Drake Caggiula (0-2-2), Sophomore F Nick Schmaltz (0-1-1), Junior F Luke Johnson (0-1-1), Junior D Paul LaDue (0-1-1), Junior D Troy Stecher (0-2-2), Sophomore G Cam Johnson (1-0-1, 1.44 GAA, .935 SV%)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: October 11, 2014 (Bemidji, MN). UND recovered from Friday’s blowout loss, putting together just enough to edge BSU 2-1. North Dakota went scoreless on the power play (0 for 6), but senior captain Stephane Pattyn scored the game winner late in period two while UND was shorthanded . Junior goaltender Zane McIntyre made 28 of 29 saves for the Green and White and earned the first win of his Mike Richter Award-winning season.

Last Meeting in Grand Forks: October 10, 2014. Bemidji State scored four unanswered goals to chase goaltender Zane McIntyre from UND’s home opener. The Beavers added insult to injury by scoring on freshman netminder Cam Johnson just 15 seconds into his collegiate career. #2 North Dakota’s Nick Schmaltz scored the only goal for the Green and White, who fell to BSU 5-1. Freshman Michael Bitzer made 25 saves for Bemidji State.

Most Important Meeting: October 15, 2010 (Bemidji, MN). In the first game played at the BREC, North Dakota spotted BSU the opening goal less than two minutes into the contest and then steamrolled the Beavers 5-2. The Fighting Sioux outshot their fellow Green-and-Whiters 38-14.

Last Ten: North Dakota is 6-2-2 (.700) in the last ten meetings between the teams, outscoring the Beavers 27-20 over that stretch of games.

All-time Series: UND leads the all-time series, 27-3-3 (.864), including a 9-1-1 (.864) record in games played in Bemidji. Two of BSU’s three wins over North Dakota came in the past four seasons (November 2011 and October 2014). Bemidji’s other victory over UND came in 1970.

Game News and Notes

North Dakota senior forward Drake Caggiula comes into the weekend leading all men’s hockey players in career games played (125). Caggiula, who led UND with 18 goals and 36 points last season, collected an assist in each of UND’s two games at the Ice Breaker Tournament last weekend and was named to the all-tournament team along with forward Nick Schmaltz and defensemen Troy Stecher and Paul LaDue. After Bemidji State’s win over #2 Minnesota-Duluth, the Beavers almost cracked the USCHO top 20 this week. BSU currently sits in 22nd place in the voting. Nick Schmaltz is the only current North Dakota player with a goal against the Beavers (1-0-1 in two games played).

Media Coverage

Both games are televised this weekend. Friday’s opener is available on Lakeland Public Televison (which can be seen in Grand Forks), while the rematch will be telecast on Midco Sports Network. Friday’s game will be streamed live via WCHA.tv and Saturday’s game via NCHC.tv (subscription required). 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). Follow @UNDMHockey for real-time Twitter updates, or follow the action via live chat at UNDsports.com.

The Prediction

UND will come out flying against the Beavers, showcasing the skill and depth that has them at the top of the national rankings. Saturday’s rematch in Grand Forks will be closer, with North Dakota winning the special teams battle to complete the sweep. UND 5-2, 3-2.

Ice Breaker Tournament Preview: UND vs. Maine

This weekend marks the official start of the Brad Berry head coaching era at the University of North Dakota. Since 1978. UND has known only three men behind the bench: John “Gino” Gasparini, Dean Blais, and Dave Hakstol. Berry (North Dakota ’02) becomes the fourth in that span (38 years) and the 16th head coach in UND men’s hockey history. The former UND and NHL defenseman spent nine years as an assistant coach at North Dakota and two seasons in that same role with the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL). Brad Berry takes over the reins from Dave Hakstol (now with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers), and he inherits a program both built and expected to win – every season.

Brad Berry’s North Dakota squad has one victory on the young season, a 5-2 triumph over Lake Superior State in the opening game of the 2015 Ice Breaker Tournament (Portland, Maine). UND now turns its attention to Maine, the host school for the tourney even though the Black Bears play their home games in Orono (two hours away).

It’s hard to find a North Dakota fan who doesn’t have admiration and respect for the Maine Black Bears. There’s a certain affinity for other great hockey teams that survive and thrive in smaller markets and are the flagship programs for their state.

More specifically, the connection between UND and Maine is well-documented. Former UND head coach Dean Blais is fondly remembered for his tribute to Shawn Walsh during Walsh’s cancer battle. I remember vividly the game played in Orono, Maine on Friday, October 13th, 2000, when the defending national champion Fighting Sioux took to the ice in matching “Walsh” jerseys and donated the game-worn uniforms to defray coach Walsh’s medical costs.

It was only fitting that when the late Shawn Walsh’s shamrock was retired and hoisted to the rafters at Alfond Arena in October 2004, North Dakota was once again on hand as the visiting team.

Both teams were hit by the early departure bug during this most recent offseason. Maine forward Devin Shore (14-21-35 in 39 games) signed with the Dallas Stars, while defenseman Ben Hutton (9-12-21 in 39) inked a deal with Vancouver. Both players gave up their senior season in the process.

Meanwhile, North Dakota lost two key underclassmen on the back end. Stalwart blueliner Jordan Schmaltz (4-24-28 in 42 games) and Mike Richter award winner Zane McIntyre (29-10-3, 2.05 GAA, .929 SV%) left one year early. Schmaltz is now with the St. Louis organization and McIntyre signed with the Boston Bruins.

Turning our attention to this season, Maine managed just a tie in Friday evening’s contest with Michigan State after the Spartans scored a late extra attacker power play goal. Five of the six goals in the game were scored with the man advantage or shorthanded.

These early season games are critical for North Dakota’s postseason aspirations. Last season, Dave Hakstol’s squad went 9-1-1 in regular season non-conference action and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four, while the Black Bears sported a pedestrian 5-8-1 record in non-league games and missed the national tournament. UND’s other non-conference opponents this season will be Bemidji State, Vermont, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Alabama-Huntsville (all currently unranked).

Seven of North Dakota’s eight October games will be played on the road, with only a single home tilt versus Bemidji State on Saturday, October 17th to satisfy the fans in Grand Forks. Beginning with a November visit from the Wisconsin Badgers, however, UND will have eight home series and only six weekends away from Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Maine Team Profile

Head Coach: Dennis “Red” Gendron (3rd season at Maine, 30-37-8, .453)
National Ranking: NR/NR
This Season: 0-0-1 overall, 0-0-0 Hockey East
Last Season: 14-22-3 overall, 8-12-2 (t-9th)

2014-15 Season Statistics:
Team Offense: 2.77 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 3.26 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 13.1% (19 of 145)
Penalty Kill: 82.9% (121 of 146)

Key Returning Players (2014-15 statistics): Senior F Steven Swavely (8-20-28), Junior F Cam Brown (7-21-28), Junior F Blaine Byron (12-15-27), Junior D Dan Renouf (3-9-12), Senior D Conor Riley (3-8-11), Senior G Matt Morris (7-9-2, 2.99 GAA, .905 SV%, 2 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (1st season at UND, 1-0-0, 1.000)
National Ranking: #4/#4
This Season: 1-0-0 overall, 0-0-0-0 NCHC
Last Season: 29-10-3 overall (NCAA Frozen Four appearance), 16-6-2-0 NCHC (1st)

2014-15 Season Statistics:
Team Offense: 3.29 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.24 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 20.4% (34 of 167)
Penalty Kill: 84.0% (142 of 169)

Key Returning Players (2014-15 statistics): Senior F Drake Caggiula (18-18-36), Sophomore F Nick Schmaltz (5-21-26), Junior F Luke Johnson (11-13-24), Junior D Paul LaDue (5-17-22), Junior D Troy Stecher (3-10-13), Sophomore D Tucker Poolman (8-10-18), Sophomore G Cam Johnson (0-0-0, 5.54 GAA, .765 SV% in 43 minutes of game action)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: October 15, 2011 (Grand Forks, ND). Maine scored a power play goal midway through the third period to salvage a 3-3 tie with homestanding North Dakota. Five of the six goals were scored on the power play. Danny Kristo notched two goals and an assist to lead UND.

Last Meeting in Maine: October 23, 2010 (Orono, ME). The Black Bears chose to start freshman goaltender Dan Sullivan in the second game of the series and he responded, stopping 23 of 25 North Dakota shots in earning a 4-2 victory and a weekend sweep for his squad. Maine won the opener, 7-3.

Most Important Meeting: April 6, 2000 (Providence, RI). The Fighting Sioux scored twice in the second period and Karl Goehring stopped all 30 shots he faced as UND advanced to the national title game with a 2-0 victory over Maine. Two nights later, the Green and White would claim their seventh national championship.

Last Ten: The teams have split the last ten meetings, with each school winning four times and two games ending in a tie.

All-time Series: North Dakota leads the all-time series 12-8-2 (.591), including a 6-3-0 (.667) edge in games played in Maine.

Game News and Notes

Maine was just 3-6 in one goal contests and 1-5-3 in overtime games last season. UND was 18-0-1 last year when leading after two periods of play. North Dakota is now 42-19-7 (.669) in season openers.

The Prediction

Goaltending remains a question mark for North Dakota. Sophomore Cam Johnson (just over 100 minutes of college experience) will get the start for UND, while his counterpart for Maine (senior Matt Morris) has appeared in 27 NCAA contests and logged over 1400 minutes of game action. As in Friday’s opener, North Dakota will need to rely on a veteran group of defensemen to allow Johnson to settle in and see the puck. I see a repeat of yesterday’s script, with the Green and White falling behind early before coming back to win. UND 3-2.

Ice Breaker Tournament Preview: UND vs. Lake Superior

It’s the official start of the Brad Berry head coaching era at the University of North Dakota. Since 1978. UND has known only three men behind the bench: John “Gino” Gasparini, Dean Blais, and Dave Hakstol. Berry (North Dakota ’02) becomes the fourth in that span (38 years) and the 16th head coach in UND men’s hockey history. The former UND and NHL defenseman spent nine years as an assistant coach at North Dakota and two seasons in that same role with the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL). Brad Berry takes over the reins from Dave Hakstol (now with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers), and he inherits a program both built and expected to win – every season.

North Dakota’s first opponent this year is Lake Superior State, a team that once held such lofty expectations. From 1987-1996, the Lakers were a college hockey dynasty. Head coaches Frank Anzalone and Jeff Jackson amassed a combined record of 277-80-39 (.749), and Lake Superior appeared in nine straight NCAA tournaments with three national titles and a runner-up finish in 1993. Perhaps the most astounding fact of all is that the best Laker team, the 1990-91 squad, went 36-5-4 but lost their first round NCAA playoff series to Clarkson and didn’t make the Frozen Four. Still, it’s been 19 seasons since those glory days without a single noteworthy accomplishment or tournament appearance. Until that changes, the Lakers are stuck in the past.

Beginning in 1996-97, Lake Superior fell off the college hockey map just as the Fighting Sioux were returning to national prominence. Even though LSSU has competed at the Division 1 level since 1966, the two teams have never been members of the same conference or met in postseason play. Remarkably, the two schools have only met four times in almost fifty seasons of hockey (UND swept a home series against the Lakers in December 1973 and again last season).

Lake Superior State boasts two North Dakota connections on its roster. Senior forward Bryce Schmitt, the Lakers’ leading returning scorer (and alternate captain), hails from Minot and is a three year letter winner for the Lakers after spending time with the Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL). Freshman forward C.J. Hayes, who hails from Margate, Florida, played for the Fargo Force of the USHL.

These games are critical for North Dakota’s postseason aspirations. Last season, Dave Hakstol’s squad went 9-1-1 in regular season non-conference action and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four, while Lake Superior State sported an abysmal 0-7-1 record in non-league games and missed the national tournament. UND’s other non-conference opponents this season will be Maine, Bemidji State, Vermont, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Alabama-Huntsville (all currently unranked).

Seven of North Dakota’s eight October games will be played on the road, with only a single home tilt versus Bemidji State on Saturday, October 17th to satisfy the fans in Grand Forks. Beginning with a November visit from the Wisconsin Badgers, however, UND will have eight home series and only six weekends away from Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Lake Superior Team Profile

Head Coach: Damon Whitten (2nd season at LSSU, 8-28-2, .237)
National Ranking: NR/NR
This Season: 0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 WCHA
Last Season: 8-28-2 overall, 7-20-1 (t-8th)

2014-15 Season Statistics:
Team Offense: 1.58 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 3.45 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 8.1% (13 of 160)
Penalty Kill: 73.6% (103 of 140)

Key Returning Players (2014-15 statistics): Senior F Bryce Schmitt (7-8-15), Junior F Alex Globke (5-5-10), Junior F Gus Correale (4-6-10), Senior F Austin McKay (5-0-5), Senior D Eric Drapluk (3-8-11), Sophomore D James Roll (1-10-11), Sophomore G Gordon Defiel (8-26-2, 3.08 GAA, .915 SV%, 4 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (1st season at UND)
National Ranking: #4/#4
This Season: 0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0-0 NCHC
Last Season: 29-10-3 overall (NCAA Frozen Four appearance), 16-6-2-0 NCHC (1st)

2014-15 Season Statistics:
Team Offense: 3.29 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.24 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 20.4% (34 of 167)
Penalty Kill: 84.0% (142 of 169)

Key Returning Players (2014-15 statistics): Senior F Drake Caggiula (18-18-36), Sophomore F Nick Schmaltz (5-21-26), Junior F Luke Johnson (11-13-24), Junior D Paul LaDue (5-17-22), Junior D Troy Stecher (3-10-13), Sophomore D Tucker Poolman (8-10-18), Sophomore G Cam Johnson (0-0-0, 5.54 GAA, .765 SV% in 43 minutes of game action)

By The Numbers

Last meeting: December 6, 2014 (Grand Forks, ND). One night after outshooting the Lakers 43-25 and handing them a 7-4 defeat, homestanding (and top-ranked) North Dakota outlasted Lake Superior 3-1 to earn the series sweep. In the rematch, junior defenseman Jordan Schmaltz picked up a goal and an assist. Over the two games, UND thwarted all nine Laker power play opportunities.

All-time: North Dakota has won all four of the meetings between the teams by a combined score of 24-10.

Game News and Notes

The Lakers have not made the NCAA tournament since a thirty win season in 1995-96. North Dakota has advanced to the tourney 18 times since then, winning two national titles (1997 and 2000). UND was 18-0-1 last season when leading after two periods of play. Lake Superior State will battle Michigan State on Saturday afternoon, while North Dakota will face host Maine in Saturday evening’s finale.

The Prediction

Goaltending is the big question mark here. Sophomore Cam Johnson (43 minutes of college experience) will get the start for UND, while his counterpart for LSSU (fellow second-year netminder Gordon Defiel) has appeared in 36 NCAA contests, posting four shutouts. North Dakota will need to rely on a veteran group of defensemen to allow Johnson to settle in and see the puck. I see the Lakers getting on the board early, with the Green and White coasting to victory over the final two periods. UND 4-1.

NCAA Frozen Four Preview: UND vs. Boston University

Most of the talk surrounding tonight’s North Dakota-Boston University matchup centers around one of the following themes:

Can UND contain the Terriers’ top line of Jack Eichel, Evan Rodrigues, and Danny O’Regan?

The three Boston University linemates have combined for 67 goals and 109 assists this season, and all three have shown the ability to put the puck in the net in any situation. With the top seed and last line change, I expect Dave Hakstol to counter with Luke Johnson’s line against the Jack Eichel line as often as possible. Incidentally, BU boasts the nation’s 2nd-best offense (3.85 goals scored /game); North Dakota is ranked 7th defensively (2.17 goals allowed/game).

Will the game be a penalty fest, or will North Dakota be able to roll four lines?

Trading power plays would seem to favor the Terriers (BU is clipping along at over 25 percent with the man advantage), and while UND’s penalty killers have done an admirable job (84.8% on the season), the Green and White would rather get all eighteen skaters involved and use that depth to their advantage.

Which goaltender (BU’s Matt O’Connor or UND’s Zane McIntyre) will be able to make the key saves to propel his team to the national championship game?

If North Dakota has an edge in this game, it’s in net. While Terrier junior netminder Matt O’Connor (24-3-4, 2.10 GAA, .928 SV%, 1 SO) has been more than capable, his counterpart between the pipes for UND has been outstanding. Junior goaltender Zane McIntyre (29-9-3, 2.00 GAA, .931 SV%, 1 SO) has been everything for North Dakota this season, and the accolades keep piling up for the NCHC Goaltender of the Year. McIntyre, one of five finalists for the Mike Richter award and one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker, was recently named the NCAA West Regional Most Outstanding Player after stopping 48 of 50 shots against Quinnipiac and St. Cloud State.

Offensive capability from the blue line is another strength for UND. After leading the nation in scoring by defensemen last year, UND is first in the country in that category again this season. Through 41 games, North Dakota blueliners have scored 29 goals and added 90 assists for 119 points, or 2.90 points per game. And furthermore, Dave Hakstol’s squad is so deep with talent on the blue line that freshman defenseman Tucker Poolman has been playing wing this season, and he’s chipped in with eight goals and nine assists.

Five different members of UND’s defensive corps (Paul LaDue, Nick Mattson, Jordan Schmaltz, Troy Stecher, and Keaton Thompson) have nabbed NCHC Defenseman of the Week honors this season, while Tucker Poolman has been named the league’s Rookie of the Week.

Boston University advanced to the Frozen Four with a pair of 3-2 victories over Yale (in overtime) and Minnesota-Duluth at the NCAA Northeast Regional in Manchester, New Hampshire. For his efforts (3 goals, 1 assist in the two wins), BU senior forward Evan Rodrigues was named the regional’s Most Outstanding Player. North Dakota dispatched Quinnipiac and St. Cloud State by identical 4-1 scores at the NCAA West Regional (Fargo, North Dakota).

With nine freshmen and only two seniors in the regular lineup, the Terriers are the youngest team in college hockey (20 years, 10 months). North Dakota, with 12 upperclassmen, are more than a full year older per player (21 years, 11 months). And in terms of NCAA tournament experience, UND’s seven seniors have already appeared in 56 national tournament games; BU’s two senior skaters (Cason Hohmann and Evan Rodrigues) have combined for 6 appearances.

BU head coach David Quinn, now in his second season behind the bench and with 37 coaching victories to his credit, is making his first appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four. By comparison, UND’s Dave Hakstol has collected 289 wins in eleven seasons and has his team in the national semifinals for the seventh time.

Boston University Team Profile

Head Coach: David Quinn (2nd season at BU, 37-28-9, .561)
National Ranking: #2
This Season: 27-7-5, 14-5-3 Hockey East (1st)
Last Ten Games: 8-2-0 (including two overtime wins)
Last Season: 10-21-4, 5-12-3 Hockey East (9th)

Team Offense: 3.85 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.26 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 25.6% (40 of 156)
Penalty Kill: 83.1% (133 of 160)

Key Players: Freshman F Jack Eichel (24-43-67), Senior F Evan Rodrigues (21-40-61), Junior F Danny O’Regan (22-26-48), Senior F Cason Hohmann (10-18-28), Junior D Matt Grzelcyk (10-27-37), Junior F/D Ahti Oksanen (24-11-35), Junior G Matt O’Connor (24-3-4, 2.10 GAA, .928 SV%, 1 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Dave Hakstol (11th season at UND, 289-142-43, .655)
National Ranking: #1
This Season: 29-9-3 overall, 16-6-2-0 NCHC (1st)
Last Ten Games: 7-3-0
Last Season: 25-14-3 overall (NCAA Frozen Four appearance), 15-9-0-0 NCHC (2nd)

Team Offense: 3.29 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.17 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 19.6% (32 of 163)
Penalty Kill: 84.8% (140 of 165)

Key Players: Junior F Drake Caggiula (18-18-36), Senior F Michael Parks (12-20-32), Freshman F Nick Schmaltz (5-21-26), Senior F Brendan O’Donnell (13-7-20), Junior D Jordan Schmaltz (4-23-27), Sophomore D Paul LaDue (5-17-22), Senior D Nick Mattson (4-16-20), Junior G Zane McIntyre (29-9-3, 2.00 GAA, .931 SV%, 1 SO

By The Numbers

Last meeting: November 23, 2013 (Boston, MA). UND outshot Boston University 58-31 but could manage only a 3-3 tie in front of 4,378 at Agannis Arena. Eight different North Dakota players figured in the scoring, including Adam Tambellini, who scored a power play goal in the third period but is no longer with the team. Zane Gothberg and Matt O’Connor were the goaltenders of record in the contest and combined to make 83 saves. In a penalty-filled contest, both teams went 1-for-7 with the man advantage.

Last meeting in the NCAA tournament: March 25, 2005 (Worcester, MA). North Dakota’s Colby Genoway (2 goals, 2 assists) led the way as UND blanked the Terriers 4-0 at the NCAA East Regional. BU went 0-for-9 on the power play, and UND’s Jordan Parise turned aside 29 shots for the shutout. The Fighting Sioux would go on to defeat Boston College 6-3 in the regional final and advance to the Frozen Four, best known for featuring four WCHA teams and UND’s 4-2 semifinal victory over Minnesota.

Most important meeting: March 29, 1997 (Milwaukee, WI). North Dakota scored five goals in the second period and went on to defeat Boston University 6-4 for the 1997 NCAA championship (the program’s 6th). David Hoogsteen scored two goals for the Fighting Sioux, including a back-breaker with six seconds remaining in the middle frame.

All-time record: North Dakota leads the all-time series, 12-9-2 (.565), helped by a stellar 6-1-1 (.813) record in games played in Grand Forks. When the newly-formed Hockey East began play in 1984-1985, it created a five-year interlocking schedule with the WCHA. During that time, Boston University and North Dakota met 7 times, with John “Gino” Gasparini’s Fighting Sioux squad going 6-1-0 against Jack Parker’s Terriers.

Last Ten: The series is tied 4-4-2 over the past ten games. UND has outscored the Terriers 32-31 in that span.

Game News and Notes

Boston University has outscored opponents 73-26 in third periods and overtime sessions (combined) this season. The Terriers play on a hybrid sheet of ice at Agannis Arena; the playing surface is 90 feet wide; five feet wider than NHL rinks but not as wide as the Olympic ice sheets (100 feet wide). This season, both teams are undefeated when leading after two periods of play (BU 16-0-0, UND 18-0-1). UND head coach Dave Hakstol (17 career NCAA wins) is currently ninth on college hockey’s all-time tournament victories list.

The Prediction

Boston University’s Jack Eichel will figure in the scoring (and win the Hobey), but it won’t be enough for the Terriers. I see North Dakota’s depth, experience, and resolve factoring heavily in a game that probably won’t be decided until well into the night. UND 3, BU 2 (OT).

Bonus Prediction

Dean Blais and the Omaha Mavericks will prove too much for the Providence Friars, setting up an all-NCHC championship game and sending ticket prices falling. UNO 4, PC 2.

The NCAA Frozen Four: Does Experience Matter?

Since the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey tournament expanded to 16 teams in 2003, twelve championship trophies have been awarded to nine different teams (Boston College won three times over that span; Denver twice). I took a look back to see if tournament (and particularly Frozen Four) experience played a role in a team’s success the following year.

In the first six years of the 16-team format (2003-08), five of the six national champions had played in the NCAA tournament the year before, with three of those appearing in the previous season’s Frozen Four.

In 2009, Boston University began a run of six consecutive national championship teams which had not advanced beyond the regionals the previous season. Furthermore, only two of the last six champions appeared in the NCAA tournament the year before claiming college hockey’s top prize.

This speaks directly to the parity that we’ve seen in college hockey over that same stretch of seasons. In fact, three of the last four national champions are first-time winners (Union, Yale, and Minnesota-Duluth). Prior to that stretch, the teams claiming the trophy in the first eight years of the new format were programs with storied histories like Boston College, Boston University, Denver, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Here’s a look at how experience has played (or not played) a role in determining the last twelve national champions:

Year Champion NCAAs Previous Year Frozen Four Previous Year NCAAs Previous Three Years Frozen Fours Previous Three Years
2014 Union Yes 3 1
2013 Yale 2 0
2012 Boston College Yes 2 1
2011 Minnesota-Duluth 1 0
2010 Boston College 2 2
2009 Boston University 2 0
2008 Boston College Yes Yes 3 2
2007 Michigan State Yes 2 0
2006 Wisconsin Yes 2 0
2005 Denver Yes Yes 2 1
2004 Denver 1 0
2003 Minnesota Yes Yes 2 1

And for comparison’s sake, here are the four teams playing in Boston on Thursday in the 2015 NCAA Frozen Four:

Year Team NCAAs Previous Year Frozen Four Previous Year NCAAs Previous Three Years Frozen Fours Previous Three Years
2015 Boston University 1 0
2015 North Dakota Yes Yes 3 1
2015 Omaha 0 0
2015 Providence Yes 1 0

What stands out to you? Does North Dakota’s Frozen Four experience give Dave Hakstol’s team an edge this weekend? Or does recent history tell us that each season stands alone?

My Top Five April Fool’s Stories on SiouxSports.com

As most of you have already figured out, this morning’s blog post, “Due to historic snowfall, NCAA to move Frozen Four from Boston to Fargo” was an April Fools’ joke.

As I sat and watched the comments roll in and the retweets pile up, I was reminded of my favorite April Fools’ columns and thought I would share them with you again today…

Here are my five favorites from years past:

2009: “Rule Change: Ties in the Frozen Four to be decided by shootout”

2011: “NCAA to drop nickname settlement and sanctions altogether if UND wins hockey championship”

2012: “Audio from ‘The Timeout’ available for the first time”

2013: “After further review: UND and Yale to replay West Regional final”

2014: “Hobey Baker committee adds Gothberg to list of finalists”

Which are your favorites? More to the point: Which, at the time, did you fall for?

Due to historic snowfall, NCAA to move Frozen Four from Boston to Fargo

It turns out that Boston, Massachusetts is a bit too frozen for the Frozen Four.

The winter of 2014-15 dumped historic amounts of snow in the northeast, and the hardest hit areas of New England have collected over 100 inches of the white stuff.

Boston Logan Airport has received 110.6 inches of snow this winter, and the persistent cold weather has prevented any meaningful snowmelt. The city recorded 28 consecutive days with lows 20 degrees or colder, from Jan. 25 through Feb. 21 (inclusive), breaking the all-time record of 27 consecutive days set Jan. 12 through Feb. 7, 1881.

Despite the weather, the NCAA held off on making a final decision whether to move the 2015 Frozen Four from TD Garden (Boston, Massachusetts). Tournament officials were hoping that enough snow would melt during the month of March to keep the event in Beantown.

“(The snow melt) didn’t happen quickly enough, so we had to go to ‘Plan B’,” one tournament official said (speaking on condition of anonymity). “And so we looked at what the regionals did last weekend, and one of them (the NCAA West Regional in Fargo, North Dakota) was over capacity. That seemed to make the most sense.”

But TD Garden in Boston seats over 17,000 for hockey games, while SCHEELS Arena in Fargo tops out at 5,000. That was a problem for the NCAA.

“Yeah, we couldn’t squeeze everyone into the USHL rink,” my source said. “And then someone else on the committee remembered that Fargo also has a football team.”

That football team would be the North Dakota State University Bison, the four-time defending NCAA Division I-FCS National Champions (2011-2014). The Bison play in the Fargodome in front of 19,000 fans for every home football game. Local officials know they have a tall task ahead of them putting an ice sheet over the turf, but they’re up for it.

A news conference to formally announce re-ticketing procedures for next weekend’s games (April 9th and 11th) and further explain the rationale behind this unique development is scheduled to air at 4:01 p.m. Eastern time today (April 1st) on ESPNU.

NCAA West Regional Preview: UND vs. St. Cloud State

North Dakota and SCSU took different paths to tonight’s West Regional final, and now these familiar foes will face off for the sixth time this season with a trip to Boston and a berth in the NCAA Frozen Four on the line.

The Huskies took the long road home yesterday in Fargo, surviving the opening 40 minutes thanks in large part to the play of goaltender Charlie Lindgren (36 of 38 saves). I wrote about Lindgren’s play and the ups and downs on the St. Cloud State bench in a feature for College Hockey News called “Huskies Never Say Die”. SCSU took yesterday’s tilt with Michigan Tech (a battle of the Huskies, if you will) to overtime before defeating their long-time WCHA foe 3-2 and advancing in the NCAA tournament.

For UND, the 4-1 victory over Quinnipiac was only easy on the scoreboard. North Dakota was able to score a power play goal, an even-strength goal from behind the end line, and two shorthanded goals to put the game out of reach. Despite giving up a late 6-on-4 power play tally to spoil Zane McIntyre’s shutout bid (the junior from Thief River Falls, Minnesota has now allowed exactly one goal 15 times this season), the Green and White used the energy from the partisan crowd and an unbelievable effort in their own end to block 28 Bobcat shot attempts. With almost 15 minutes on the penalty kill over the course of the game, Dave Hakstol’s crew had to win the special teams battle to move on, and the boys from Grand Forks got it done in a virtual home game.

I also wrote a feature called “Bobcats Buried In Fargo” for College Hockey News on the Quinnipiac hockey team and what went wrong for them yesterday. There are some interesting quotes from QU head coach Rand Pecknold about regionals being held at neutral (or not so neutral) sites.

In my opinion, UND will not be able to trade power plays with St. Cloud State and expect a good result. In three victories over the Huskies, North Dakota killed 11 of 14 penalties. Bob Motzko’s two victories over the Green and White this season rode were aided by a potent SCSU power play (two goals in seven attempts). In the season series, the Huskies have scored 11 goals against UND in five games, with five goals coming with the man advantage and a sixth scored into the empty net.

North Dakota went 2-for-10 on the power play in three wins over St. Cloud State and was held scoreless on five attempts in two defeats. It is my contention that UND does not rely nearly as heavily on power play scoring as their counterparts in the red and black and would be better served staying out of the penalty box tonight. This is easier said than done, however, as these NCHC rivals will certainly play all the way until the whistle (and often after it), and Dave Hakstol wants his team playing right on the edge.

According to KRACH, St. Cloud State has played the second-most difficult schedule in the country to this point in the season. Saturday’s matchup between North Dakota and SCSU at Scheels Arena in Fargo marks the Huskies’ fourteenth straight game against an opponent ranked in the top eight in the country. Over the last seven weekends, St. Cloud has gone 8-5-0 against #6 Minnesota-Duluth, #5 Nebraska Omaha, #1 North Dakota, #7 Denver, #8 Nebraska-Omaha, #1 North Dakota, #6 Miami, and #5 Michigan Tech (rankings are for the week the games were played).

North Dakota will be without the services of senior forward Mark MacMillan for the rest of the season. The NCHC Defensive Player of the Year sustained a lower body injury while blocking a shot during a key 5-on-3 penalty kill against St. Cloud State. The senior from Penticton, British Columbia, one of five finalists for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, finishes his North Dakota career with 99 points in 151 games at UND. The last player to fall one point short of UND’s Century Club was forward Wes Dorey (1997-2001), who collected 47 goals and 52 assists in 140 career games.

St. Cloud State saw senior defenseman Andrew Prochno (3-12-15) and junior forward Kalle Kossila (6-20-26) return to the lineup after missing the NCHC Frozen Faceoff with injuries. Kossila scored SCSU’s first goal against Michigan Tech in yesterday’s regional semifinal. In the first period of the same game, Huskies’ forward Jonny Brodzinski sustained a lower-body injury but was able to return and net the game-tying goal with 38 seconds remaining in the hockey game. Brodzinski’s availability for tonight’s contest is still unknown, but I would expect him to suit up for St. Cloud State.

Perhaps the biggest reason for UND’s success this season has been North Dakota’s ability to hold a lead. During the 2014-15 campaign, Dave Hakstol’s squad is unbeaten (24-0-2) when leading after the first forty minutes of play. In fact, over the past seven years, North Dakota is converting almost 90 percent of second intermission leads into victories and has just seven losses in the last 154 such situations (137-7-10). The last time UND lost when leading after two periods of play was November 1st, 2013 against visiting St. Cloud State, when a 1-0 lead turned into a 3-2 defeat.

Incredibly, Dave Hakstol has brought his team to the NCAA regional final in nine of his eleven seasons behind the UND bench. Hakstol already has six Frozen Fours to his credit and is looking to add a seventh to his resume and an eighth national title to the rafters at Ralph Engelstad Arena. With three more victories, North Dakota would accomplish both of those tasks.

St. Cloud State Team Profile

Head Coach: Bob Motzko (10th season at SCSU, 204-154-41, .563)
National Rankings: #13/#13
This Season: 20-18-1 overall, 11-12-1-0 NCHC (6th)
Last Ten Games: 6-4-0 (with two overtime victories)
Last Season: 22-11-5 overall (NCAA Region semifinalist), 15-6-3-0 NCHC (1st)

Team Offense: 2.77 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.38 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 24.0% (37 of 154)
Penalty Kill: 80.2% (93 of 116)

Key Players: Junior F Jonny Brodzinski (21-17-38), Junior F Joey Benik (16-23-39), Junior F Kalle Kossila (6-20-26), Freshman F Patrick Russell (10-15-25), Junior D Ethan Prow (4-19-23), Senior D Andrew Prochno (3-12-15), Sophomore G Charlie Lindgren (19-17-1, 2.24 GAA, .920 SV%, 2 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Dave Hakstol (11th season at UND, 288-142-43, .654)
National Rankings: #3/#3
This Season: 28-9-3 overall, 16-6-2-0 NCHC (1st)
Last Ten Games: 7-3-0 (with two overtime victories)
Last Season: 25-14-3 overall (NCAA Frozen Four appearance), 15-9-0-0 NCHC (2nd)

Team Offense: 3.27 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.20 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 19.8% (32 of 162)
Penalty Kill: 84.7% (138 of 163)

Key Players: Junior F Drake Caggiula (17-18-35), Senior F Michael Parks (12-20-32), Freshman F Nick Schmaltz (5-21-26), Senior F Brendan O’Donnell (13-7-20), Junior D Jordan Schmaltz (4-23-27), Sophomore D Paul LaDue (5-17-22), Senior D Nick Mattson (4-16-20), Junior G Zane McIntyre (28-9-3, 2.02 GAA, .930 SV%, 1 SO

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: March 20th, 2015 (Minneapolis, MN). St. Cloud State silenced the pro-North Dakota crowd with two goals in a span of 19 seconds late in the first period to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead after twenty minutes of play. SCSU forward Joe Rehkamp added an empty net goal with 1:05 left in the game and the Huskies advanced to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship game. Zane McIntyre made 21 saves for UND; Charlie Lindgren stopped 19 of 20 North Dakota shots on goal.

Last Meeting in North Dakota: February 28, 2015 (Grand Forks). Conner Gaarder led the way with a goal and an assist and North Dakota chased SCSU netminder Charlie Lindgren after two periods of play as UND completed the sweep of the visiting Huskies by a score of 3-1. Nick Mattson scored North Dakota’s third goal with 41 seconds remaining in the middle frame, and Zane McIntyre made 27 of 28 saves for the Green and White after stopping 22 of 24 shots in the series opener (a 3-2 UND victory). With a 3-1 regular season record against St. Cloud State this season, North Dakota won the 2014-15 Challenge Cup.

Most Important Meeting: With a berth in the 2015 Frozen Four on the line, I will call tonight’s NCAA West Regional final the most important meeting between the two teams.

All-time Series: North Dakota leads the all-time series, 64-38-12 (.614), including a 6-2-0 (.750) record at neutral sites. SCSU’s most recent tournament victory was last weekend in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff semifinals (Minneapolis, MN). The Huskies also defeated North Dakota at the 2001 WCHA Final Five. UND is 10-3-0 (.769) against St. Cloud State in the conference playoffs, with their most recent triumph coming in the 2012 WCHA Final Five quarterfinals. The teams have never met in the NCAA tournament.

Last Ten: St. Cloud holds a 5-4-1 (.550) edge in the last ten meetings between the teams and has outscored North Dakota 24-22 over that stretch of games.

Game News and Notes

UND goaltender Zane McIntyre is 5-6-1 against the Huskies in his three years at North Dakota. Head coach Bob Motzko picked up his 200th career victory (ten seasons) with a win over Denver on the final night of the NCHC regular season. North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol, who has 288 coaching victories in eleven seasons, is 26-16-7 (.602) in his career against the Huskies.

The Prediction

Because these teams are so familiar with each other, I expect this game to be played fast and loose. If Bob Motzko has Jonny Brodzinski available in all situations and for all three periods, SCSU has a good chance at advancing to the Frozen Four. UND has an edge in net and on defense, but if the teams trade power plays, the advantage goes to St. Cloud State. This feels like a one-goal game either way, with North Dakota’s fans turning SCHEELS Arena into yet another home game and tipping the scales in favor of the Green and White. UND 3, SCSU 2.

Pregame Event (from UNDsports.com)

The North Dakota Champions Club is hosting an official UND pregame party at Fargo Billiards and Gastro Pub. The pregame party starts at 5:00 p.m. tonight (Saturday, March 28th).

Parking at SCHEELS Arena is limited and fans are encouraged to consider alternate parking options. A shuttle service will run between Fargo Billiards and Gastro Pub, Anderson Softball Complex on 45th Street South, Bulldog Tap, and SCHEELS Arena. Shuttles will begin at 6:00 p.m. tonight and will continue until one hour after the game ends.