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#4 North Dakota heads to Amsoil Arena this weekend to take on #18 Minnesota Duluth in the NCHC opener for both teams. The Fighting Hawks and Bulldogs are the last two teams to begin league play.

UND will wear helmet stickers for this series honoring former Duluth forward Adam Johnson, who died two weeks ago when a skate blade cut his neck during a pro hockey game. The stickers will feature the initials ‘AJ’ along with the number 47, which he was wearing for the Nottingham Panthers. Former UND forward Westin Michaud was Johnson’s teammate with the Panthers.

Last season, the teams only met two times, a January series in Grand Forks that ended in a split. North Dakota took the opener 4-2 before falling 2-1 in the rematch. In Saturday’s finale, senior Luke Loheit broke a 1-1 tie with just over two minutes remaining in regulation. The goal came just 33 seconds after freshman Ben Steeves departed from the penalty box; Steeves assisted on the game-winning goal. Fast forward one year, and Steeves leads his team in goals (7) and points (11).

Two seasons ago, the two rivals split a November series at Ralph Engelstad Arena, with the Bulldogs winning by a 4-1 margin on Friday night. UND came from behind in Saturday’s rematch, knotting the score at 1-1 with five seconds remaining in the second period before scoring the game-winner five minutes into the third. When the two teams tangled in Duluth in February 2022, the visitors managed a pair of one-goal victories (4-3, 3-2).

And turning back the clock to March 27th, 2021, North Dakota was down 2-0 to Minnesota Duluth with just 101 seconds remaining in the third period of the 2021 NCAA Midwest Regional final at Scheels Arena in Fargo, North Dakota. The Bulldogs had built their lead with two goals just 80 seconds apart early in the final frame on a pair of fluky plays. A partially blocked shot off the stick of Jackson Cates fluttered past Fighting Hawks’ netminder Adam Scheel, and a broken stick at the blue line sent Cole Koepke in alone on a breakaway.

Through the first 25 games of the season, UND had only won one game after allowing the first goal (1-5-1). But after coming back against both Denver and St. Cloud State to claim the program’s first NCHC Frozen Faceoff postseason title, Brad Berry’s squad had to feel like another comeback was possible.

And it was indeed possible. Collin Adams and Jordan Kawaguchi scored extra-attacker goals 44 seconds apart to send the partisan crowd into a frenzy and send the game to overtime. And overtime. And overtime. And overtime.

UMD’s Luke Mylymok scored the game-winner just over two minutes into the FIFTH overtime session; his second goal of the season ended the longest NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey tournament game in history.

One could argue that after over 140 minutes of game action, Duluth had a built-in advantage: the Bulldogs (14-10-2) were scheduled to face Michigan in the regional semifinal, but after the Wolverines withdrew due to a positive COVID-19 test in their hockey program, UMD advanced in a “no contest” and therefore had fresher legs than top overall seed North Dakota (22-5-1).

Adams and Kawaguchi were two of six North Dakota players to finish the season with double digit goal totals. Of those six, only Riese Gaber remains at North Dakota.

The NCHC has been the premier hockey conference since its inception, and particularly over the past nine seasons. The eight teams in the league have gone 434-223-72 (.645) in non-conference action since the start of the 2014-15 season and sent twelve 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 2022) over that seven-year stretch (there was no national tournament in 2020). Conference members North Dakota (2016), Denver (2017, 2022), and Minnesota Duluth (2018, 2019) have won five of the last seven national titles.

The Bulldogs played ten games at the Division I level in the early 1930s but didn’t really get started until after World War II. Its first 19 seasons after the war were played as an independent before joining the WCHA in 1965. It would take 18 seasons – and a head coach named Mike Sertich – before UMD would make the NCAA tournament, and Sertich would take them there in three consecutive seasons:

1982-1983: National Quarterfinalist
1983-1984: 2nd Place (National Runner-Up)
1984-1985: 3rd Place (Consolation Champion)

In 1984, Duluth was tantalizingly close to winning its first title. The Bulldogs defeated North Dakota 2-1 in overtime (behind a goal by Bill Watson) to advance to the championship game, where they would face Bowling Green in the longest NCAA final in Division I men’s hockey history. Gino Cavallini scored for the Falcons in the fourth overtime session, ending a game that took over 97 minutes of game action to complete.

And, perhaps, fittingly, UMD would find themselves locked in overtime contests in 1985 as well. The Bulldogs took RPI to three overtimes in the national semis before falling 6-5. Back in those days, there was still a third-place game, and so Duluth faced Boston College (which had also played three overtimes in its semifinal) for no reason at all. Of course, that game also went to overtime, with UMD defeating the Eagles 7-6.

After that three-year splash on the national scene, Mike Sertich would manage just one more tournament appearance (1993) over the final fifteen years of his head coaching career before giving way to Scott Sandelin, who has guided the Bulldogs to the NCAAs eleven times in his 22 seasons behind the Bulldog bench.

Even though UMD has been a more frequent participant over the past two decades than at any other point in team history, Duluth and North Dakota have only met twice in the national tournament (1984 and 2021). UND had a chance to meet the Bulldogs in the 2011 title game but fell to the Wolverines in the semifinals 2-0 (with an empty-net goal) despite outshooting Michigan 40-20.

Before the Wolverines were forced to withdraw from the 2021 tournament, UMD and Michigan were set to square off in the national tournament for the first time since that overtime thriller in St. Paul.

With three national titles in a nine-year stretch, the Bulldogs could certainly be considered the best team of the 2010s; North Dakota’s eight national titles have been spread out across the decades: 1959, 1963, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997, 2000, and 2016.

The Wolverines have won nine NCAA titles but only two since 1964, those coming in 1996 and 1998. For that reason, I consider North Dakota (eight titles) and Denver (nine titles) the two best programs in NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey history.

And turning our attention to this season…

North Dakota has gone 5-2-1 against Army, #3 Wisconsin, #6 Minnesota, Minnesota State, and #9 Boston University, outscoring opponents 26-18 while playing all but the last two games at home.

Minnesota Duluth got off to a strong start this season, going 3-0-2 against Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, and Bemidji State while outscoring those teams 24-16. The wheels have fallen off over the past two weekends, however, as the Bulldogs suffered a road sweep at the hands of #7 Cornell (1-4, 0-3) and a road loss (1-5) and home tie (3-3) against #6 Minnesota. Those disappointing results have UMD at 3-3-3 on the year.

Turning our attention to this weekend’s matchup, the Bulldogs will be without two familiar faces this weekend:

The top center for Duluth -junior Dominic James – suffered a shoulder injury on October 13th vs. Northern Michigan and is not expected to return this season. James had a line of 16-30-46 in his first two seasons (74 games) at UMD. Grand Forks native Cole Spicer has taken his spot in the lineup and has scored four goals and notched three assists through the first nine games of the season.

Bulldog junior defenseman Will Francis is taking this semester off to undergo cancer treatments. All of us at SiouxSports.com wish Will all the best in his journey to recovery. No one fights alone.

After a down season (16-20-1) a year ago, Scott Sandelin dipped his toe into the transfer portal, bringing in forward Connor McMenamin from Penn State (24-42-66 in 129 games over four seasons with the Nittany Lions) and defenseman Luke Bast from North Dakota (3-6-9 in 39 games over two seasons with the Fighting Hawks). Sandelin’s freshman class numbers just four players, although only three of those – defenseman Aaron Pionk and forwards Anthony Menghini and Matthew Perkins have seen game action.

Pionk, whose older brother Neal played for UMD from 2015-2017, is a fifth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild. Perkins is a fourth-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks.

The names have changed in Grand Forks as well. After missing the national tournament last year, head coach Brad Berry and his staff brought in fourteen fresh faces, tied for the second-most in team history. More strikingly, all eight defensemen are new to the UND men’s hockey program, including four freshmen.

Coincidentally, the breakdown of first-year players and transfers into the North Dakota system is identical:

Freshmen:

Four defensemen (Nate Benoit, Tanner Komzak, Jake Livanavage, Abram Wiebe)

Two forwards (Michael Emerson, Jayden Perron)

One goaltender (Hobie Hedquist)

Transfers:

Four defensemen (Logan Britt, Keaton Pehrson, Garrett Pyke, Bennett Zmolek)

Two forwards (Cameron Berg, Hunter Johannes)

One goaltender (Ludvig Perrson)

These fourteen newcomers join eleven returning forwards and second-year netminder Kaleb Johnson to form UND’s 26-player roster. The Fighting Hawks return 70 goals up front, led by senior Riese Gaber (20 goals last season) and sophomore Jackson Blake (16). With the addition of Berg (10 goals last season at Omaha), Johannes (13 at Lindenwood), and Chicago Steel (USHL) teammates Emerson (30) and Perron (24), North Dakota should easily surpass the 102 goals scored all of last season by its forward group.

Over the first eight games of the 2023-2024 season, UND forwards have scored 24 goals and are on pace for 108 goals in the regular season alone. It is also encouraging that six North Dakota forwards already have multiple goals this season, led by Blake (6), Johannes (5), Gaber (4), and Perron (4).

A half-point per game or better is my benchmark for solid offensive production, and Scott Sandelin’s squad has just six players who meet that threshold: sophomore forward Ben Steeves (7-4-11), graduate forward Quinn Olson (1-8-9), sophomore forward Cole Spicer (4-3-7), senior forward Blake Biondi (1-4-5), junior defenseman Owen Gallatin (1-7-8), and freshman defenseman Aaron Pionk (1-5-6).

By that same measure, North Dakota has eight players at a half point or better: senior forward Riese Gaber (4-3-7), sophomore forward Jackson Blake (6-4-10), sophomore forward Owen McLaughlin (2-5-7), graduate forward Hunter Johannes (5-0-5), junior forward Cameron Berg (1-4-5), junior forward Jake Schmaltz (0-4-4), freshman forward Jayden Perron (4-0-4), and senior defenseman Garrett Pyke (0-8-8).

UND is 22nd in the nation in shooting percentage at 10.4% (26 goals on 250 shots); by comparison, Minnesota Duluth sits in 26th place at 10.3% (29 goals on 282 shots). UMD and North Dakota both average 31.3 shots on goal per game, although UND only allows 25.5 shots on goal per contest (12th in the country), while the Bulldogs lag far behind in that category (31.6, 42nd).

UND (20th in Corsi, 16th in Fenwick) also leads Duluth (40th, 41st) by a wide margin in both puck possession statistics.

As always, a key area to watch this weekend is the face-off circle. The Fighting Hawks are the nation’s 10th-best team on draws (54.2%), while the Bulldogs clock in at just 51.2% (23rd).

For UND, junior Cameron Berg has been making a living on draws, winning 90 of 140 (64.3%). Sophomore Owen McLaughlin is not far behind, having won 55 of 98 (56.1). Senior Louis Jamernik V has been steady at 52.0% (51 of 98).

For Minnesota Duluth, sophomore Cole Spicer has been the only bright spot in the circle, going 95 of 175 (54.3%). Sophomore Jack Smith (58 of 114, 50.9%) and junior Carter Loney (57 of 116, 49.1%) have been basically even, while freshman Matthew Perkins (48 of 113, 42.5%) has struggled to adjust to the college game.

To this point in the season, North Dakota has had slightly the better of the specialty teams play. UND has been a combined plus-4, with five power play goals scored (5 of 33, 15.2%, 44th in the country) and only four power play goals allowed (24 of 28, 85.7%, 18th), with three shorthanded goals scored and none allowed.

Minnesota Duluth has posted a plus-3, with fourteen power play goals scored (14 of 38, 36.8%, 3rd), twelve power play goals allowed (39 of 51, 76.5%, 49th), one shorthanded goal scored, and none allowed.

It is also worth noting that UND has earned five more power plays than penalty kill situations (33-28), while UMD has been shorthanded far more often (38-51).

North Dakota is 21st in the country in scoring offense (3.25 goals scored/game) but 10th in the country in scoring defense (2.25 goals allowed/game). Minnesota Duluth is 25th in the country in scoring offense (3.22 goals scored/game) but much worse on the defensive side, allowing 3.44 goals/game (48th).

A huge key to UND’s defensive turnaround this season has been the play of senior netminder Ludvig Persson. The transfer from Miami has played every minute between the pipes for the Fighting Hawks, posting a record of 5-2-1 with a goals-against average of 2.12, a save percentage of .916, and one shutout.

Last year, UND’s team save percentage was .886, the fifth-worst mark among 62 teams.

Duluth’s defensive woes this season echo North Dakota’s from a year ago. UMD has tried both senior Zach Stejskal (six games, .896 SV%) and graduate student Matthew Thiessen (four games, .891 SV%) between the pipes. As a team, the Bulldogs’ save percentage of .891 ranks 46th in the country.

North Dakota currently finds itself in 9th place in the all-important Pairwise rankings, with victories over Wisconsin (PWR 6), Boston University (PWR 14), and Minnesota (PWR 19) certainly helping the cause. With good results in home non-conference series against Bemidji State (PWR 42) on November 24th and 25th and Alaska (PWR 13) on January 5th and 6th, UND should be in good shape for the national tournament.

At #28 in the Pairwise, Minnesota Duluth has quite a bit of work to do during the conference portion of the schedule.

According to KRACH, North Dakota has played the 11th-toughest schedule in the country, while Minnesota Duluth’s slate of games ranks as the 22nd-most difficult.

The two teams will tangle in Grand Forks on February 23rd and 24th, 2024.

Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Head Coach: Scott Sandelin (23rd season at UMD, 447-371-98, .541)

National Ranking: #18
Pairwise Ranking: 28th
KRACH Rating: 138.1 (25th)

This Season: 3-3-3 overall, 0-0-0-0 NCHC
Last Season: 16-20-1 overall (missed NCAA tournament), 9-10-1-4 NCHC (t-5th of 8 teams)

2023-2024 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 3.22 goals scored/game – 25th of 64 teams
Team Defense: 3.44 goals allowed/game – 48th of 64 teams

Power Play: 36.8% (14 of 38) – 3rd of 64 teams
Penalty Kill: 76.5% (39 of 51) – 49th of 64 teams

Key players: Sophomore F Ben Steeves (7-4-11), Sophomore F Cole Spicer (4-3-7), Graduate F Quinn Olson (1-8-9), Senior F Blake Biondi (1-4-5), Junior D Owen Gallatin (1-7-8), Freshman D Aaron Pionk (1-5-6), Senior G Zach Stejskal (2-2-2, 3.17 GAA, .896 SV%, 1 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (9th season at UND, 185-94-32, .646)

National Ranking: #4
Pairwise Ranking: 9th
KRACH Rating: 605.7 (9th)

This Season: 5-2-1 overall, 0-0-0-0 NCHC
Last Season: 18-15-5 overall (missed NCAA tournament), 7-10-5-2 NCHC (t-5th of 8 teams)

2023-2024 Season Statistics

Team Offense: 3.25 goals scored/game – 21st of 64 teams
Team Defense: 2.25 goals allowed/game – 10th of 64 teams

Power Play: 15.2% (5 of 33) – 44th of 64 teams
Penalty Kill: 85.7% (24 of 28) – 18th of 64 teams

Key Players: Sophomore F Jackson Blake (6-4-10), Senior F Riese Gaber (4-3-7), Graduate F Hunter Johannes (5-0-5), Freshman F Jayden Perron (4-0-4), Senior F Louis Jamernik V (0-3-2), Junior F Cameron Berg (1-4-5), Senior D Garrett Pyke (0-8-8), Freshman D Jake Livanavage (1-2-3), Graduate D Logan Britt (1-2-3), Senior G Ludvig Persson (5-2-1, 2.12 GAA, .916 SV%, 1 SO)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: January 21, 2023 (Grand Forks, ND). One night after a 4-2 home victory, North Dakota saw a 1-1 tie turn into a regulation defeat. In Saturday’s finale, UMD senior Luke Loheit broke the 1-1 tie with just over two minutes left on the clock. The goal came just 33 seconds after freshman Ben Steeves departed from the penalty box;

Last Meeting in Duluth: February 19, 2022. Louis Jamernik V scored a shorthanded goal late in the second period that stood as the game-winner in a 3-2 UND victory. The Bulldogs outshot the visitors 35-29, including a 19-10 advantage in the final frame. In Friday’s opener, North Dakota went 3-for-5 on the power play and outlasted UMD 4-3 despite being outshot 39-27.

Most Important Meeting: March 27, 2021 (Fargo, ND). Minnesota Duluth outlasted North Dakota 3-2 in five overtimes to advance to the NCAA Frozen Four. UND scored two extra-attacker goals in the final two minutes of regulation to send the game long into the night. The three goaltenders involved in the contest combined to make 114 saves.

The Meeting That Never Was: Both teams advanced to the 2011 NCAA Frozen Four at Xcel Energy Center (St. Paul, Minnesota). UND could not get past Michigan, falling 2-0 despite outshooting the Wolverines 40-20. In the other national semifinal, Minnesota-Duluth defeated Notre Dame 4-3 and rode that momentum to the title game. The Bulldogs took the Wolverines to overtime before senior forward Kyle Schmidt scored the game winner and earned UMD their first national championship. North Dakota won two of the three games against Duluth that season, outscoring Scott Sandelin’s team 11-5.

All-time Series: UND leads the all-time series, 153-89-11 (.626), including a 65-46-6 (.581) advantage in games played in Duluth. The teams first met in 1954, with North Dakota winning the first ten games between the schools by a combined score of 72-16. UMD’s first win over the Fighting Sioux (a 3-2 road victory on December 18th, 1959) did not sit well with the defending national champions. UND defeated Duluth 13-2 the following night.

Last Ten: North Dakota is 6-3-1 (.650) in the last ten games between the teams, outscoring the Bulldogs 24-22 over that stretch. Only three of the past ten UND-UMD games were played in Duluth (two were played in the Omaha pod, one in Fargo, and four in Grand Forks).

Game News and Notes

UND has outscored opponents 19-12 through two periods of play this season. Nearly half of Duluth’s goals this season (14 of 29) have come with the man advantage. As a team, North Dakota has blocked 125 shots this season, led by Abram Wiebe (18) and Garrett Pyke (15). Both head coaches this weekend are alumni of the University of North Dakota; Brad Berry (1983-86) and Scott Sandelin (1982-86) both played for UND under John “Gino” Gasparini.

The Prediction

The Fighting Hawks should have the puck the majority of the time, and that may lead to an extra power play or two. If UND can find success with the man advantage AND stay out of the penalty box, a sweep is possible. A road split is probably a more realistic goal to open conference play, but I have a feeling that North Dakota will do better than that. UND 4-2, 3-3 tie.

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!

Back in 2015, UND cruised through the NCAA West Regional at Scheels Arena (Fargo, North Dakota) with a pair of 4-1 victories (vs. Quinnipiac and St. Cloud State). The reward for that accomplishment? A Frozen Four semifinal matchup against Boston University at TD Garden (Boston, Massachusetts). Dave Hakstol, coaching his last college game, saw his team fall behind 2-0 and 4-1 before mounting a late third-period comeback that fell just short (BU’s Jack Eichel potted an empty-net goal with just under twenty seconds remaining to make the final score 5-3).

It was that unfinished business, coupled with a heartbreaking last-second loss to Minnesota in the 2014 national semifinals, that fueled North Dakota’s 2016 title run, the eighth in team history.

In the 2017 tournament, UND welcomed the Terriers to Fargo. Two early third-period goals by BU broke a 1-1 tie, and things were looking grim for the home team. Enter Ludvig Hoff and Christian Wolanin, who potted goals 200 seconds apart late in the final frame to send the game to overtime. The rally came after a nearly 15-minute delay to replace a pane of broken glass caused by a check from UND forward Mike Gornall, who crushed Kiefer Bellows into the second row.

North Dakota had an apparent winning goal by freshman Dixon Bowen disallowed at 3:48 of the first overtime. After a lengthy review, it was determined that the play was offside, even though the video evidence used to make that determination was shot through a potato.

The Terriers advanced to the regional final on a Charlie McAvoy tally 11:38 into the second overtime. The Fighting Hawks outshot Boston University 59-29 in the losing effort. UND went 0-for-6 with the man advantage. Jake Oettinger (now with the Dallas Stars) made 56 saves. North Dakota saw 51 shots blocked by the Terrier defense and hit two posts along the way.

Boston University has changed head coaches twice since the two teams last battled on the ice. David Quinn was replaced following the 2017-18 season, and Albie O’Connell lasted just four seasons, going 58-49-16 (.537) and making just one NCAA tournament appearnace (2021).

Jay Pandolfo took over last season, and found immediate success, leading the Terriers to a 29-11-0 (.725) record, Hockey East regular season and playoff titles, and a Frozen Four appearance. BU fell to Minnesota 6-2 in the semifinals, with two late empty-net goals making the game appear more lopsided than it was.

And turning our attention to this season…

#3/#4 North Dakota went 4-1-1 last month against Army, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Minnesota State, outscoring opponents 19-11 while playing all six games at home.

#9/#8 Boston University went 3-2-1 in October 2023, outscoring opponents 24-19. BU lost two straight road games (4-6 at New Hampshire and 1-4 at Notre Dame) before rattling off two regulation wins and a shootout win over the past three.

One key area to watch this weekend is the face-off circle. The Fighting Hawks are the nation’s 11th-best team on draws (54.3%), while Boston University clocks in at just 51.2% (24th).

For UND, junior Cameron Berg has been making a living on draws, winning 70 of 110 (63.6%). Sophomore Owen McLaughlin is not far behind, having won 42 of 72 (58.3%). Senior Louis Jamernik V has been steady at 53.4% (39 of 73).

For the Terriers, sophomore Ryan Greene has taken the most draws, winning 55 of 106 (51.9%), while freshman Macklin Celebrini has had the most success (53 of 99, 53.5%). Graduate student Sam Stevens (37 of 70, 52.9%) has been a strong third option.

Boston University features nine rookies in its lineup this year. Four first-year defensemen are joined by five forwards, including freshman phenom Macklin Celebrini, who has already scored eight goals and three assists through his first six collegiate games. The six-foot, 190-pound center from Vancouver, British Columbia is one of four players (along with Cole Eiserman, Ivan Demidov, and Aron Kiviharju) in the mix to be selected first overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

Celebrini is currently the top goal-scorer in men’s Division I college hockey.

Times have changed in Grand Forks as well. After missing the national tournament last year, head coach Brad Berry and his staff brought in fourteen fresh faces, tied for the second-most in team history. More strikingly, all eight defensemen are new to the UND men’s hockey program, including four freshmen.

Coincidentally, the breakdown of first-year players and transfers into the North Dakota system is identical:

Freshmen:

Four defensemen (Nate Benoit, Tanner Komzak, Jake Livanavage, Abram Wiebe)

Two forwards (Michael Emerson, Jayden Perron)

One goaltender (Hobie Hedquist)

Transfers:

Four defensemen (Logan Britt, Keaton Pehrson, Garrett Pyke, Bennett Zmolek)

Two forwards (Cameron Berg, Hunter Johannes)

One goaltender (Ludvig Perrson)

These fourteen newcomers join eleven returning forwards and second-year netminder Kaleb Johnson to form UND’s 26-player roster. The Fighting Hawks return 70 goals up front, led by senior Riese Gaber (20 goals last season) and sophomore Jackson Blake (16). With the addition of Berg (10 goals last season at Omaha), Johannes (13 at Lindenwood), and Chicago Steel (USHL) teammates Emerson (30) and Perron (24), North Dakota should easily surpass the 102 goals scored all of last season by its forward group.

Over the first six games of the 2023-2024 season, UND forwards have scored 17 goals and are on pace for 102 goals in the regular season alone.

To this point in the season, North Dakota has had the better of the specialty teams play. The FIghting Hawks have been a combined +4, with four power play goals scored (4 for 27, 14.8%, 39th in the country), two power play goals allowed (18 of 20, 90.0%, 15th), two shorthanded goals scored, and zero shorthanded goals allowed. Boston University has posted a -2, with five power play goals scored (5 of 25, 20.0%, 20th), SIX power play goals allowed (18 of 24, 75.0%, 49th), and one shorthanded goal allowed (none scored).

After this weekend’s road action, home series against #33 Bemidji State (November 24th and 25th) and #31 Alaska (January 5th and 6th) will round out the non-conference schedule. North Dakota’s results in their twelve games outside the NCHC (4-1-1 so far) will play a large role in the final PairWise rankings and seeding for the NCAA tournament, and, to that end, a split or better this weekend would pay huge dividends.

According to KRACH, North Dakota has played the 16th-toughest schedule in the country, while Boston University’s slate of games ranks as the 23rd-most difficult.

Boston University Team Profile

Head Coach: Jay Pandolfo (2nd season at BU, 32-13-1, .707)
National Rankings: #9/#8

This Season: 3-2-1 overall, 1-1-1-0 Hockey East (2nd)
Last Season: 29-11-0 overall (NCAA Frozen Four semifinalist), 16-4-2-2 Hockey East (1st)

2023-2024 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 4.00 goals scored/game – 9th of 63 teams
Team Defense: 3.17 goals allowed/game – 43rd of 63 teams

Power Play: 20.0% (5 of 25) – 20th of 63 teams
Penalty Kill: 75.0% (18 of 24) – 49th of 63 teams

Key Players: Freshman F Macklin Celebrini (8-3-11), Sophomore F Jeremy Wilmer (0-8-8), Senior F Luke Tuch (3-4-7), Sophomore F Ryan Greene (2-3-5), Sophomore D Lane Hutson (2-3-5), Freshman D Aiden Celebrini (1-3-4), Senior G Mathieu Caron (3-2-1, 3.15 GAA, .891 SV%)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (9th season at UND, 184-93-32, .647)
National Rankings: #3/#4

This Season: 4-1-1 overall, 0-0-0-0 NCHC
Last Season: 18-15-5 overall, 7-10-5-2 NCHC (t-5th of 8 teams)

2023-2024 Season Statistics

Team Offense: 3.17 goals scored/game – 22nd of 63 teams
Team Defense: 1.83 goals allowed/game – 5th of 63 teams

Power Play: 14.8% (4 of 27) – 39th of 63 teams
Penalty Kill: 90.0% (18 of 20) – 15th of 63 teams

Key Players: Sophomore F Jackson Blake (4-2-6), Senior F Riese Gaber (3-2-5), Graduate F Hunter Johannes (5-0-5), Freshman F Jayden Perron (3-0-3), Junior F Senior F Louis Jamernik V (0-2-2), Junior F Cameron Berg (1-4-5), Senior D Garrett Pyke (0-7-7), Freshman D Jake Livanavage (1-1-2), Graduate D Logan Britt (1-1-2), Senior G Ludvig Persson (4-1-1, 1.65 GAA, .933 SV%, 1 SO)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: March 24, 2017 (Fargo, ND). In the first round of the NCAA tournament, UND welcomed the Terriers into a hostile environment at Scheels Arena. Two early third-period goals by BU broke a 1-1 tie, and things were looking grim for the “home” team. Enter Ludvig Hoff and Christian Wolanin, who potted goals 200 seconds apart late in the final frame to send the game to overtime. North Dakota had an apparent winning goal by freshman Dixon Bowen disallowed at 3:48 of the first overtime. After a lengthy review, it was determined that the play was offside, even though the video evidence used to make that determination was shot through a potato. The Terriers advanced to the regional final on a Charlie McAvoy tally 11:38 into the second overtime. The Fighting Hawks outshot Boston University 59-29 in the losing effort. UND went 0-for-6 with the man advantage. Jake Oettinger (now with the Dallas Stars) made 56 saves. North Dakota saw 51 shots blocked by the Terrier defense and hit two posts along the way.

Last Meeting in Boston: April 9, 2015. In a battle of heavyweights, UND outshot the Terriers 39-28 but trailed for 55 minutes of the Frozen Four semifinal. North Dakota made it interesting with two late third-period goals but came up just short. Jack Eichel notched three points for BU, including an empty-net goal with under twenty seconds remaining that made the final score 5-3.

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-breaking tally with six seconds remaining in the middle frame.

All-time record: North Dakota leads the all-time series, 12-11-2 (.520), although the Terriers hold a 7-4-1 advantage in games played in Boston and have gone 4-0-1 in the last five. 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. The teams first met in 1981.

Last Ten: Boston University has had the better of it lately, going 6-3-1 (.650) over the last ten games between the teams and outscoring UND 34-30 over that stretch.

Game News and Notes

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). North Dakota has outshot and outscored opponents in each period this season, whiie Boston University has been outscored in third periods. Last Saturday night, Fighting Hawks captain Riese Gaber became the 83rd member of UND’s Century Club (100 career points). Gaber has 49 goals and 51 assists in 108 career games.

Media Coverage

Both games will be availab le via webcast at ESPN+, with puck drop each night scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Central Time. 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

Boston University will give UND fits with its overall team speed and talent, and North Dakota netminder Ludvig Persson will need to be up to the challenge, as I expect the Terriers to generate several odd-man rushes in this game. Specialty teams will be in a factor, with the winning team each night likely finding itself on the plus side of that ledger. This one feels like a split, and that’s what I’ve got. BU 4-2. UND 5-3.

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!

Quite simply, North Dakota vs. Minnesota is a hockey rivalry unlike any other.

Before we dig into this weekend’s matchup, let’s take a trip down memory lane and hear from fans on both sides of the rivalry.

#5 North Dakota (2-0-0) is seven years removed from its eighth national championship but has made the national tournament in three of the past four seasons and has gone a remarkable 90-40-12 (.676) over that stretch.

#1 Minnesota (2-0-0) has only advanced to the NCAAs three times in the last six seasons (and only eight of the past fifteen) and is stuck on five national titles, the most recent in 2002 and 2003.

More to the point…

The Golden Gophers played from 1947-1973 without a title (26 seasons).

Head coach Herb Brooks led Minnesota to three NCAA championships in a six year stretch (1974, 1976, and 1979).

The Golden Gophers then played from 1979-2001 without a title (22 seasons).

Head coach Don Lucia won back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2003.

This year will mark the 21st anniversary of Minnesota’s most recent NCAA crown.

North Dakota has been relevant in every decade, with head coaches Bob May, Barry Thorndycraft, John “Gino” Gasparini, Dean Blais, and Brad Berry all lifting college hockey’s most coveted trophy.

Here is a closer look at the thirteen combined national titles won by these two storied programs.

Despite only nine tournament victories since Minnesota’s last title (UND has 22 in that same span), Gophers’ head coach Don Lucia was inexplicably given a two-year extension that was supposed to keep him behind the bench through the 2018-19 campaign. After the Gophers sputtered to a 19-17-2 record six seasons ago. Lucia was replaced by former St. Cloud State bench boss Bob Motzko.

Motzko, who guided St. Cloud State to the national tournament eight times in his thirteen seasons behind the SCSU bench, only managed an overall NCAA tourney record of 5-8 and one Frozen Four appearance with the Huskies. With the Gophers, his tournament results have been better but ultimately just as disappointing, with a record of 6-3, two Frozen Fours, and an overtime loss to Quinnipiac in last season’s national title game.

After this season, the teams are not scheduled to play again. There is hope, however, that the rivalry will continue in future seasons, with a possible four-year schedule agreement on the horizon.

Minnesota can no longer lay claim to having a roster made up exclusively of the State of Hockey’s “Pride On Ice”, with players hailing from Cochrane (Alberta) and Kindersley (Saskatchewan). Future recruits in the pipeline hail from Morristown (New Jersey), Locust Valley (New York), Bethel Park (Pennsylvania), West Mifflin (Pennsylvania), and Orono (Ontario).

UND boasts six North Dakotans on its roster along with five players from Minnesota.

So far this season, North Dakota has defeated Army (7-2) and Wisconsin (2-0). Minnesota swept third-year program St. Thomas (6-5 [OT] and 3-0). The Tommies are coached by former Miami bench boss Rico Blasi.

It is abundantly clear that North Dakota will have the puck a lot this season, and the numbers bear that out. Through two games, the Fighting Hawks are tied for fifth in the nation in shots on goal allowed/game (21.0) and are among the country’s leaders in two key puck possession statistics:

Corsi (% of shots taken vs. opponent): 55.7% (15th)
Fenwick (% of unblocked shots taken vs. opponent): 56.9% (15th)

By comparison, Minnesota sits in 32nd place in both Corsi (48.8%) and Fenwick (49.0%) and is averaging 31.0 shots on goal per game (North Dakota is averaging 30.0/game) while allowing 30.0 shots on goal per game (26th).

Both teams have scored nine goals on the young season, although UND has only allowed two while Minnesota has given up five. The two squads are both among the country’s leaders in shot percentage, with North Dakota scoring on 15.0% of shots on goal (5th) and Minnesota right behind at 14.5% (6th).

One key area to watch this weekend is the face-off circle. The Fighting Hawks are the nation’s fifth-best team on draws (57.7%), while Minnesota clocks in at just 53.5% (18th).

For UND, sophomore Owen McLaughlin has been making a living on draws, winning 18 of 25 (72.0%). Junior Cameron Berg is not far behind, having won 17 of 24 (70.8%). Senior Louis Jamernik V has been steady at 57.7% (15 of 26). Junior Jake Schmaltz has struggled in the early going (3 of 12, 25%), but I expect those numbers to climb as the season progresses and his wings start winning the secondary battles required at this level.

For the Gophers, gradute student Jaxon Nelson has taken the most draws, winning 30 of 54 (55.6%), while freshman Jimmy Clark has had the most success (17 of 25, 68.0%). After that, however, it’s been a challenge, with freshman Oliver Moore (15 of 29, 51.7%) and junior Aaron Huglen (13 of 32, 40.6%) struggling to keep their heads above water.

To this point in the season, Minnesota has had the better of the specialty teams play. The Maroon and Gold have been a combined +2, with three power play goals scored (3 for 6, 50.0%, 2nd in the country), no power play goals allowed (6 of 6, 100.0%, 1st), and one shorthanded goal allowed (none scored). North Dakota has posted a +1, with one power play goal scored (1 of 8, 12.5%, 36th), two power play goals allowed (7 of 9, 77.8%, 37th), and two shorthanded goals scored (none allowed).

In this rivalry, both teams have historically had plenty of firepower up front, with scoring from the back end often proving to be the difference. This weekend, the two groups of defensemen have each scored a total of four points (all assists) through two games played. UND is led offensively on the blue line by senior Garrett Pyke and graduate student Logan Britt, with junior Bennett Zmolek and graduate student Keaton Pehrson chipping in as well. Each of those four tallied an assist last weekend. North Dakota head coach Brad Berry is certainly also hoping for offensive contributions from freshmen Jake Livanavage (9-72-81 over his last two seasons with the Chicago Steel of the USHL) and Abram Wiebe (14-70-84 in two seasons with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL).

On the back end, Minnesota has seen contributions from sophomore blueliner Luke Mittelstadt and freshman Sam Rinzel, both of whom tallied two assists last weekend. Senior defenseman Mike Koster is out for this weekend’s games due to an injury; Koster notched 29 points last year. Ryan Chesley is questionable for this series; the sophomore logged nearly 28 minutes last Saturday night against St. Thomas.

After last season’s Frozen Four run, the Gophers lost Jackson LaCombe (35 points), Brock Faber (27), and Ryan Johnson (18). If both Koster and Chesley are out of the lineup this weekend, Bob Motzko‘s defensive corps will include only one player (Mittelstadt) who scored more than six points a year ago.

Times have changed in Grand Forks as well. After missing the national tournament last year, head coach Brad Berry and his staff brought in fourteen fresh faces, tied for the second-most in team history. More strikingly, all eight defensemen are new to the UND men’s hockey program, including four freshmen.

Coincidentally, the breakdown of first-year players and transfers into the North Dakota system is identical:

Freshmen:

Four defensemen (Nate Benoit, Tanner Komzak, Jake Livanavage, Abram Wiebe)

Two forwards (Michael Emerson, Jayden Perron)

One goaltender (Hobie Hedquist)

Transfers:

Four defensemen (Logan Britt, Keaton Pehrson, Garrett Pyke, Bennett Zmolek)

Two forwards (Cameron Berg, Hunter Johannes)

One goaltender (Ludvig Perrson)

These fourteen newcomers join eleven returning forwards and second-year netminder Kaleb Johnson to form UND’s 26-player roster. The Fighting Hawks return 70 goals up front, led by senior Riese Gaber (20 goals last season) and sophomore Jackson Blake (16). With the addition of Berg (10 goals last season at Omaha), Johannes (13 at Lindenwood), and Chicago Steel (USHL) teammates Emerson (30) and Perron (24), North Dakota should easily surpass the 102 goals scored all of last season by its forward group.

Back on October 7th, North Dakota throttled Manitoba in a 10-0 exhibition win. Last weekend, UND dispatched the Army West Point Golden Nights 7-2 behind a dominant second period before posting a 2-0 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers. Over the first two weeks of the season, the Green and White have showcased team speed, offensive skill, and a commitment to retrieving loose pucks.

North Dakota and Minnesota are both tied for 11th in the country in scoring offense (4.50 goals scored/game), although UND has only allowed two goals this season (1.00 goals allowed/game, tied for first) while the Gophers have allowed five (2.50 goals allowed/game, 19th).

In order to contain Minnesota’s high-flying forward group, I expect Brad Berry to play the Jackson Kunz – Ben Strinden – Carson Albrecht line against Garrett Pinoniemi – Jaxon Nelson – Bryce Brodzinski and the “3J’s” (Dylan James, Louis Jamernik V, and Hunter Johannes) against Brody Lamb, Oliver Moore, and Jimmy Snuggerud as much as possible. This should allow UND’s top six more time and space to focus on the offensive end of the ice.

After this weekend, UND will play one more non-conference series at home (hosting #19/#20 Minnesota State) before traveling to face #6/#6 Boston University on November 3rd and 4th.

Home series against unranked Bemidji State (November 24th and 25th) and #31/#33 Alaska (January 5th and 6th) will round out the non-conference schedule. North Dakota’s results in their twelve games outside the NCHC will play a large role in the final PairWise rankings and seeding for the NCAA tournament.

Over the next three weekends, the Gophers are running through the rivalry gauntlet, with upcoming games against Wisconsin (home, October 26 and 27), Minnesota Duluth (home-and-home, November 3 and 4), and Michigan (road, November 10 and 11) on the docket.

Minnesota Team Profile

Head Coach: Bob Motzko (6th season at Minnesota, 115-60-12, .647)
National Rankings: #1/#1

This Season: 2-0-0 overall, 0-0-0-0 Big Ten
Last Season: 29-10-1 (NCAA Runner-Up), 17-3-2-2 Big Ten (1st of 7 teams)

2023-24 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 4.50 goals scored/game – 11th of 58 teams
Team Defense: 2.50 goals allowed/game – 19th of 58 teams

Power Play: 50.0% (3 of 6) – 2nd of 58 teams
Penalty Kill: 100.0% (6 of 6) – 1st of 58 teams

Key Players: Sophomore F Jimmy Snuggerud (4-1-5), Graduate F Jaxon Nelson (1-1-2), Freshman F Oliver Moore (0-4-4), Sophomore F Brody Lamb (3-1-4), Sophomore D Luke Middelstadt (0-2-2), Freshman D Sam Rinzel (0-2-2), Graduate G Justen Close (2-0-0, 2.47 GAA, .917 SV%, 1 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (9th season at UND, 182-92-31, .648)
National Rankings: #5/#5

This Season: 2-0-0 overall, 0-0-0-0 NCHC
Last Season: 18-15-5 overall, 7-10-5-2 NCHC (t-5th of 8 teams)

2023-2024 Season Statistics

Team Offense: 4.50 goals scored/game – 11th of 58 teams
Team Defense: 1.00 goals allowed/game – 1st of 58 teams

Power Play: 12.5% (1 of 8) – 36th of 58 teams
Penalty Kill: 77.8% (7 of 9) – 37th of 58 teams

Key Players: Sophomore F Jackson Blake (2-1-3), Senior F Riese Gaber (2-1-3), Graduate F Hunter Johannes (3-0-3), Junior F Jake Schmaltz (0-2-2), Senior F Louis Jamernik V (0-1-1), Junior F Cameron Berg (1-1-2), Senior D Garrett Pyke (0-1-1), Graduate D Keaton Pehrson (0-1-1), Graduate D Logan Britt (0-1-1), Senior G Ludvig Persson (2-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .952 SV%, 1 SO)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: October 22, 2022 (Minneapolis, MN). Near the end of a furious first period that saw the home team put fifteen pucks on net, the scoreboard still showed two zeroes. North Dakota defenseman Tyler Kleven crushed a Gopher, resulting in a five-minute major for contact to the head and a game misconduct. Minnesota’s Matthew Knies scored a power play goal just 48 seconds into the second period, and when Rhett pitlick doubled the lead just eight minutes later, it appeared that the rout was on. Except… Pitlick decided to launch his stick into the crowd. And was assessed a ten-minute misconduct. Between that moment and the end of the second period, the Gophers took 21 more minutes in penalties (to North Dakota’s two), and UND scored three power play goals (along with an even-strength tally by captain Mark Senden). Connor Kurth would get the home team back within one with just 34 seconds remanining in the middle frame. Minnesota freshman forward Jimmy Snuggerud brought his team even early in the third, but Senden capped the night with a game-winning goal just under halfway through the 3-on-3 overtime session. One night earlier, the Gophers came back to win on a late extra-attacker goal at 18:36 of the third period and an overtime winner just 21 seconds into the fourth frame.

Last Meeting in Grand Forks: November 27, 2021. One night after falling 5-1 to the visiting Gophers, the homestanding Hawks scored a goal in each period to build a 3-0 lead. Minnesota goals at 7:35 (power play) and 16:30 (extra attacker) of the final frame left the outcome in doubt, but the Maroon and Gold could not find the equalizer in the closing minutes and had to settle for a road split. UND outshot Minnesota 26-13 for the contest and were led offensively by Mark Senden, who assisted on the first North Dakota goal and scored twice to lead the Green and White to victory.

What Happens In Vegas: October 27, 2018 (Las Vegas, NV). The “Duel in the Desert” left #5 Minnesota feeling high and dry as #17 North Dakota played the Gophers even through a scoreless opening period before outshooting their guests 25-12 over the final forty minutes of play. UND’s Colton Poolman scored two goals for the Fighting Hawks, while fellow blueliner Hayden Shaw assisted on all three goals in a 3-1 North Dakota victory. Attendance was recorded as 412 Gopher fans and 7000 fans of the Green and White.

Most important meeting: March 24, 1979 (Detroit, MI). North Dakota and Minnesota met to decide the national championship, and the Gophers prevailed, 4-3. Neal Broten scored the game-winning goal for the U of M, and Steve Janaszak was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

All-time: Minnesota leads the all-time series by a seven-game margin, 142-135-16 (.512), although North Dakota holds a 72-57-8 (.555) advantage in games played in Grand Forks. Brad Berry is 6-4-1 against Minnesota in his head coaching career. The teams first met in 1948.

Last ten: North Dakota has gone 6-4-0 in the last ten meetings between the schools, outscoring Minnesota 31-24 in those games.

Game News and Notes

North Dakota defenseman Keaton Pehrson has played sixteen games against the Gophers in his collegiate career. Pehrson was a four-year starter at Michigan. UND senior forward Riese Gaber has three goals and one assist in his four games against Minnesota. Gaber, the captain of the 2023-2024 Fighting Hawks, has a career line of 48-50-98 in 104 collegiate games and needs just two points to become the 93rd member of UND’s Century Club. Since the B1G Hockey Conference was formed following the 2012-2013 season, teams in the NCHC have combined for five national titles (UND 2016, DU 2017, UMD 2018 and 2019, DU 2022). The B1G? Zero. North Dakota’s 2019 Thanksgiving visit to Minneapolis ended in a sweep for the Fighting Hawks (9-3, 3-2), the first since January 2007. In an effort to alleviate parking concerns, Minnesota fans are asked to park at 3M Arena At Mariucci and walk to the games. 8 > 5.

One More Shift

On Saturday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena, UND Hobey Baker Award winner (1987) and national champion (1987) Tony Hrkac will skate one more shift. Hrkac, who still holds the NCAA Division I men’s college hockey record for points in a season with 116, will be introduced alongside the team and skate a couple of laps before the opening faceoff.

Hrkac will become the sixth former UND hockey player to skate “one more shift”, joining Jim Archibald, Ed Belfour, Brandon Bochenski, Dave Christian, and Matt Greene.

Broadcast Information

Both games will be broadcast live on Midco Sports Network and also available via webcast at NCHC.tv. All UND men’s hockey games (home and away) can be heard on 96.1 FM and on stations across the UND Sports Network (as well as through the iHeart Radio app).

Social Media

Keep up with the action live during all UND hockey games by following @UNDmhockey and @UNDInsider on Twitter. Fans can also read the action via Brad Schlossman’s live chat on the Grand Forks Herald website.

The Prediction

Both teams are still finding their identity and building toward league play, the second half of the season, and the playoffs. The biggest question mark for Minnesota is their defense. Without Koster and (possibly) Chesley, the Gophers are thin and inexperienced on the back end. North Dakota will want to roll four lines and dictate matchups, because a penalty fest favors the road team in this one. I’m looking at a few key factors: faceoffs, goaltending, and the ability to score in bunches. Either one of these teams could ride the wave of momentum to victory, and in a rivalry matchup, whichever team keeps unnecessary penalties to a minimum has the advantage. I know it feels like a cop-out to call a split, but it’s too early in the season for one team to have that much of an edge. UND 4-3, Minnesota 5-3.

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!

One night after facing Army for just the second time in school history (a 7-2 victory for the Green and White), UND turns its attention to a much more familiar foe.

North Dakota and Wisconsin will square off at Ralph Engelstad Arena on Saturday night in the 171st meeting between the two storied programs.

Five seasons ago, UND hosted the Badgers for a pair of games at the Ralph and earned a sweep (5-0, 3-2 OT). The teams have not played since that weekend, and the rivalry has a slightly different feel since the demise of the old WCHA.

Things look different in Madison these days as well…

Since Jeff Sauer left the Badger bench following the 2001-02 season, Wisconsin men’s hockey has been just like the Olympic Games: good once every four years.

Former Badger coach Mike Eaves was widely criticized for recruiting in a cycle, bringing in huge freshman classes every four years in the hopes that a dominant senior class would bring a title to Madison down the road.

And it worked. Once. In 2006, the Badgers won a national championship on the backs of three seniors (forwards Adam Burish and Ryan MacMurchy and defenseman Tom Gilbert) plus forwards Joe Pavelski and Robbie Earl, underclassmen who left the program after that season. Mike Eaves came close four years later, but Wisconsin fell to Boston College 5-0 in the title game. North Dakota derailed UW’s title hopes at the end of the 2014 season, and Bucky fell way short last year, missing the NCAA tournament.

Mike Eaves left Wisconsin after the 2015-2016 season, and UW named Tony Granato as his replacement.

Granato’s time in Madtown can only be described as a disappointment.

In Granato’s seven seasons, the Badgers only made the NCAA tournament once (2021). That year marked only his second (and final) winning record with the team. In his 250 games behind the Bucky bench, Granato posted an overall head coaching record of 105-129-16 (.452).

The last two seasons were even worse for the Badgers: records of 10-24-3 (.311) in 2021-2022 and 13-23-0 (.361) in 2023-2024 saw UW move on from Granato and bring in former Minnesota State head coach Mike Hastings, who has the Badgers at 3-0 on the young season.

In his eleven seasons with the Mavericks, Hastings brought his squad to the NCAA tournament nine times, with two Frozen Four appearances (2021, 2022) and a runner-up finish in 2022. Minnesota State also won six regular season WCHA titles and two regular season CCHA titles under his watch, and won the conference playoff title five times.

Times have changed in Grand Forks as well. After missing the national tournament last year, head coach Brad Berry and his staff brought in fourteen fresh faces, tied for the second-most in team history. More strikingly, all eight defensemen are new to the UND men’s hockey program, including four freshmen.

Coincidentally, the breakdown of first-year players and transfers into the North Dakota system is identical:

Freshmen:

Four defensemen (Nate Benoit, Tanner Komzak, Jake Livanavage, Abram Wiebe)

Two forwards (Michael Emerson, Jayden Perron)

One goaltender (Hobie Hedquist)

Transfers:

Four defensemen (Logan Britt, Keaton Pehrson, Garrett Pyke, Bennett Zmolek)

Two forwards (Cameron Berg, Hunter Johannes)

One goaltender (Ludvig Perrson)

These fourteen newcomers join eleven returning forwards and second-year netminder Kaleb Johnson to form UND’s 26-player roster. The Fighting Hawks return 70 goals up front, led by senior Riese Gaber (20 goals last season) and sophomore Jackson Blake (16). With the addition of Berg (10 goals last season at Omaha), Johannes (13 at Lindenwood), and Chicago Steel (USHL) teammates Emerson (30) and Perron (24), North Dakota should easily surpass the 102 goals scored all of last season by its forward group.

Last weekend, North Dakota throttled Manitoba in a 10-0 exhibition win, and last night, UND dispatched the Army West Point Golden Nights 7-2 behind a dominant second period. Over those two contests, the Green and White showcased team speed, offensive skill, and a commitment to retrieving loose pucks.

One area of concern for the home team tonight is the penalty kill. Dane Jackson‘s normally stalwart unit gave up two power play goals on four opportunities against Army and will need to be more efficient tonight against UW. On the plus side, North Dakota tallied a shorthanded goal and went 1-3 with the man advantage.

This weekend marks the fifth time that UND has participated in the annual Ice Breaker tournament, tied for the second-most appearances in men’s Division I college hockey. In Portland, Maine in 2015, the Green and White won the tournament with a 5-2 victory over Lake Superior State and a 1-1 tie (shootout victory) against Maine. North Dakota hosted the event in 2011 and also appeared in the event in 2000 (Ann Arbor, MI) and 2008 (Boston, MA).

The other Ice Breaker Tournament matchup on Friday featured #21/#22 Wisconsin downing host 4-3 Bemidji State in overtime. Badger sophomore forward Cruz Lucius potted the game-winner 4:11 into the 3-on-3 overtime session. Lucius also scored in the second period. All of Wisconsin’s goals last night were scored in specialty teams situations (two 4-on-4 goals, a power play goal, and the overtime winner).

After tonight, UND will play four more non-conference games at home (two games each against #2/#1 Minnesota and #28/#26 Minnesota State) before traveling to face #1/#2 Boston University on November 3rd and 4th.

Home series against Bemidji State (November 24th and 25th) and #29/NR Alaska (January 5th and 6th) will round out the non-conference schedule. North Dakota’s results in their twelve games outside the NCHC will play a large role in the final PairWise rankings and seeding for the NCAA tournament.

Wisconsin Team Profile

Head Coach: Mike Hastings (1st season at UW, 3-0-0, 1.000)
National Rankings: #21/#22
This Season: 3-0-0 overall, 0-0-0-0 Big Ten
Last Season: 13-23-0 overall (missed NCAA tournament), 6-18-0-0 Big Ten (7th of seven teams)

Last Season’s Statistics:

Team Offense: 2.61 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 3.50 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 21.2% (31 of 146)
Penalty Kill: 78.9% (116 of 147)

Key Players (last season’s statistics): Sophomore F Cruz Lucius (11-23-34), Senior F Mathieu De St. Phalle (13-17-30), Senior F Carson Bantle (9-7-16), Sophomore F Charlie Stramel (5-7-12), Sophomore D Tyson Jugnauth (5-10-15), Sophomore D Ben Dexheimer (0-11-11), Junior G Kyle McClellan (3-6-0, 3.57 GAA, .883 SV%)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (9th season at UND, 181-92-31, .646)
National Rankings: #7/#7
This Season: 1-0-0 overall, 0-0-0-0 NCHC
Last Season: 18-15-5 overall, 7-10-5-2 NCHC (t-5th of 8 teams)

Last Season’s Statistics:

Team Offense: 3.26 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.82 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 27.3% (45 of 165)
Penalty Kill: 83.7% (128 of 153)

Key Players (last season’s statistics): Sophomore F Jackson Blake (16-26-42), Senior F Riese Gaber (20-17-37), Junior F Jake Schmaltz (5-7-12), Senior F Louis Jamernik V (3-11-14), Sophomore F Owen McLaughlin (2-13-15), Junior F Cameron Berg (10-14-24 at Omaha), Graduate F Hunter Johannes (13-16-29 at Lindenwood), Senior D Garrett Pyke (4-15-19 at Alaska), Graduate D Keaton Pehrson (0-11-11 at Michigan), Graduate D Logan Britt (2-10-12 at Sacred Heart), Senior G Ludvig Persson (8-19-4, 3.67 GAA, .891 SV%, 2 SO at Miami)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: November 3, 2018 (Grand Forks, ND). One night after blanking the Badgers 5-0, the Green and White needed overtime heroics to complete the sweep. Enter Jacob Bernard-Docker. UND’s JBD scored just 21 seconds into the extra frame while North Dakota was enjoying a 5-on-3 advantage. The two extra skaters for the home team came courtesy of UW’s Josh Ess, who was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking at 18:21 of the third period, and Tyler Inamoto, who earned a seat next to his teammate for contact to the head (elbowing) just sixteen seconds later. The overtime game-winner came just as Ess was leaving the penalty box. For the weekend, North Dakota outshot the Badgers 58-47 and held Bucky scoreless on six power plays.

Most Important Meeting: March 27, 1982 (Providence, RI). A 2-2 tie after two periods turned into a 5-2 Sioux victory, as Phil Sykes netted a hat trick and led UND to its fourth National Championship. Glen White scored the first goal of the game for North Dakota and assisted on two of Sykes’ goals. Darren Jensen backstopped the Green and White and was named to the all-tournament team along with Sykes, defenseman James Patrick, and forward Cary Eades. This title would be the second of three North Dakota titles won at the Providence Civic Center (1980, 2000).

All-time Series: Wisconsin leads the all-time series, 87-72-13 (.544), with a slight edge (37-36-9, .506) in games played in Grand Forks. The teams first met in December 1968.

Last Ten: The Green and White have had Bucky’s number lately, going 8-1-1 (.850) in the last ten tilts and outscoring the Badgers 35-17.

Game News and Notes

UND sophomore forward Jackson Blake was named to the 2023-2024 Preseason All-CHN First Team, the only NCHC player to make the first team. Four other league players were named to the Second Team. In the Big Ten Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll, Wisconsin was picked to finish fifth in the seven-team league, without a single player on the All-Big Ten Preseason First Team, Second Team, or Honorable Mention Team. “Badgers” cannot be spelled without “B-A-D”.

The Prediction

Wisconsin wasn’t tested last weekend in a home sweep of Augustana (4-0, 3-0) and, despite needing overtime, outshot Bemidji State 61-19 last night. On the North Dakota side, seventeen goals through one exhibition and last night’s tilt against Army has fans buzzing. I expect a wild one tonight, with plays, goals, and penalties aplenty. The depth of talent on the home side – as well as a fiercely partisan crowd – should prove the difference for the Green and White.
UND 4-3.

Media Coverage

Tonight’s game will be broadcast live on Midco Sports Network and will also be streamed live in high definition via NCHC.tv. All UND men’s hockey games (home and away) can be heard on 96.1 FM and on stations across the UND Sports Network (as well as through the iHeart Radio app).

Social Media

Keep up with the action live during all UND hockey games by following @UNDmhockey and @UNDInsider on X/Twitter. Fans can also read the action via Brad Schlossman’s live chat on the Grand Forks Herald website.

For the fifth time this season, #17 North Dakota (18-14-6) squares off against #7 St. Cloud State (22-12-3).

This time, the game will take place at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, and the season is on the line for UND.

The Fighting Hawks must win two games at the 2023 NCHC Frozen Faceoff this weekend to make the national tournament. It’s doubly important this year, as North Dakota would automatically be placed at Scheels Arena (Fargo, North Dakota) as hosts of the NCAA West Regional. Two victories in Fargo would send UND to the Frozen Four in Tampa, Florida.

With a win on Friday night in St. Paul, UND would face either Denver or Colorado College in the league playoff championship game.

But first things first: the Fighting Hawks must find a way to defeat the Huskies, a team they beat just once in four opportunities during the regular season…

On December 2nd and 3rd, 2022, SCSU swept North Dakota on home ice (7-2, 6-3), scoring six straight goals in each contest. On Friday night, a disastrous second period saw the Huskies score every which way: at even strength, shorthanded, with the extra attacker on a delayed penalty, and on the ensuing power play. In Saturday’s rematch, the Fighting Hawks built a 3-0 lead early in the second period, but SCSU scored just 23 seconds after UND’s third goal and never looked back, potting four goals in the final frame.

Exactly one month ago, the Hawks hosted the Huskies and fared much better, with both tilts going to overtime. North Dakota won Friday’s contest on Riese Gaber‘s overtime winner; Gaber also scored the extra-attacker goal with 87 seconds remaining in regulation. On Saturday night in Grand Forks, UND outshot the visitors 30-13 but dropped the extra league point in the shootout.

And last year’s results were quite similar…

Almost exactly one year before the most recent series at the Herb (on Friday, December 3rd, 2021), the homestanding Huskies embarrassed the Fighting Hawks by a final score of 8-1. SCSU went 3-for-7 on the power play and held UND scoreless on two man-advantage opportunities. In Saturday’s rematch, North Dakota turned the specialty teams tables, going 1-for-7 on the power play and killing all four Husky power plays en route to a 5-3 road victory and a split of the weekend series.

The Fighting Hawks had better success in Grand Forks last season, earning a 7-1 victory to go along with a 3-3 tie (and shootout victory) in late January.

So why should things be different on St. Patrick’s Day in St. Paul? In addition to the obvious home ice advantage that UND will enjoy this weekend (after all, they are the team in green), there are three key aspects that make this matchup nearly a toss-up: the Fighting Hawks are playing their best hockey of the season, North Dakota has more to play for, and the game will be played on an NHL sheet of ice.

Let’s go into more depth on each of those three points…

SCSU has been brilliant at home this year on the wide Olympic ice (200×100), going 14-4-2. On the road, however, Brett Larson’s squad has gone just 8-8-1 with only one win in the past eight road games (1-6-1 since December 9th). Two of St. Cloud State’s eight road victories this season came at Wisconsin’s Kohl Center, which features a 200×97 sheet of ice.

Not only are the Huskies guaranteed to make the national tournament, but their overall position is completely locked in. SCSU will find itself as the #7 overall seed in the NCAAs regardless of this weekend’s results.

UND has definitely tightened things up in its own end throughout the second half of the season. Over the first seventeen games of the 2022-23 campaign, the Fighting Hawks allowed 58 goals (3.41 per game) and went 6-8-3 (.441).

In the 21 games since, North Dakota has allowed just 49 goals (2.33 per game) while going 12-6-3 (.643).

That remarkable defensive turnaround did not cause the Hawks’ offense to suffer dramatically, either, as the Green and White have scored 65 goals in the second half (3.10 goals per game).

Back in December, UND fifth-year goaltender Drew DeRidder appeared in both games against the Huskies, going 0-1-0 with a goals-against average of 5.32 and a save percentage of .741.

Last month in Grand Forks, DeRidder went 1-0-1 against SCSU with far better individual numbers: a goals-against average of 2.40 and a save percentage of .868.

Turning our attention to this weekend’s matchup, a half-point per game or better is my benchmark for solid offensive production, and Brett Larson’s squad has eight players who meet that threshold: graduate forward Grant Cruikshank (21-11-32), senior forward Jami Krannila (19-18-37), senior forward Zack Okabe (16-16-32), senior forward Kyler Kupka (9-15-24 in 31 games), junior forward Veeti Miettinen (10-21-31), freshman forward Adam Ingram (7-14-121), senior defenseman Dylan Anhorn (5-20-25 in 23 games), and sophomore defenseman Jack Peart (2-21-23).

Unfortunately, Dylan Anhorn suffered a season-ending injury in late January.

By that same measure, North Dakota boasts just four skaters with that level of offensive production: junior forward Riese Gaber (20-17-37), freshman forward Jackson Blake (16-25-41), graduate defenseman Chris Jandric (4-29-33), and junior defenseman Tyler Kleven (8-10-18).

UND is twelfth in the nation in shooting percentage at an astounding 11.2% (125 goals on 1116 shots). By comparison, St. Cloud State is tenth in the country at 11.5% (122 goals on 1057 shots). The Fighting Hawks average almost one more shot on goal per game than the Huskies (29.4 – 28.6), and allow nearly two fewer (24.8-26.4). North Dakota also leads 53.6% to 51.6% in Corsi (percentage of shots taken vs. opponent) and 53.4% to 51.6% in Fenwick (percentage of unblocked shots taken vs. opponent).

One key area to watch this weekend is the face-off circle. The Fighting Hawks have fallen to 20th in the nation on draws (51.9%), while SCSU clocks in at 53.9% (6th).

For UND, sophomore Jake Schmaltz has been making a living on draws, winning 379 of 680 (55.7%). Junior Louis Jamernik V has been making strides (351 of 675, 52.0%), while freshman Owen McLaughlin has been nearly dead even (194 of 387, 50.1%). Fifth-year forward Mark Senden has chipped in with 107 wins in 210 opportunities (51.0%).

SCSU will counter with graduate student Grant Cruikshank (430 of 758, 56.7%), senior Jami Krannila (253 of 513, 49.3%), sophomore Mason Salquist (281 of 502, 56.0%), and graduate student Aidan Spellacy (169 of 296, 57.1%). Salquist is Grand Forks native.

To this point in the season, North Dakota has had far the better of the specialty teams play. UND has been a combined +21, with 44 power play goals scored (44 of 162, 27.2%, 2nd in the country) 24 power play goals allowed (125 of 149, 83.9%, 13th), three shorthanded goals scored, and two allowed.

St. Cloud State has posted a plus-11, with 37 power play goals scored (37 of 145, 25.5%, 5th), 33 power play goals allowed (105 of 138, 76.1%, 56th), a remarkable EIGHT shorthanded goals scored, and one allowed.

North Dakota has earned far more man advantage opportunities than shorthanded situations this season (162-149), while St. Cloud State is nearly even (145-138).

In the four-game head-to-head series this season, North Dakota went 5-for-15 (33.3%) with the man advantage but allowed nine power play goals on eighteen penalty kill situations.

UND has been successful on 30 of its past 31 penalty kill situations (96.8%).

North Dakota and St. Cloud State are both in the top twelve in the country in scoring offense (UND 3.29, SCSU 3.30), although SCSU has the advantage in goals allowed/game (2.41 to 2.82). That defensive mark places the Huskies 13th in the country, while the Hawks check in as 30th-best.

North Dakota is strong offensively on the back end this season, with junior Tyler Kleven and senior Ethan Frisch leading the way. A trio of graduate students (Chris Jandric, Ty Farmer, and Ryan Sidorski) match up well with junior Cooper Moore to form a puck-moving defensive corps not unlike the one that took UND all the way to the national title seven years ago.

The six blueliners expected in the lineup for the Green and White this weekend have scored 22 goals and added 79 assists for 101 points in 208 combined games this season (0.49 points/game). Back in 2015-16, Troy Stecher, Tucker Poolman, Paul LaDue, Keaton Thompson, Christian Wolanin, and Gage Ausmus combined for 24-91-115 in 241 games played (0.48 points/game).

By comparison, the six available defensemen for St. Cloud State have posted a line of 12-57-69 in 188 games (0.37).

SCSU has had a nearly even split between the pipes, with senior Jaxon Castor (11-7-1, 2.19 GAA, .918 SV%, 2 SO) and junior Dominic Basse (11-5-2, 2.30 GAA, .911 SV%, 3 SO) each appearing in last weekend’s home playoff series against Minnesota Duluth.

My guess would be that Castor would start against North Dakota tonight; not only did he win the decisive third game against the Bulldogs, but he fared better against the Fighting Hawks this season:

Castor: 1-0-1, 1.93 goals-against average, .935 save percentage

Basse: 0-1-1, 3.47 goals-against average, .860 save percentage

Goaltending has been a struggle for most of this season for North Dakota, but graduate netminder Drew DeRidder appears to have righted the ship. The Michigan State transfer has started fifteen straight games for the Fighting Hawks, allowing a total of 30 goals in two games each against Duluth, Miami, Denver, St. Cloud State, and Colorado College along with the last five tilts against Omaha. Over that stretch, DeRidder has posted a record of 9-4-2 with a goals-against average of 2.06, a save percentage of .916, and two shutouts.

Most importantly, UND has only given up 22 five-on-five goals in the past fifteen games (1.47/game).

North Dakota (2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, and 2022) and St. Cloud State (2014, 2018, and 2019) have combined to win the regular season title in eight of the ten seasons of the NCHC. The Huskies also won the last WCHA conference title in 2013.

Given that these two squads have been at the top of the league standings since its inception, it was only fitting that they would meet in the 2021 NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship game, played in Grand Forks. Top-seeded North Dakota (20-5-1) squared off against #2 seed St. Cloud State (17-9-0). UND trailed 2-1 after two periods but strung together three goals just 122 seconds apart to take a lead they would never relinquish. The victory secured North Dakota’s first NCHC postseason title in the eight-year history of the league and its first conference playoff championship since the 2012 WCHA Final Five. In a nod to the Miracle On Ice, fans may well remember the 6-3 victory over Minnesota in the “Timeout Game” that year but forget that there was another game to play in the tournament. One night later, the green and white was out in full force on St. Patrick’s Day, and the Green and White dispatched Denver 4-0 to hoist the Broadmoor Trophy for the third consecutive season.

St. Cloud State Team Profile

Head Coach: Brett Larson (5th season at SCSU, 103-59-16, .624)

National Rankings: #7/#7
Pairwise Ranking: 7th
KRACH Rating: 297.1 (6th)

This Season: 22-12-3 overall, 10-8-5-1 NCHC (4th)
Last Season: 18-15-4 overall (NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinalist), 9-8-2-5 NCHC (5th)

2022-2023 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 3.30 goals scored/game – 11th of 62 teams
Team Defense: 2.41 goals allowed/game – 13th of 62 teams

Power Play: 25.5% (37 of 145) – 5th of 62 teams
Penalty Kill: 76.1% (105 of 138) – 56th of 62 teams

Key players: Graduate F Grant Cruikshank (21-11-32), Senior F Jami Krannila (19-18-37), Senior F Zack Okabe (16-16-32), Senior F Kyler Kupka (9-15-24 in 31 games), Junior F Veeti Miettinen (10-21-31), Freshman F Adam Ingram (7-14-21), Sophomore D Jack Peart (2-21-23), Graduate D Brendan Bushy (3-8-11), Senior G Jaxon Castor (11-7-1, 2.19 GAA, .918 SV%, 2 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (8th season at UND, 180-91-31, .647)

National Rankings: #17/#16
Pairwise Ranking: 18th
KRACH Rating: 191.6 (16th)

This Season: 18-14-6 overall, 7-10-5-2 NCHC (6th)
Last Season: 24-14-1 overall (NCAA Regional Semifinalist), 17-6-1 NCHC (t-1st)

2022-2023 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 3.29 goals scored/game – 12th of 62 teams
Team Defense: 2.82 goals allowed/game – 30th of 62 teams

Power Play: 27.2% (44 of 162) – 2nd of 62 teams
Penalty Kill: 83.9% (125 of 149) – 13th of 62 teams

Key Players: Junior F Riese Gaber (20-17-37), Freshman F Jackson Blake (16-25-41), Freshman F Owen McLaughlin (2-13-15), Graduate F Mark Senden (7-9-16), Senior F Gavin Hain (11-6-17), Senior F Judd Caulfield (9-9-18), Graduate D Chris Jandric (4-29-33), Junior D Tyler Kleven (8-10-18), Senior D Ethan Frisch (6-11-17), Junior D Cooper Moore (3-10-13), Graduate G Drew DeRidder (13-8-4, 2.52 GAA, .901 SV%, 4 SO)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: February 18, 2023 (Grand Forks, ND). North Dakota outshot the Huskies 30-13 but could only manage a 2-2 tie through sixty minutes of regulation. After a scoreless five minutes of 3-on-3, the contest went to a shootout, with SCSU prevailing on Grant Cruikshank‘s tally, the only goal scored in three rounds. One night earlier, UND won on Riese Gaber‘s overtime winner; Gaber also scored the extra-attacker goal with 87 seconds remaining in regulation.

Last Meeting in St. Paul: March 16, 2018. SCSU outshot North Dakota 33-23 in regulation, but the game was still knotted at 2-2 after sixty minutes. Nick Poehling mustered the first and only shot of the overtime session to give the Huskies the victory. UND freshman forward Jordan Kawaguchi scored a power play goal midway through the third period to force overtime.

A Recent Memory: March 16, 2021 (Grand Forks, ND). One night before St. Patrick’s Day, North Dakota enjoyed playing for the NCHC playoff title in front of a whole bunch of green. St. Cloud State led 2-1 after two periods, but the Fighting Hawks stormed back with four third-period goals – including three in the span of 122 seconds early in the final frame and an empty-netter to seal the 5-3 victory and the program’s first Frozen Faceoff championship. UND senior Jordan Kawaguchi and freshman Riese Gaber each had two goals and an assist.

Most Important Meeting: NCAA West Regional Final in Fargo, ND (March 28, 2015). North Dakota scored three unassisted goals over the final two periods of the hockey game to defeat St. Cloud State 4-1 in the West Regional Final and advance to the NCAA Frozen Four. Jimmy Murray got the Huskies on the board less than 90 seconds in to the hockey game, but that did nothing to quiet the partisan crowd of 5,307 at SCHEELS Arena. Four different players scored for UND, while Zane McIntyre made 19 stops to earn his 29th and final victory of the season.

All-Time Series: North Dakota leads the all-time series, 80-48-17 (.610), including a sparkling record of 8-4-0 (.667) in neutral site games. Aside from their 2015 and 2018 NCHC Frozen Faceoff semifinal victories, the Huskies also defeated North Dakota in the 2001 WCHA Final Five championship game. The teams have been squaring off regularly since the 1989-90 season but have only met once in the NCAA tournament (2015).

Last Ten: UND holds a slight lead of 5-3-2 (.600) in the last ten tilts between the teams, although the Huskies have outscored the Fighting Hawks 39-36 over that stretch of games.

Game News and Notes

UND’s Riese Gaber has nine goals and fourteen points in eleven career games against the Huskies. SCSU was 14-3-0 (.824) after a 7-3 victory at Miami on December 9th, but the Huskies have gone just 8-9-3 (.475) since that time, scoring 56 goals but also allowing 57. North Dakota is 2nd in the country with 44 power play goals, an average of 1.16 man-advantage markers per game. UND head coach Brad Berry is 14-11-5 (.550) in his head coaching career against the Huskies. North Dakota is 8-3-0 (.727) all-time on St. Patrick’s Day.

The Prediction

In the December series, St. Cloud State used their speed advantage and experience on the wide sheet of ice to throttle North Dakota in back-to-back games. Tonight’s game will much more resemble last month’s series in Grand Forks, and UND – with its back against the wall – will put forth its best effort of the season. There’s no way I’m picking against the green team on St. Patrick’s Day. UND 4-2.

Bonus Prediction

Colorado College will stun the top-seeded Pioneers, setting up a true Cinderella matchup tomorrow night. CC 3, DU 2.

Broadcast Information

Friday’s NCHC Frozen Faceoff semifinal will be broadcast exclusively on CBS Sports Network, with puck drop scheduled for 7:37 p.m. Central Time. 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.

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.

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!

For the second consecutive weekend, North Dakota (16-13-6) squares off against #17 Omaha (18-13-3).

This time, the games are at Baxter Arena, and the season is on the line.

For just the second time since 2002, UND will be away from Ralph Engelstad Arena for the first round of the league playoffs. The Fighting Hawks also found themselves on the road back in 2019, dropping two straight at Denver (0-2, 2-4) despite outshooting the Pios 32-17 in game one and 42-18 in the rematch.

2002 and 2019 are also – not coincidentally – the only two times that North Dakota failed to make it to the WCHA Final Five/NCHC Frozen Faceoff since 1996. UND hosted the first round of the league playoffs 22 times between 1997 and 2022 and advanced all 22 times (there was no NCHC tournament in 2020, and the format was modified for the 2020-2021 season).

Coming into this weekend, Omaha is 18th in the all-important Pairwise rankings, while North Dakota is 22nd. College Hockey News gives the Mavericks a 6% chance of making the national tournament without winning the Frozen Faceoff; UND’s chances of advancing to the NCAAs without securing the league’s autobid as NCHC tourney champs sit at a miniscule 0.2%.

And so it comes down to this: what are the chances that North Dakota can survive and advance by winning a best-of-three series on the road against Omaha? Recent history suggests that it’s better than a coin flip.

Last weekend in Grand Forks, the Fighting Hawks swept Omaha (5-4 OT, 2-1) and never trailed in the two-game series. UND outshot Omaha both nights and led for over 44 minutes of game action, a key stat for this year’s version of the Green and White, which is sometimes prone to panic when games are tied or the Hawks are trailing.

In the early November series at Omaha, UND won 4-1 on Friday night and settled for a 3-3 overtime tie in the rematch. In the game one victory, North Dakota outshot the home squad 38-22 and led for over 38 minutes. In Saturday’s overtime affair, the teams were tied for over 46 minutes of the game. In the two-game series, the Fighting Hawks outshot the Mavs 80-47.

Despite those stellar results against Omaha, UND struggled against the other top teams in the NCHC, going 0-4 against Denver, 1-2-1 against Western Michigan, and 1-2-1 against St. Cloud State. Those results – along with disappointing home losses to Miami and Duluth – pushed North Dakota into sixth place in the league standings. The Fighting Hawks also took seven games to overtime in league play, which cost the team valuable conference points against several teams this season.

Omaha, on the other hand, finished in the top half of the NCHC standings for just the fourth time.

In the ten-year history of the league, Omaha has finished 3rd, 3rd, 6th, 6th, 5th, 7th, 6th, 4th, 6th, and 3rd for an average finish of 4.90, sixth among the eight league teams. North Dakota leads the conference with an average finish of 2.70 (2nd, 1st, 1st, 4th, 4th, 5th, 1st, 1st, 2nd, and 6th). The Mavericks have never advanced past the first round of the league playoffs in nine seasons.

Turning our attention to this weekend’s matchup, a half-point per game or better is my benchmark for solid offensive production, and Mike Gabinet’s 2022-2023 squad has seven active players who meet that threshold, including six forwards: senior Jack Randl (18-16-34), graduate student Tyler Weiss (6-21-27), sophomore Ty Mueller (12-13-25), graduate student Jake Pivonka (10-8-18), sophomore Cameron Berg (9-13-22), and junior Matt Miller (13-12-25). On defense, the Mavericks are led by graduate student Jonny Tychonick (8-18-26).

Matt Miller led the way for the Mavs last weekend with two goals and one assist.

By that same measure, North Dakota boasts just four skaters at a half point per game or better: junior forward Riese Gaber (19-15-34), freshman forward Jackson Blake (15-25-40), graduate defenseman Chris Jandric (4-28-32), and senior defenseman Ethan Frisch (6-11-17).

UND is tenth in the nation in shooting percentage at an astounding 11.4% (116 goals on 1017 shots). By comparison, Omaha is 28th in the country at 9.7% (104 goals on 1071 shots). The Mavericks average more than two additional shots on goal per game than the FIghting Hawks (31.5 – 29.1), although North Dakota allows far fewer shots on goal per game (25.0 – 28.5). The two teams are nearly identical in puck possession statistics, with UND leading 53.5% to 52.9% in Corsi (percentage of shots taken vs. opponent) and 52.9% to 52.3% in Fenwick (percentage of unblocked shots taken vs. opponent).

One key area to watch this weekend is the face-off circle. The Fighting Hawks have fallen to 19th in the nation on draws (52.2%), while Omaha clocks in at 53.0% (12th).

For UND, sophomore Jake Schmaltz has been making a living on draws, winning 342 of 610 (56.1%). Junior Louis Jamernik V has been making strides (329 of 633, 52.0%), while freshman Owen McLaughlin has been a reliable third option (193 of 382, 50.5%). Fifth-year forward Mark Senden has chipped in with 89 wins in 169 opportunities (52.7%).

For Omaha, graduate student Jake Pivonka has taken the majority of important draws, going 304 of 549 (55.4%). Senior captain Nolan Sullivan has had the most success (321 of 553, 58.0%), while sophomore Ty Mueller (220 of 457, 48.1%) has been up and down.

Nolan Sullivan is not expected in the lineup this weekend.

To this point in the season, North Dakota has had far the better of the specialty teams play. UND has been a combined +19, with 42 power play goals scored (42 of 148, 28.4%, 1st in the country) 23 power play goals allowed (110 of 133, 82.7%, 16th), two shorthanded goals scored, and two allowed.

Omaha has posted a +5, with 29 power play goals scored (29 of 129, 22.5%, 17th), 24 power play goals allowed (86 of 110, 78.2%, 45th), three shorthanded goals scored, and three allowed.

North Dakota has earned far more man advantage opportunities than shorthanded situations this season (148-133), while Omaha has fared even better (129-110).

In the four game head-to-head series this season, North Dakota went 3-for-16 (18.8%) with the man advantage and held Omaha scoreless on 17 power play opportunities.

North Dakota is 12th in the country in scoring offense (3.31 goals scored/game) but just 33rd in the country in scoring defense (2.91 goals allowed/game). Omaha is 22nd in the country in scoring offense (3.06 goals scored/game) but a more respectable 19th in scoring defense (2.59 goals allowed/game).

UND has definitely tightened things up in its own end over the second half of the season. Over the first seventeen games of the 2022-23 campaign, the Fighting Hawks allowed 58 goals (3.41 per game) and went 6-8-3 (.441).

In the eighteen games since, North Dakota has allowed just 44 goals (2.44 per game) while going 10-5-3 (.639).

North Dakota is strong offensively on the back end this season, with junior Tyler Kleven and senior Ethan Frisch leading the way. A trio of graduate students (Chris Jandric, Ty Farmer, and Ryan Sidorski) match up well with junior Cooper Moore to form a puck-moving defensive corps not unlike the one that took UND all the way to the national title seven years ago.

The six blueliners expected in the lineup for the Green and White this weekend have scored 21 goals and added 70 assists for 91 points in 171 combined games this season (0.53 points/game). Back in 2015-16, Troy Stecher, Tucker Poolman, Paul LaDue, Keaton Thompson, Christian Wolanin, and Gage Ausmus combined for 24-91-115 in 241 games played (0.48 points/game).

By comparison, the six available defensemen for Omaha have posted a line of 11-62-73 in 188 games (0.39).

Freshman netminder Simon Latkoczy has been a revelation for Omaha this season. The first-year goalie from Trencin, Slovakia has posted a record of 10-4-1 with a goals-against average of 2.25, a save percentage of .920, and two shutouts. Latkoczy took over the reigns from junior Jake Kucharski (8-9-2, 2.72 GAA, .904 SV%, 1SO) in late January and has given up more than two goals only twice since October 15th. He played his junior hockey with the Madison Capitols and Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League.

Last Friday in Grand Forks, the Fighting Hawks lit up Latkoczy to the tune of five goals on thirty shots.

Goaltending has been a struggle for most of this season for North Dakota, but graduate netminder Drew DeRidder appears to have righted the ship. The Michigan State transfer has started twelve straight games for the Fighting Hawks, allowing a total of 25 goals in two games each against Duluth, Miami, Denver, St. Cloud State, Colorado College, and Omaha. Over that stretch, DeRidder has posted a record of 7-3-2 with a goals-against average of 2.16, a save percentage of .914, and two shutouts. He has also locked it down in shootouts, stopping five of six shooters against SCSU and CC.

Back in November, DeRidder started both games at Omaha, stopping 43 of 47 shots and earning a win and a tie. And last weekend in Grand Forks, DeRidder earned two victories while stopping 53 of 58 shots.

In the four-game series, the fifth-year goaltender from Fenton, Michigan earned three victories and a tie, posting a goals-against average of 2.20 and a save percentage of .914.

Sadly, Omaha assistant coach Paul Jerrard died last month after a long-term battle with cancer. Jerrard made a positive impact on the game of hockey, and he will be greatly missed. To learn more about his work and legacy, please read this feature on Jerrard from the University of Nebraska Omaha.

Omaha Team Profile

Head Coach: Mike Gabinet (6th season at UNO, 93-99-14, .485)

National Rankings: #17/#18
Pairwise Ranking: 18th
KRACH Rating: 184.6 (16th)

This Season: 18-13-3 overall, 11-7-3-3 NCHC (3rd)
Last Season: 21-17-0 overall, 9-12-2-1 NCHC (6th)

Team Offense: 3.06 goals scored/game – 22nd of 62 teams
Team Defense: 2.59 goals allowed/game – 19th of 62 teams

Power Play: 22.5% (29 of 129) – 17th of 62 teams
Penalty Kill: 78.2% (86 of 110) – 45th of 62 teams

Key Players: Senior F Jack Randl (18-16-34), Graduate F Tyler Weiss (6-21-27), Sophomore F Ty Mueller (12-13-25), Graduate F Jake Pivonka (10-8-18), Sophomore F Cameron Berg (9-13-22), Junior FMatt Miller (13-12-25). Graduate D Jonny Tychonick (8-18-26), Freshman G Simon Latkoczy (10-4-1, 2.25 GAA, .920 SV%, 2 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (8th season at UND, 178-90-31, .647)

National Rankings: NR/NR
Pairwise Ranking: 22nd
KRACH Rating: 182.0 (17th)

This Season: 16-13-6 overall, 7-10-5-2 NCHC (6th)
Last Season: 24-14-1 overall (NCAA Regional Semifinalist), 17-6-1 NCHC (t-1st)

2022-2023 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 3.31 goals scored/game – 12th of 62 teams
Team Defense: 2.91 goals allowed/game – 33rd of 62 teams

Power Play: 28.4% (42 of 148) – 1st of 62 teams
Penalty Kill: 82.7% (110 of 133) – 16th of 62 teams

Key Players: Junior F Riese Gaber (19-15-34), Freshman F Jackson Blake (15-25-40), Freshman F Owen McLaughlin (2-13-15), Graduate F Mark Senden (7-9-16), Senior F Gavin Hain (10-5-15), Senior F Judd Caulfield (9-7-16), Graduate D Chris Jandric (4-28-32), Junior D Tyler Kleven (6-9-15), Senior D Ethan Frisch (6-11-17), Junior D Cooper Moore (3-10-13), Graduate G Drew DeRidder (11-7-4, 2.62 GAA, .898 SV%, 4 SO)

By The Numbers:

Last meeting: March 4, 2023 (Grand Forks, ND). North Dakota defenseman Ethan Frissch broke a scoreless tie early in the third period, and fellow blueliner Chris Jandric scored with three minutes remaining to give UND a 2-1 lead that they would not relinquish. In Friday’s opener, UND saw a 3-1 lead evaporate in the final frame, with four total goals scored in the third period. The teams went to overtime tied at 4-4, and Ethan Frisch sent the fans home happy with his fifth goal of the season just 66 seconds into the extra session. For his efforts, Frisch was named the NCHC defenseman of the week, while freshman Dylan James scored his fifth and sixth goals of the season to be named the NCHC rookie of the week.

Last meeting in Omaha: November 5, 2022 (Omaha, NE). The Fighting Hawks only led for 84 seconds in the third period before Omaha’s Ty Mueller and Jack Randl scored just 85 seconds apart to stake the homestanding Mavs to a 3-2 lead. UND’s Riese Gaber sent the game to overtime with his eighth goal of the season, but Omaha prevailed in the shootout after a scoreless five-minutes of 3-on-3 action. One night earlier, North Dakota throttled the Mavericks 4-1 behind two goals from Riese Gaber. UND outshot Omaha 81-47 on the weekend and blanked the Mavs on ten combined man-advantage opportunities.

Most memorable meeting: The game that UND fans will long remember is the outdoor game played at TD Ameritrade Park (Omaha, Nebraska) on February 9th, 2013. One day after winning a tight 2-1 contest indoors, North Dakota throttled UNO 5-2 on a sunny, melty afternoon. Mavericks netminder John Faulkner was pulled after allowing three goals on five shots in just ten minutes of game action. In my opinion, this hockey weekend solidified the notion that for UND hockey, it’s always a home game.

Last ten: North Dakota has won six of the last ten contests between the schools, going 6-3-1 (.650) and outscoring the Mavericks 32-26 over that stretch. Five of the last nine games have gone to overtime, with UND garnering two OT victories and a tie in the last three games knotted after regulation.

All-time: UND leads the all-time series 33-17-2 (.654), including a 16-8-1 (.660) record in games played in Omaha. North Dakota owns a record of 28-14-2 (.659) against the Mavericks since both teams joined the NCHC. The teams first met on November 19, 2010.

Game News and Notes

In 2015, both North Dakota and Omaha advanced to the Frozen Four but neither team made the championship game. UND fell to Boston University 5-3, while the Mavericks were upended 4-1 by eventual national champion Providence. Since joining the WCHA in 2011 (and later the NCHC), the Mavs have never reached the Twin Cities for the second weekend of the conference tournament despite having home ice in three of those eight years. North Dakota’s Brad Berry is 24-11-1 (.681) in his head coaching career against Omaha. UND’s Riese Gaber has 12 points against Omaha in his collegiate career, while teammate Mark Senden has 11. The Mavericks have gone 10-4-1 since New Year’s Eve. In 23 of the past 25 contests in this series, the winning team is the one which scores the first goal. Mavericks’ bench boss Mike Gabinet has 93 wins and 99 losses in his head coaching career.

The Prediction

This North Dakota team has been building toward this moment for the better part of two months. UND has shored things up defensively and is finally getting consistent goaltending, something it was lacking in the first half. Whichever team can better handle the playoff pressure, limit mistakes, and capitalize on turnovers will advance to St. Paul. It won’t be easy, but the Green and White will get it done. Just don’t make any other plans for Sunday night. UND 3-2, Omaha 4-3, UND 4-2.

Bonus Predictions

Denver over Miami in two games.
Western Michigan over Colorado College in three games.
Minnesota Duluth over St. Cloud State in three games.

Broadcast Information

Friday and Saturday’s games will start at 7:07 p.m. Central Time, with Sunday’s puck drop slated for 6:07 p.m. (if necessary). All games this weekend will be broadcast live on Midco Sports and also available via webcast at NCHC.tv. 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.

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.

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!