Category: Game Preview

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!

North Dakota (13-13-5, 6-10-2-2 NCHC) travels to Colorado Springs to face the Colorado College Tigers (10-18-2, 6-11-2-1 NCHC) in a battle between two teams likely to be on the road for the first round of the league playoffs in two weeks’ time. It is worth noting that, despite being unranked, UND currently sits in 21st place in the all-important Pairwise Rankings, mostly due to the fact that ten of its thirteen losses are to teams in the top six in the country (Minnesota, Quinnipiac, Denver four times, St. Cloud State twice, and Western Michigan twice). Colorado College is 39th in the Pairwise coming into this weekend.

According to KRACH, North Dakota has faced the nation’s ninth-toughest schedule to this point of the season, while the Tigers’ schedule weighs in as the fifteenth-most difficult.

In addition to the ten losses mentioned above, the three defeats that are looming large in UND’s current Pairwise predicament are:

Arizona State 3, North Dakota 2 (October 29th)

Miami 4, North Dakota 3 (November 19th)

Minnesota Duluth 2, North Dakota 1 (January 21st)

All three of those games were tied in the third period.

With ten conference losses against just six victories, the Fighting Hawks are currently in sixth place in the league standings (one point ahead of 7th place CC) with just four NCHC games remaining. As I wrote earlier this week, it is nearly a mathematical certainty that UND will go on the road for the first round of the NCHC playoffs, with its most likely opponents Omaha, Western Michigan, or St. Cloud State.

This will be the first and only scheduled meeting between the two teams this season; North Dakota went 6-0 against CC last year, outscoring the Tigers 20-7. The two first-round playoff games in Grand Forks were tight affairs, with UND advancing to St. Paul by virtue of a pair of 2-1 victories. In that series, all six goals were scored in the second period.

When the teams squared off at brand-new Robson Arena for a December 2021 series in Colorado Springs, the Fighting Hawks secured the road sweep with 5-2 and 4-1 victories. Those games dropped the Tigers to 3-10-3 on the season.

UND held the advantage in all phases, outshooting the Tigers 62-54 and winning 72 of 119 faceoffs (60.5%). North Dakota scored three power play goals on nine attempts and held Colorado College to just a single power play goal in ten man-advantage opportunities.

After that weekend, the Tigers went 4-4-0 against Arizona State, Miami, Denver, and Omaha to close out January, much more respectable results for first-year head coach Kris Mayotte. Mayotte replaced Mike Haviland, who went just 74-177-28 (.315) in his seven seasons behind the Tiger bench, with no regular season or postseason titles and zero NCAA tournament appearances. Haviland had something brewing from 2017-2019, with his teams going 32-37-9 (.468). Things fell off over his lasy two seasons, however (15-37-5, .307), and it was time for a change.

February and March of 2022 were not kind to Mayotte’s squad, however, as the Tigers won just twice in their last twelve games. Both of those victories came in overtime against Miami (4-3, 3-2). In the other eight, CC was outscored 30-11.

Two of those losses came on February 11th and 12th at UND. Colorado College put up a good showing in Friday night’s 3-2 defeat, nearly overcoming a 3-0 first-period deficit and outshooting North Dakota 26-21 for the game. The Fighting Hawks turned the tables in Saturday’s 4-0 triumph, sweeping the regular season series between the two teams by a combined score of 16-5.

In the six games against CC last season, North Dakota only trailed for a total of eleven minutes and fifty seconds.

Colorado College also traveled to Grand Forks to face UND in the first round of the playoffs in 2014, 2015, and 2016. As I’ve written about before, it is difficult to end a team’s season, and tight Saturday night elimination games are to be expected, even after relatively comfortable Friday night victories. In fact, UND’s 2016 sweep (7-1, 5-1) is one of only two playoff series in recent memory that did not feature at least one close contest.

Here are the results from the past four first-round playoff series between North Dakota and Colorado College:

2014: UND 4-2, CC 3-2 (OT), UND 4-3
2015: UND 5-1, UND 3-2
2016: UND 7-1, UND 5-1
2022: UND 2-1, UND 2-1

CC was also scheduled to face the Fighting Hawks in 2020 before the college hockey season was canceled due to COVID-19. And two seasons ago, the Tigers dressed just eleven forwards, five defensemen, and one goalie for their opening-round game against St. Cloud State at Ralph Engelstad Arena. Despite losing a blueliner to a major penalty in the second period, Colorado College took SCSU to the wire, surrendering the game-winning goal with less than four minutes remaining in the contest.

Nine full seasons have come and gone since the college hockey landscape changed forever. With Minnesota and Wisconsin departing the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for the Big Ten after the 2012-13 season, several other conference schools and two members of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (Miami and Western Michigan) created the National Collegiate Hockey Conference and left Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji State, Michigan Tech, and Minnesota State behind in a watered-down WCHA. And now, the WCHA is no more, and the CCHA reformed beginning with the 2021-2022 campaign. The NCHC has been the premier hockey conference since its inception, and particularly over the past eight 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 six national titles.

In the NCHC, Colorado College has finished 7th, 8th, 8th, 8th, 7th, 6th, 8th, 7th, and 7th for the worst average finish (7.33) among all eight league teams. North Dakota leads the conference with an average finish of 2.33 (2nd, 1st, 1st, 4th, 4th, 5th, 1st, 1st, and 2nd).

Turning our attention to this weekend’s action, a half-point per game or better is my benchmark for solid offensive production, and Kris Mayotte’s squad has just three active players who meet that threshold: junior forward Hunter McKown (17-5-22), freshman forward Noah Laba (10-8-18), and sophomore forward Stanley Cooley (6-11-17).

Freshman forward Gleb Veremyev posted a line of 2-5-7 in 14 games before suffering a season-ending injury.

McKown, who played on the U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams before coming to Colorado Springs, has already eclipsed his point total from all of last season (13-8-21). UND did an excellent job defending McKown last season, allowing the sophomore just a single secondary assist in six North Dakota victories. McKown, who has already notched 32 NCAA goals, scored a total of three in 43 games with the USNTDP.

By that same measure, North Dakota boasts eight skaters at a half point per game or better: junior forward Riese Gaber (19-12-31), freshman forward Jackson Blake (13-23-36), graduate forward Mark Senden (7-9-16), senior forward Judd Caulfield (9-7-16), senior forward Gavin Hain (9-5-14), graduate defensemen Chris Jandric (3-27-30), senior defenseman Ethan Frisch (4-11-15), and junior defenseman Tyler Kleven (6-9-15).

UND is fourth in the nation in shooting percentage at an astounding 12.0% (107 goals on 895 shots). By comparison, Colorado College is 52nd in the country at 8.1% (68 goals on 841 shots). The two teams are nearly identical in shots on goal per game (UND 28.9, CC 28.0), although North Dakota is vastly superior in shots on goal allowed per game (UND 24.9, CC 30.6). This disparity also leads to a puck possession advantage for the Fighting Hawks (UND is 17th in Corsi and 21st in Fenwick; CC is 40th and 43rd, respectively).

One key area to watch this weekend is the face-off circle. The Fighting Hawks are the nation’s 19th-best team on draws (52.4%), while Colorado College clocks in at 49.8% (30th).

UND had been one of the country’s best faceoff teams before Jake Schmaltz suffered an upper-body injury against Miami. In the three games without Schmaltz in the lineup, North Dakota won just 45.4 percent of faceoffs (95 of 209). The sophomore from McFarland, Wisconsin, who has won 302 of his 533 draws this season (56.7%), came back last weekend against SCSU and went 30-19 in the dot (61.2%).

Among other UND centermen, junior Louis Jamernik V has been solid (298 of 568, 52.5%), while freshman Owen McLaughlin has shown improvement (170 of 336, 50.6%). Freshman Ben Strinden has chipped in with 53 wins in 111 opportunities (47.7%).

CC will counter with freshman Noah Laba (232 of 420, 55.2%), junior Logan Will (155 of 305, 50.8%), sophomore Stanley Cooley (159 of 348, 45.7%), and senior Noah Prokop (191 of 397, 48.1%).

To this point in the season, North Dakota has had far the better of the specialty teams play. UND has been a combined plus-18, with 41 power play goals scored (41 of 133, 30.8%, best in the country) and only 23 power play goals allowed (95 of 118, 80.5%, 30th), with two shorthanded goals scored and two allowed.

Colorado College has posted a plus-5, with 26 power play goals scored (26 of 120, 21.7%, 29th), 19 power play goals allowed (79 of 98, 80.6%, 29th), two shorthanded goals scored, and four allowed.

North Dakota has earned far more man advantage opportunities than shorthanded situations this season (133-118), while Colorado College has fared even better (120-98).

North Dakota is 10th in the country in scoring offense (3.45 goals scored/game) but just 41st in the country in scoring defense (3.10 goals allowed/game). Colorado College is 53rd in the country in scoring offense (2.27 goals scored/game) and 28th in scoring defense (2.83 goals allowed/game).

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 18 goals and added 67 assists for 83 points in 151 combined games this season (0.55 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 Colorado College have posted a line of 6-44-50 in 172 games (0.29).

For CC, freshman netminder Kaidan Mbereko (6-14-2, 2.46 goals-against average, .922 save percentage) has been a bright spot. Since entering conference play, the first-year goalie from West Bloomfield, Michigan has posted three shutouts and allowed a total of 43 goals in 20 games. Mbereko is winless in his last nine starts despite giving up more than three goals just once in that span.

Colorado College Tigers

Head Coach: Kris Mayotte (2nd season at CC, 19-42-4, .323)

National Rankings: NR/NR
Pairwise Ranking: 39th
KRACH Rating: 83.4 (36th)

This Season: 10-18-2 overall, 6-11-2-1 NCHC (7th)
Last Season: 9-24-3 overall, 4-16-2-2 NCHC (t-7th)

2022-2023 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 2.27 goals scored/game – 53rd of 62 teams
Team Defense: 2.83 goals allowed/game – 28th of 62 teams

Power Play: 21.7% (26 of 120) – 21st of 62 teams
Penalty Kill: 80.6% (79 of 98) – 29th of 62 teams

Key players: Junior F Hunter McKown (17-5-22), Freshman F Noah Laba (10-8-18), Sophomore F Stanley Cooley (6-11-17), Freshman F Ryan Beck, Junior F Logan Will (4-4-8), Graduate D Bryan Yoon (1-13-14), Junior D Nicklas Andrews (2-9-11), Junior D Jack Millar (1-6-7), Freshman G Kaidan Mbereko (6-14-2, 2.46 GAA, .922 SV%, 3 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (8th season at UND, 175-90-30, .644)

National Rankings: NR/NR
Pairwise Ranking: 21st
KRACH Rating: 171.1 (16th)

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

2022-2023 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 3.45 goals scored/game – 10th of 62 teams
Team Defense: 3.10 goals allowed/game – 41st of 62 teams

Power Play: 30.8% (41 of 133) – 1st of 62 teams
Penalty Kill: 80.5% (95 of 118) – 30th of 62 teams

Key Players: Junior F Riese Gaber (19-12-31), Freshman F Jackson Blake (13-23-36), Freshman F Owen McLaughlin (2-12-14), Graduate F Mark Senden (7-9-16), Senior F Gavin Hain (9-5-14), Senior F Judd Caulfield (9-7-16), Graduate D Chris Jandric (3-27-30), Junior D Tyler Kleven (6-9-15), Senior D Ethan Frisch (4-11-15), Junior D Cooper Moore (3-9-12), Graduate G Drew DeRidder (8-7-3, 2.88 GAA, .889 SV%, 3 SO)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: March 12, 2022 (Grand Forks, ND). In a carbon copy of the previous night’s league playoff opener, North Dakota sandwiched two second-period goals around a CC marker to survive a tight 2-1 contest. The Tigers outshot UND 30-22 for the game; each team scored once on the power play. In Friday’s opener, the Fighting Hawks outshot CC 23-16.

Last Meeting in Colorado Springs: December 11, 2021. The Tigers opened the scoring eight minutes into the opening frame, but UND would only trail for 47 seconds before Louis Jamernik V potted the equalizer. A second-period power play goal and two empty-netters 29 seconds apart accounted for the misleading final score of 4-1. One night earlier, the home team got on the board three minutes into the contest, and Jamernik waited eleven minutes before tying the game. Three straight North Dakota tallies put the game out of reach, and the final scoreboard read 5-2 for the visitors. The Fighting Hawks put 62 total shots on net in the weekend series and allowed 54.

Most Important Meeting: March 27, 1997. UND defeated Colorado College, 6-2, in the Frozen Four Semifinals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Two nights later, North Dakota downed Boston University, 6-4, to claim its sixth NCAA Championship. North Dakota and Colorado College also met in the 2001 East Regional (Worcester, Mass.), with UND prevailing, 4-1.

All-time Series: UND leads the all-time series, 172-84-11 (.665), although Colorado College holds the slightest of edges (59-58-4, .504) in games played in Colorado Springs. The teams first met in 1948; North Dakota’s 172 wins over the Tigers are the most against any single opponent in program history.

Last Ten: North Dakota has swept the last ten meetings between the teams, outscoring CC 34-9 over that span. In those ten tilts, the Tigers have been shut out three times, scored a single goal five times, and managed two goals twice. The Fighting Hawks’ last loss to Colorado College was at CC on March 1, 2019 (1-3).

Game News and Notes

North Dakota head coach Brad Berry is 23-4-1 (.839) in his head coaching career against Colorado College. CC has won two national titles (1950, 1957). Since 1957, the Tigers have appeared in the NCAA tournament thirteen times (most recently in 2011) and advanced to three Frozen Fours (1996, 1997, 2005). Head coaches Scott Owens (1999-2014) and Don Lucia (1993-1999) combined to lead CC to six regular-season titles, twelve NCAA tournament appearances, three Frozen Fours, and one national championship game appearance (1996). Twelve UND players expected to be in the lineup this weekend have scored goals in their careers against Colorado College. Since scoring seven goals in a win over Princeton on December 30th, CC has scored a total of fourteen goals over the past eleven contests (1.27 goals scored per game), going 1-9-1 with the lone victory back on January 13th against St. Cloud State. The Tigers are 6-1-0 when leading after one period of play but 1-12-0 when trailing. Both UND and CC had twenty players named to the NCHC’s academic all-conference team, tied for most in the league.

The Prediction

North Dakota is playing its best hockey of the season and is building toward making some noise in the league playoffs. It’s looking increasingly likely that UND will need to win the NCHC Frozen Faceoff in St. Paul to advance to the national tournament, but there is a puncher’s chance that the Green and White could sneak into the top 15 in the Pairwise. To that end, a sweep this weekend is paramount. Colorado College seems to have the advantage between the pipes, but Mbereko is just a freshman and has struggled in his ten games against the other top offensive teams in the league, going 0-9-0 against Western Michigan, Denver, and St. Cloud State while allowing a total of 26 goals. Brad Berry’s squad should be able to get at least three goals each night, and that’s plenty against the Tigers. UND 4-2, 3-1.

Broadcast Information

Friday’s opener will be broadcast on AT&T Sportsnet out of Colorado and picked up locally on Midco Sports. Both games will also be 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!

North Dakota (12-13-4, 6-10-2 NCHC) hosts #6 St. Cloud State (18-8-2, 10-6-2 NCHC) at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks this weekend in a matchup of two perennial powerhouses. It is worth noting that, despite being unranked, UND currently sits in 22nd place in the all-important Pairwise Rankings, mostly due to the fact that ten of its thirteen losses are to teams in the top eight in the country (Minnesota, Quinnipiac, Denver four times, St. Cloud State twice, and Western Michigan twice). St. Cloud State is 7th in the Pairwise coming into this weekend.

According to KRACH, North Dakota has faced the nation’s ninth-toughest schedule to this point of the season, while the Huskies’ schedule weighs in as the tenth-most difficult.

In addition to the ten losses mentioned above, the three defeats that are looming large in UND’s current Pairwise predicament are:

Arizona State 3, North Dakota 2 (October 29th)

Miami 4, North Dakota 3 (November 19th)

Minnesota Duluth 2, North Dakota 1 (January 21st)

All three of those games were tied in the third period.

With ten conference losses against just six victories, the Fighting Hawks are currently in seventh place in the league standings with just six NCHC games remaining. As I wrote earlier this week, it is almost a mathematical certainty that UND will go on the road for the first round of the NCHC playoffs, with its most likely opponents Omaha, Western Michigan, or St. Cloud State.

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.

Almost exactly one year before that series (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.

At #7 in the Pairwise and with an overall record of 18-8-2, St. Cloud State is in line to make the NCAA tourney for the sixth consecutive season. (It is worth noting that in 2019-2020 – when there was no national tournament – SCSU went just 13-15-6.) The Huskies’ eight losses this season have come at Bemidji State (PWR 30), at Denver (PWR 4), vs. Western Michigan (PWR 8), at Miami (PWR 45), at Minnesota (PWR 1), vs. Colorado College (PWR 31), and at Minnesota Duluth twice (PWR 25).

Over the last two weekends of action, the Huskies were swept at UMD and managed two ties at home against Miami. Idle last weekend, St. Cloud State has not won a game since January 21st. SCSU has been brilliant at home on the wide Olympic ice (200×100), going 11-2-2. On the road, however, Brett Larson’s squad has gone just 7-6-0. With Colorado College building a new rink with NHL ice and Minnesota planning to narrow its ice sheet this offseason, St. Cloud State will be one of just six Division I men’s programs playing on a sheet wider than 85 feet; the others are Alaska (200×100), Massachusetts (200×95), New Hampshire (200×100), Northern Michigan (200×100), and Wisconsin (200×97).

Nine full seasons have come and gone since the college hockey landscape changed forever. With Minnesota and Wisconsin departing the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for the Big Ten after the 2012-13 season, several other conference schools and two members of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (Miami and Western Michigan) created the National Collegiate Hockey Conference and left Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji State, Michigan Tech, and Minnesota State behind in a watered-down WCHA. And now, the WCHA is no more, and the CCHA reformed beginning with the 2021-2022 campaign. The NCHC has been the premier hockey conference since its inception, and particularly over the past eight 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 six national titles.

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 nine 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.

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 (17-10-27), senior forward Jami Krannila (16-17-33), senior forward Zack Okabe (15-12-27), senior forward Kyler Kupka (7-10-17 in 22 games), junior forward Veeti Miettinen (7-15-22), freshman forward Adam Ingram (4-10-14), senior defenseman Dylan Anhorn (5-20-25 in 23 games), and sophomore defenseman Jack Peart (2-19-21).

Unfortunately, Dylan Anhorn suffered a season-ending injury last month.

By that same measure, North Dakota boasts nearly identical numbers, with eight skaters at a half point per game or better: junior forward Riese Gaber (16-12-28), freshman forward Jackson Blake (13-20-33), graduate forward Mark Senden (7-9-16), senior forward Judd Caulfield (9-7-16), graduate defensemen Chris Jandric (3-23-26), senior defenseman Ethan Frisch (3-10-13), junior defenseman Tyler Kleven (6-7-13), and junior defenseman Cooper Moore (3-9-12 in 24 games).

Tyler Kleven is suspended for Friday’s opener after taking his fourth major penalty of the season last Saturday night in Denver.

UND is fourth in the nation in shooting percentage at an astounding 12.0% (101 goals on 841 shots). By comparison, St. Cloud State is eighth in the country at 11.8% (95 goals on 802 shots). The two teams are nearly identical in shots on goal per game (UND 29.0, SCSU 28.6) and shots on goal allowed per game (UND 25.3, SCSU 26.2). North Dakota leads the Huskies in both puck possession statistics (UND is 18th in Corsi and 22nd in Fenwick; SCSU is 26th and 28th, respectively).

One key area to watch this weekend is the face-off circle. The Fighting Hawks are the nation’s 20th-best team on draws (51.9%), while St. Cloud State clocks in at 52.8% (15th).

UND had been one of the country’s best faceoff teams before Jake Schmaltz suffered an upper-body injury against Miami. In the last three games without Schmaltz in the lineup, North Dakota has won just 45.4 percent of faceoffs (95 of 209). The sophomore from McFarland, Wisconsin, who has won 272 of his 484 draws this season (56.2%), is expected back on the ice this weekend.

Among other UND centermen, junior Louis Jamernik V has been solid (283 of 545, 51.9%), while freshman Owen McLaughlin has shown improvement (154 of 307, 50.2%). Freshman Ben Strinden has chipped in with 53 wins in 111 opportunities (47.7%).

SCSU will counter with graduate student Grant Cruikshank (314 of 567, 55.4%), senior Jami Krannila (200 of 405, 49.4%), sophomore Mason Salquist (193 of 357, 54.1%), and graduate student Aidan Spellacy (121 of 206, 58.7%). 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 plus-19, with 38 power play goals scored (38 of 126, 30.2%, best in the country) and only nineteen power play goals allowed (91 of 110, 82.7%, 19th), with two shorthanded goals scored and two allowed.

St. Cloud State has posted a plus-7, with 27 power play goals scored (27 of 113, 23.9%, 10th), 26 power play goals allowed (87 of 113, 77.0%, 50th), a remarkable SEVEN shorthanded goals scored, and one allowed.

North Dakota has earned far more man advantage opportunities than shorthanded situations this season (126-110), while St. Cloud State is dead even (113-113).

North Dakota is 10th in the country in scoring offense (3.48 goals scored/game) but just 40th in the country in scoring defense (3.14 goals allowed/game). St. Cloud State is 12th in the country in scoring offense (3.39 goals scored/game) and a stellar 5th in scoring defense (2.18 goals allowed/game).

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 17 goals and added 66 assists for 83 points in 158 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 St. Cloud State have posted a line of 7-43-50 in 140 games (0.36).

St. Cloud State Team Profile

Head Coach: Brett Larson (5th season at SCSU, 99-55-15, .630)

National Rankings: #6/#6
Pairwise Ranking: 7th
KRACH Ranking: 6th

This Season: 18-8-2 overall, 9-6-3-0 NCHC (4th)
Last Season: 18-15-4 overall (NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinalist), 9-8-2-5 NCHC (5th)

2022-2023 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 3.39 goals scored/game – 12th of 62 teams
Team Defense: 2.18 goals allowed/game – 5th of 62 teams

Power Play: 23.9% (27 of 113) – 10th of 62 teams
Penalty Kill: 77.0 (87 of 113) – 50th of 62 teams

Key players: Graduate F Grant Cruikshank (17-10-27), Senior F Jami Krannila (16-17-33), Senior F Zack Okabe (15-12-27), Senior F Kyler Kupka (7-10-17 in 22 games), Junior F Veeti Miettinen (7-15-22), Freshman F Adam Ingram (4-10-14), Sophomore D Jack Peart (2-19-21), Graduate D Brendan Bushy (2-6-8), Junior G Dominic Basse (9-3-2, 1.99 GAA, .925 SV%, 3 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (8th season at UND, 174-90-29, .643)

National Rankings: NR/NR
Pairwise Ranking: 22nd
KRACH Ranking: 17th

This Season: 12-13-4 overall, 6-10-1-1 NCHC (7th)
Last Season: 24-14-1 overall (NCAA Regional Semifinalist), 17-6-1 NCHC (t-1st)

2022-2023 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 3.48 goals scored/game – 10th of 62 teams
Team Defense: 3.14 goals allowed/game – 40th of 62 teams

Power Play: 30.2% (38 of 126) – 1st of 62 teams
Penalty Kill: 82.7% (91 of 110) – 19th of 62 teams

Key Players: Junior F Riese Gaber (16-12-28), Freshman F Jackson Blake (13-20-33), Freshman F Owen McLaughlin (1-12-13), Graduate F Mark Senden (7-9-16), Senior F Gavin Hain (9-3-12), Senior D Judd Caulfield (9-7-16), Graduate D Chris Jandric (3-24-27), Junior D Tyler Kleven (6-8-14), Senior D Ethan Frisch (4-10-14), Junior D Cooper Moore (3-9-12), Graduate G Drew DeRidder (7-7-2, 2.94 GAA, .890 SV%, 3 SO)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: December 3, 2022 (St. Cloud, Minnesota). 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 for a 6-3 victory. In Friday’s opener, the Huskies also scored six consecutive goals, with four of those – at even strength, shorthanded, with the extra attacker on a delayed penalty, and on the ensuing power play – coming in the second period. St. Cloud State outscored UND 13-5 in the weekend sweep.

Last Meeting in Grand Forks: January 29, 2022: After drubbing the visitors 7-1 in Friday’s opener, UND came back from an early 3-1 deficit to send the game to overtime knotted at three apiece. After a scoreless 3-on-3 session, North Dakota’s Ashton Calder scored the only goal in the eight-player shootout for the extra league point.

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, 79-48-16 (.608), including a sparkling record of 40-19-8 (.657) in games played in Grand Forks. 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: SCSU holds a slight lead of 5-4-1 (.550) in the last ten tilts between the teams, outscoring the Fighting Hawks 41-35 over that stretch of games. Only three of the last ten UND-SCSU contests have taken place in Grand Forks.

Game News and Notes

UND’s Riese Gaber has eleven career points 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 4-5-2 (.455) since that time, scoring 29 goals but also allowing 29. North Dakota leads the nation with 38 power play goals, an average of 1.31 man-advantage markers per game. St. Cloud State bench boss Brett Larson is sitting on 99 career coaching victories. UND freshman forward Jackson Blake (eight goals and fourteen assists for 22 points in 18 NCHC games) trails only SCSU senior Jami Krannila (14-11-25 in 18) in the league scoring race.

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. It will be a different story this time around, as UND – with its back against the wall – will put forth its best effort of the season. As it so often does, both games will come down to specialty teams and goaltending. Each team holds an advantage in one of those areas, so the number of penalties called this weekend will go a long way toward determining the outcome of each contest. I can’t see the Fighting Hawks doing better than a split, although stranger things have happened. UND 4-2, SCSU 4-3.

Broadcast Information

Friday’s opener will be broadcast exclusively on CBS Sports Network, with Saturday’s rematch available on Midco Sports and also via livestream 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!

North Dakota (10-11-4) travels to face Miami (7-15-2) for a pair of NCHC games this weekend in a matchup of the bottom two teams in the league standings. It is worth noting that, despite being unranked, UND currently sits in 25th place in the all-important Pairwise Rankings, mostly due to the fact that eight of its eleven losses are to teams in the top nine in the country (Minnesota, St. Cloud State twice, Quinnipiac, Denver twice, and Western Michigan twice). Miami is 46th in the Pairwise coming into this weekend.

According to KRACH, North Dakota has faced the nation’s ninth-toughest schedule to this point of the season, while the RedHawks’ schedule weighs in as the fourteenth-most difficult.

In addition to the eight losses mentioned above, the three defeats that are looming large in UND’s Pairwise predicament are:

Arizona State 3, North Dakota 2 (October 29th)

Miami 4, North Dakota 3 (November 19th)

Minnesota Duluth 2, North Dakota 1 (January 21st)

All three of those games were tied in the third period.

Back in November, the Fighting Hawks won Friday’s home opener vs. Miami in runaway fashion, boatracing the RedHawks by building a 5-0 lead over the first 31 minutes of the hockey game. In Saturdays’ rematch, UND spotted the visitors a 3-0 lead before making a late push, outshooting MU 27-6 over the final two periods.

These two teams have not met four times in the regular season in quite some time. The Miami RedHawks have only faced North Dakota five times over the past two seasons, but that has been more than enough for Chris Bergeron’s squad.

The Fighting Hawks traveled to Oxford, Ohio in November 2021 and earned a road sweep with 4-1 and 5-4 victories. UND outshot Miami 68-31 in the two-game series.

Almost one year earlier (December 2nd, 2020), the two teams met in Omaha in the first pod game for either side. North Dakota blanked Miami 2-0 and put 39 shots on goal.

And in the rematch on December 20th – the final game of the Omaha pod – the RedHawks managed to score twice but allowed six North Dakota goals on 39 shots.

Miami put a total of 42 shots on frame over the course of those six periods of hockey.

After those two December tilts, the teams were not scheduled to face each other in the second half of the 2021-2022 season. As fate would have it, however, top-seeded UND (18-5-1) drew last-place Miami (5-17-2) in the first round of the modified NCHC Frozen Faceoff. There was little drama in the contest, as the Fighting Hawks scored three goals in the first six minutes of the hockey game and cruised to a 6-2 victory, outshooting MU 46-28.

In the past seven games, North Dakota has outscored Miami 33-19 while holding a 263-136 advantage in shots on goal.

Over the past two seasons, the RedHawks had to rely on junior goaltender Ludvig Persson to keep games close, as Miami only averaged 2.33 goals per game. Unfortunately, MU allowed 3.97 goals per game over those two campaigns and only won twelve total games (12-45-4, .230).

After a promising start for Chris Bergeron and company (25 goals scored and 34 allowed while going 4-6-2), Miami has gone just 3-9-0 while scoring 26 goals and allowing 54.

Nine full seasons have come and gone since the college hockey landscape changed forever. With Minnesota and Wisconsin departing the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for the Big Ten after the 2012-13 season, several other conference schools and two members of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (Miami and Western Michigan) created the National Collegiate Hockey Conference and left Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji State, Michigan Tech, and Minnesota State behind in a watered-down WCHA. And now, the WCHA is no more, and the CCHA reformed beginning with the 2021-2022 campaign.

The NCHC has been the premier hockey conference since its inception, and particularly over the past eight 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 six national titles.

Over the first nine seasons of the NCHC, Miami has averaged slightly better than a seventh-place finish among the eight conference teams (8th, 2nd, 5th, 7th, 8th, 8th, 7th, 8th, and 8th), with a combined league record of 59-133-24 (.329).

By comparison, North Dakota has finished 2nd, 1st, 1st, 4th, 4th, 5th, 1st, 1st, and 1st for an average finish just under second place and a combined league record of 133-67-16 (.653). No other league member has collected as many conference wins as UND.

When the National Collegiate Hockey Conference was formed, Miami appeared positioned to be a dominant program. Prior to the 2013-14 season (their inaugural campaign in the NCHC), the RedHawks had made eight consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, with consecutive Frozen Four bids in 2009 (2nd) and 2010 (3rd). Since joining the NCHC, Miami has just one NCAA tournament appearance (2015), and that ended quickly with a first-round loss to eventual national champion Providence.

Long-tenured head coach Enrico Blasi was fired after posting a fourth consecutive losing season in 2018-2019. Over that stretch of time, the RedHawks were 47-81-19 (.384). There is reason for optimism in Oxford, however, with new bench boss Chris Bergeron taking over the program after leading Bowling Green to six consecutive winning seasons, five consecutive years with twenty or more victories, and an NCAA tournament appearance in 2018-2019.

Turning our attention to this weekend’s matchup, a half-point per game or better is my benchmark for solid offensive production, and Chris Bergeron’s squad has just THREE players who meet that threshold: junior forward Matthew Barbolini (9-11-20), freshman forward John Waldron (8-5-13), and sophomore forward Red Savage (4-6-10).

By that same measure, North Dakota has five players at a half point or better (with another five at 0.48): junior forward Riese Gaber (13-10-23), freshman forward Jackson Blake (10-16-26), senior forward Gavin Hain (9-3-12), graduate defensemen Chris Jandric (3-21-24), and senior defenseman Ethan Frisch (3-8-11).

UND is fourth in the nation in shooting percentage at an astounding 11.6% (84 goals on 723 shots). By comparison, Miami is 48th in the country at 8.3% (51 goals on 615 shots). North Dakota creates 28.9 shots on goal per game (36th), while Miami manages 25.6 (53rd). UND only allows 24.9 shots on goal per game (7th), while the RedHawks surrender an average of 32.9 (50th). The Fighting Hawks (18th in Corsi, 21st in Fenwick) also lead MU (48th, 50th) in both puck possession statistics.

One key area to watch this weekend is the face-off circle. The Fighting Hawks are the nation’s 15th-best team on draws (53.0%), while MU clocks in at 44.9% (58th).

For UND, sophomore Jake Schmaltz has been making a living on draws, winning 264 of 469 (56.3%). Junior Louis Jamernik V has more than held his own (243 of 464, 52.4), while freshman Owen McLaughlin has shown improvement (134 of 262, 51.1%). Junior Griffin Ness has fallen off lately, with 49 wins in 118 opportunities (41.5%). Despite the absence of Jake Schmaltz (upper body injury) last weekend, North Dakota won 71 of 125 total draws (56.8%), led by Jamernik V (21 wins), Mark Senden (19), and Ben Strinden (12). Riese Gaber won 9 of 13 draws on the weekend, primarily on the power play.

Schmaltz is expected to return to the North Dakota lineup this weekend.

For Miami, sophomore Red Savage has taken the majority of important draws, going 199 of 435 (44.7%). Senior Joe Cassetti has had the most success (190 of 404, 47.0%), while two freshmen – William Hallen (81 of 188, 43.1%) and Blake Mesenburg (72 of 153, 47.1%) – have been steady but not spectacular.

To this point in the season, North Dakota has had far the better of the specialty teams play. UND has been a combined plus-15, with 31 power play goals scored (31 of 103, 30.1%, 2nd in the country) and only fifteen power play goals allowed (74 of 89, 83.1%, 16th), with one shorthanded goal scored and two allowed.

Miami has posted a minus-9, with 17 power play goals scored (17 of 92, 18.5%, 35th), 26 power play goals allowed (85 of 111, 76.6%, 53rd), three shorthanded goals scored, and three shorthanded goals allowed.

It is also worth noting that UND has earned fourteen more power plays than penalty kill situations (103-89), while Miami has earned nineteen more penalty kill situations than power plays (111-92).

When the two teams split in Grand Forks back in November, UND won the special teams battle each night. On Friday, North Dakota held the visitors scoreless on three man advantage opportunities, scored twice on five power plays, and added a shorthanded goal. On Saturday, Miami went 1-for-6 on the power play while the Fighting Hawks went 1-for-5. The home team would, however, score a four-on-four goal for the special teams edge.

North Dakota is 13th in the country in scoring offense (3.36 goals scored/game) but just 45th in the country in scoring defense (3.20 goals allowed/game). Miami is 55th in the country in scoring offense (2.13 goals scored/game) and a dreadful 58th in scoring defense (3.67 goals allowed/game).

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

The six blueliners regularly in the lineup for the Green and White have scored 15 goals and added 54 assists for 69 points in 137 combined games this season (0.50 points/game). By comparison, the six regular defensemen for Miami have posted a line of 4-21-25 in 127 games (0.20).

Coming into last weekend, goaltending and team defense were the two weakest links for this year’s North Dakota squad. Graduate transfer Drew DeRidder turned in two strong performances against the Bulldogs, allowing just two goals each night and stopping 47 of 51 (a save percentage of .922). Over the last ten games of the regular season and into the playoffs, the Fighting Hawks will need consistently excellent play between the pipes and in their own end if they hope to make a push for home ice. Thankfully for fans of the Green and White, DeRidder now has five straight starts allowing three goals or fewer.

After these two tilts at Goggin Ice Center in Oxford, Ohio, the Fighting Hawks will travel to Denver (February 10-11), host St. Cloud State (February 17-18), travel to Colorado College (February 24-25), and host Omaha (March 3-4) to close out the regular season.

Miami has only won two league games this season, the aforementioned 4-3 victory at North Dakota and a 5-0 home drubbing of St. Cloud State. After shutting out the Huskies on December 10th, MU netminder Ludvig Persson has allowed 24 goals in his last five games, with a record of 1-40, a goals-against average of 5.39, and a save percentage of .844.

Miami Team Profile

Head Coach: Chris Bergeron (4th season at Miami, 27-81-11, .273)

National Rankings: NR/NR
Pairwise Ranking: 46th
KRACH Ranking: 41st

This Season: 7-15-2 overall, 2-11-0-1 NCHC (8th)
Last Season: 7-27-2 overall, 4-16-1-3 NCHC (8th)

2022-2023 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 2.13 goals scored/game – 55th of 62 teams
Team Defense: 3.67 goals allowed/game – 58th of 62 teams

Power Play: 18.5% (17 of 92) – 35th of 62 teams
Penalty Kill: 76.6% (85 of 111) – 53rd of 62 teams

Key players: Junior F Matthew Barbolini (9-11-20), Senior F Joe Cassetti (7-3-10), Sophomore F Red Savage (4-6-10), Freshman F Max Dukovac (1-8-9), Freshman F John Waldron (8-5-13), Junior F PJ Fletcher (2-9-11), Junior D Hampus Rydqvist (1-9-10), Senior D Jack Clement (1-2-3), Junior G Ludvig Persson (7-13-2, 3.60 GAA, .890 SV%, 2 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (8th season at UND, 172-88-29, .645)

National Rankings: NR/NR
Pairwise Ranking: 25th
KRACH Ranking: 19th

This Season: 10-11-4 overall, 4-8-1-1 NCHC (7th)
Last Season: 24-14-1 overall (NCAA Regional Semifinalist), 17-6-1 NCHC (t-1st)

2022-2023 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 3.36 goals scored/game – 13th of 62 teams
Team Defense: 3.20 goals allowed/game – 45th of 62 teams

Power Play: 30.1% (31 of 103) – 2nd of 62 teams
Penalty Kill: 83.1% (74 of 89) – 16th of 62 teams

Key Players: Junior F Riese Gaber (13-10-23), Freshman F Jackson Blake (10-16-26), Freshman F Owen McLaughlin (0-11-11), Graduate F Mark Senden (6-6-12), Senior F Gavin Hain (9-3-12), Freshman F Dylan James (3-7-10) Graduate D Chris Jandric (3-21-24), Junior D Tyler Kleven (5-6-11), Senior D Ethan Frisch (3-8-11), Junior D Cooper Moore (3-7-10), Graduate G Drew DeRidder (5-5-2, 2.94 GAA, .888 SV%, 2 SO)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: November 19, 2022 (Grand Forks, ND). North Dakota spotted the visitors a 3-0 lead before making a late push, outshooting MU 27-6 over the final two periods. UND’s furious rally would come up just a bit short, with Miami’s Jack Clement breaking the third-period tie with just 5:26 remaining in the hockey game. The Fighting Hawks won Friday’s home opener vs. Miami in runaway fashion, boatracing the RedHawks by building a 5-0 lead over the first 31 minutes of the hockey game.

Last Meeting in Oxford: November 13, 2021. After a furious opening frame that ended with North Dakota holding a 3-2 advantage on the scoreboard, the two teams traded goals in each of the next two periods, leaving the homestanding RedHawks one goal short. That 5-4 UND win, coupled with Friday night’s 4-1 victory, earned the Green and White a rare road sweep in the NCHC. The Fighting Hawks outshot their flying foes 68-31 in the series.

Most Important Meeting: March 6, 2015 (Oxford, OH). North Dakota claimed the Penrose Cup with a 2-1 road victory over Miami. UND fell flat the following night, losing 6-3 in the final game of the regular season.

Last Ten: UND has picked up eight wins and a tie (8-1-1, .850) in the past ten contests between the teams, outscoring Miami 47-25 over that stretch of games. Before MU’s November victory at the Ralph, the RedHawks had not beaten North Dakota since November 10, 2018, a 3-2 home victory.

All-time Series: North Dakota leads the all-time series 23-8-4 (.714), including a sparkling 8-4-2 (.643) record in games played in Oxford. The teams first played in 1999 (Badger Showdown, Milwaukee, WI).

Game News and Notes

In five career games against Miami, junior forward Riese Gaber has scored seven goals and added four assists. North Dakota has scored 31 power play goals this season, tied with Denver for the most in the country. Twelve different Fighting Hawks have lit the lamp on the man advantage, the nation’s best number in that category. MU has not made the national tournament since 2015, their second season in the NCHC. Green Hawks are preferable to RedHawks.

The Prediction

If ever there was a “get right” series for North Dakota hockey, this is it. UND is deeper, more talented, and has dug itself a hole in the league standings, and that last point might be the most important of them all. The Fighting Hawks will be a motivated group from the drop of the puck on Friday night, and that will make for a long weekend for the homestanding RedHawks. UND 4-2, 5-2.

Broadcast Information

Friday’s opener will be broadcast exclusively on CBS Sports Network, while Saturday’s rematch will be available online at NCHC.tv. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. Central Time on Friday and 6:05 p.m. Central Time on Saturday. 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!

North Dakota (9-10-4, 3-7-2 NCHC) hosts Minnesota Duluth (9-12-1, 4-8-0 NCHC) at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks this weekend. It is worth noting that, despite being unranked, UND currently sits in 23rd place in the all-important Pairwise Rankings, mostly due to the fact that eight of its ten losses are to teams in the top ten in the country (Minnesota, Quinnipiac, Denver twice, St. Cloud State twice, and Western Michigan twice). Duluth is 37th in the Pairwise coming into this weekend.

According to KRACH, North Dakota has faced the nation’s sixth-toughest schedule to this point of the season, while the Bulldogs schedule weighs in as the twelfth-most difficult.

Last season, the two teams split a November series in Grand Forks, 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 eight 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 six 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.

Turning our attention to this weekend’s matchup, 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: freshman forward Ben Steeves (12-3-15), sophomore forward Dominic James (7-6-13), senior forward Quinn Olson (2-10-12), senior forward Luke Loheit (3-7-10), sophomore defenseman Owen Gallatin (3-9-12), and senior defenseman Derek Daschke (2-10-12).

By that same measure, North Dakota has ten players at a half point or better: junior forward Riese Gaber (12-10-22), freshman forward Jackson Blake (9-15-24), freshman forward Dylan James (3-7-10), freshman forward Owen McLaughlin (0-11-11), senior forward Gavin Hain (8-3-11), freshman forward Ben Strinden (2-5-7), freshman forward Dylan James (3-7-10), graduate defensemen Chris Jandric (3-20-23), junior defenseman Tyler Kleven (5-6-11), and senior defenseman Ethan Frisch (3-7-10).

UND is sixth in the nation in shooting percentage at 11.6% (79 goals on 680 shots); by comparison, Minnesota Duluth sits in 57th place at 7.4% (51 goals on 688 shots). UMD puts an average of 31.3 shots/game on frame, while North Dakota manages 29.6. The two teams are nearly identical in shots allowed (Bulldogs 28.6, Fighting Hawks 24.9). UND (16th in Corsi, 18th in Fenwick) also leads Duluth (21st, 20th) in both puck possession statistics.

One key area to watch this weekend is the face-off circle. The Fighting Hawks are the nation’s fifteenth-best team on draws (52.6%), while the Bulldogs clock in at 48.5% (43rd).

For UND, sophomore Jake Schmaltz has been making a living on draws, winning 264 of 469 (56.3%). Junior Louis Jamernik V has more than held his own (222 of 425, 52.2), while freshman Owen McLaughlin has shown improvement (133 of 260, 51.2%). Junior Griffin Ness has fallen off lately, with 49 wins in 111 opportunities (44.1%).

For Minnesota Duluth, sophomore Dominic James has been the only bright spot in the circle, going 205 of 354 (57.9%). Graduate student Jesse Jacques (149 of 311, 47.9%) and sophomore Carter Loney (153 of 347, 44.1%) have struggled, while freshman Cole Spicer (63 of 140, 45.0%) may turn into a solid option down the road.

To this point in the season, North Dakota has had far the better of the specialty teams play. UND has been a combined plus-14, with 30 power play goals scored (30 of 97, 30.9%, 2nd in the country) and only fifteen power play goals allowed (70 of 85, 82.4%, 19th), with one shorthanded goal scored and two allowed.

Minnesota Duluth has posted a minus-4, with 17 power play goals scored (17 of 73, 23.3%, 18th), 19 power play goals allowed (70 of 89, 78.7%, 44th), one shorthanded goal scored, and three allowed.

It is also worth noting that UND has earned fourteen more power plays than penalty kill situations (97-85), while UMD has been shorthanded far more often (73-89).

North Dakota is 12th in the country in scoring offense (3.43 goals scored/game) but just 47th in the country in scoring defense (3.30 goals allowed/game). Minnesota Duluth is 50th in the country in scoring offense (2.32 goals scored/game) but slightly better on the defensive side, allowing 2.95 goals/game (38th).

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

Despite the Fighting Hawks’ defensive depth and experience, UND’s goaltending troubles continue. North Dakota has the worst combined save percentage in the country at .867; in other words, opponents are scoring on 13.3 percent of shots on goal this season. Only one team in the country (Western Michigan, 13.4 percent) lights the lamp at a higher percentage than that.

This weekend’s games are the only two scheduled meetings between UND and Duluth this season.

Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Head Coach: Scott Sandelin (22nd season at UMD, 437-360-95, .543)

National Rankings: NR/NR
Pairwise Ranking: 37th
KRACH Ranking: 27th

This Season: 9-12-1 overall, 3-6-1-2 NCHC (6th)
Last Season: 22-16-3 overall (NCAA West Regional Finalist), 9-9-3-3 NCHC (4th)

2022-2023 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 2.32 goals scored/game – 50th of 62 teams
Team Defense: 2.95 goals allowed/game – 38th of 62 teams

Power Play: 23.3% (17 of 73) – 18th of 62 teams
Penalty Kill: 78.7% (70 of 89) – 44th of 62 teams

Key players: Freshman F Ben Steeves (12-3-15), Sophomore F Dominic James (7-6-13), Senior F Quinn Olson (2-10-12), Senior F Luke Loheit (3-7-10), Sophomore D Owen Gallatin (3-9-12), Senior D Derek Daschke (2-10-12), Senior G Matthew Thiessen (5-6-0, 2.21 GAA, .918 SV%, 1 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (8th season at UND, 171-87-29, .646)

National Rankings: NR/NR
Pairwise Ranking: 23rd
KRACH Ranking: 18th

This Season: 9-10-4 overall, 3-7-1-1 NCHC (7th)
Last Season: 24-14-1 overall (NCAA Regional Semifinalist), 17-6-1 NCHC (t-1st)

2022-2023 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 3.43 goals scored/game – 12th of 62 teams
Team Defense: 3.30 goals allowed/game – 47th of 62 teams

Power Play: 30.9% (30 of 97) – 2nd of 62 teams
Penalty Kill: 82.4% (70 of 85) – 19th of 62 teams

Key Players: Junior F Riese Gaber (12-10-22), Sophomore F Jake Schmaltz (3-5-8), Freshman F Owen McLaughlin (0-11-11), Graduate F Mark Senden (5-5-10), Freshman F Jackson Blake (9-15-24), Senior F Gavin Hain (8-3-11), Freshman F Dylan James (3-7-10) Graduate D Chris Jandric (3-20-23), Junior D Tyler Kleven (5-6-11), Senior D Ethan Frisch (3-7-10), Junior D Cooper Moore (3-7-10), Sophomore G Jakob Hellsten (5-5-2, 2.77 GAA, .873 SV%)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: February 19, 2022 (Duluth, Minnesota). 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.

Last Meeting in Grand Forks: November 20, 2021. North Dakota’s Brendan Budy broke a 1-1 tie at the 5:05 mark of the third period and UND hung on for the 2-1 victory. The Fighting Hawks scored a power play goal late in the second period (Ethan Frisch) and held the Bulldogs scoreless with the man-advantage. Duluth won Friday’s opener 4-1 behind two goals from Casey Gilling and an empty-net goal with just under two minutes remaining in the game. The Fighting Hawks held the advantage in the faceoff circle all weekend, winning 68 of 115 faceoffs (59.1%). In game one, UMD went 1-for-6 with the man advantage and held UND scoreless on six power plays. In the rematch, it was North Dakota scoring on the power play and holding the Bulldogs without a power play goal.

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, 152-88-11 (.627), including a 83-38-3 (.681) advantage in games played in Grand Forks. 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 5-4-1 (.550) in the last ten games between the teams, although the Bulldogs have outscored the Hawks 28-25 over that stretch thanks to a 7-4 home victory in January 2020 and a 4-1 road win in November 2021. Only four of the past ten UND-UMD games were played in Duluth.

Game News and Notes

UND has outscored opponents 59-47 through two periods of play this season but has been outscored 28-19 in the final frame. The Bulldogs have been outscored 25-15 in third periods and overtime. No North Dakota player expected to be in the lineup this weekend has more than two career goals against UMD. Freshman forward Cole Spicer decommitted from UND to join the Bulldogs this season; the Grand Forks native has appeared in twenty games thus far, scoring two goals and adding two assists. 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 North Dakota can find success with the man advantage, a sweep is possible. Despite all of the question marks surrounding the Green and White this year, this is the weekend where things will start to come together. UND 4-2, 4-3.

Broadcast Information

Both games will be broadcast on Midco Sports Network 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!

North Dakota (9-8-4, 3-5-2 NCHC) hosts #12 Western Michigan (12-9-1, 4-5-1 NCHC) at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks this weekend. It is worth noting that, despite being unranked, UND currently sits in 16th place in the all-important Pairwise Rankings, mostly due to the fact that six of its eight losses are to the top five teams in the country (Minnesota, Quinnipiac, St. Cloud State twice, and Denver twice). WMU is 12th in the Pairwise coming into the weekend series.

The two teams tangled at Lawson Ice Arena back on December 9th and 10th, with the Fighting Hawks securing five of six possible league points with a 2-2 overtime tie (shootout win) and a 3-0 victory.

UND found success at Lawson Arena by limiting high-quality chances, winning the special teams battle (2 for 7 on the power play and a perfect eight-for-eight on the penalty kill), and getting excellent goaltending from Drew DeRidder, who made 51 of 53 saves (.962) and added three stops in the five-round shootout.

WMU’s Jamie Rome (from Aiden Fulp and Tim Washe) and Jack Perbix (from Dylan Wendt) were the only two goal scorers that weekend, which means that the Broncos’ Big Three of Jason Polin, Max Sasson, and Ryan McAllister – who have combined for 37 goals and 96 points in 66 games played this season – were held off the scoresheet for the entire weekend. The frustration mounted for WMU’s top line, as Sasson and McAllister combined for eight minutes in penalties in the series.

UND followed up those impressive results with a home sweep of Lindenwood University (4-3, 4-2) last weekend but will need better starts in both games if they hope to hang with the high-flying Broncos. On Friday, North Dakota gave up the first two goals of the game within three minutes of the opening faceoff and trailed 3-1 just 3:49 into the contest. Saturday was not much better, as Lindenwood built a 2-0 lead after twenty minutes of play.

Second-year Broncos head coach Pat Ferschweiler (WMU ’93) has his team playing at an extremely high level, with Western Michigan exhibiting the nation’s top-scoring offense (4.23 goals scored/game). Ferschweiler, who had previously been the WMU associate head coach under Andy Murray, also spent four seasons as an assistant coach for the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings.

In his rookie campaign, Ferschweiler went 26-12-1 and brought his team within one game of the Frozen Four, falling to Minnesota in the regional final. In September, the Western Michigan bench boss was extended through the 2025-26 season.

Despite this year’s high-powered offense, Western Michigan’s only truly impressive win on the season is a 4-2 victory at St. Cloud back on November 11th. WMU also split with Notre Dame in a home-and-home series back in October.

According to KRACH, North Dakota has faced the nation’s sixth-toughest schedule to this point of the season, while the Broncos schedule weighs in as the twelfth-most difficult.

Nine full seasons have come and gone since the college hockey landscape changed forever. With Minnesota and Wisconsin departing the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for the Big Ten after the 2012-13 season, several other conference schools and two members of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (Miami and Western Michigan) created the National Collegiate Hockey Conference and left Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji State, Michigan Tech, and Minnesota State behind in a watered-down WCHA. And now, the WCHA is no more, and the CCHA reformed beginning with the 2021-2022 campaign.

The NCHC has been the premier hockey conference since its inception, and particularly over the past eight 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 six national titles.

In the Division I era (since 1975), the Broncos have had sixteen twenty-win seasons, with nine of those coming between 1984 and 1996 under head coach Bill Wilkinson. WMU has made the national tournament four times since 1996.

Turning our attention to this weekend’s matchup, a half-point per game or better is my benchmark for solid offensive production, and Pat Ferschweiler’s squad has TEN players who meet that threshold, including three players averaging over a point per game: freshman forward Ryan McAllister (10-28-38), junior forward Jason Polin (19-11-30), and sophomore forward Max Sasson (8-20-28). Other solid offensive contributors include junior forward Luke Grainger (7-13-20), graduate forward Jaime Rome (9-6-15), freshman forward Ethan Wolthers (2-3-5 in nine games), senior forward Jack Perbix (3-8-11), graduate forward Cole Gallant (3-9-12), junior defenseman Zak Galambos (9-7-16), and senior defenseman Carter Berger (3-14-17, no relation).

By that same measure, North Dakota has nine players at a half point or better: junior forward Riese Gaber (11-9-20), freshman forward Jackson Blake (9-13-22), freshman forward Dylan James (3-7-10), senior forward Gavin Hain (8-3-11), sophomore forward Nick Portz (2-5-7), freshman forward Ben Strinden (2-4-6), graduate defensemen Chris Jandric (2-18-20), junior defenseman Tyler Kleven (5-6-11), and senior defenseman Ethan Frisch (2-7-9).

UND is seventh in the nation in shooting percentage at 11.6% (73 goals on 630 shots); by comparison, Western Michigan leads the nation at 13.0% (93 goals on 714 shots). WMU puts an average of 32.5 shots/game on frame, while North Dakota manages 30.0. The two teams are nearly identical in shots allowed (Broncos 25.0, Fighting Hawks 24.3). The Broncos (11th in Corsi, 11th in Fenwick) also lead North Dakota (15th, 16th) in both puck possession statistics.

One key area to watch this weekend is the face-off circle. The Fighting Hawks are the nation’s twelfth-best team on draws (53.2%), while the Broncos clock in at 50.9% (27th).

For UND, sophomore Jake Schmaltz has been making a living on draws, winning 241 of 425 (56.7%). Junior Louis Jamernik V has more than held his own (203 of 382, 53.1), while freshman Owen McLaughlin has shown improvement (118 of 233, 50.6%). Junior Griffin Ness has fallen off lately, with 47 wins in 104 opportunities (45.2%).

For Western Michigan, sophomore Max Sasson has taken the majority of important draws, going 235 of 480 (49.0%). Junior Tim Washe has fared the best (182 of 302, 60.3%), while junior Luke Grainger (135 of 300, 45.0%) and sophomore Jack Perbix (127 of 252, 50.4%) have been up and down.

To this point in the season, North Dakota has had the better of the specialty teams play. UND has been a combined plus-13, with 26 power play goals scored (26 of 89, 29.2%, 2nd in the country) and only twelve power play goals allowed (65 of 77, 84.4%, 13th), with one shorthanded goal scored and two allowed.

Western Michigan has posted a plus-3, with 23 power play goals scored (23 of 95, 24.2%, 13th), a whopping 21 power play goals allowed (67 of 88, 76.1%, 49th), two shorthanded goals scored, and one allowed.

It is also worth noting that UND has earned twelve more power plays than penalty kill situations (89-77), while WMU has been closer to even (95-88).

North Dakota is 10th in the country in scoring offense (3.48 goals scored/game) but just 40th in the country in scoring defense (3.10 goals allowed/game). Western Michigan leads the nation in scoring offense (4.23 goals scored/game) but is allowing 2.86 goals/game (33rd).

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

Ethan Frisch is expected to return to the lineup this weekend after suffering a lower-body injury in the final seconds of last Saturday’s contest against Lindenwood. Frisch, last season’s NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year, plays heavy minutes next to Tyler Kleven on UND’s top defensive pair.

The Broncos have not played since winning the Great Lakes Invitational (December 27th and 28th). Western Michigan and North Dakota will both be in the mix for home ice in the first round of the league playoffs, and points this weekend would go a long way toward that goal.

Western Michigan Broncos

Head Coach: Pat Ferschweiler (2nd season at WMU, 38-21-2, .639)

National Rankings: #12/#12
Pairwise Ranking: 12th
KRACH Ranking: 12th

This Season: 12-9-1 overall, 4-5-0-1 NCHC (t-5th)
Last Season: 26-12-1 overall (NCAA Northeast Regional Finalist), 13-9-2-0 NCHC (3rd)

2022-2023 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 4.23 goals scored/game – 1st of 62 teams
Team Defense: 2.86 goals allowed/game – 33rd of 62 teams

Power Play: 24.2% (23 of 95) – 13th of 62 teams
Penalty Kill: 76.1% (67 of 88) – 49th of 62 teams

Key Players: Freshman F Ryan McAllister (10-28-38), Junior F Jason Polin (19-11-30), Sophomore F Max Sasson (8-20-28), Junior F Luke Grainger (7-13-20), Graduate F Jaime Rome (9-6-15), Senior F Jack Perbix (3-8-11), Graduate F Cole Gallant (3-9-12), Junior D Zak Galambos (9-7-16), Senior D Carter Berger (3-14-17), Junior G Cameron Rowe (11-8-1, 2.77 GAA, .893 SV%, 1 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Brad Berry (8th season at UND, 171-85-29, .651)

National Rankings: NR/NR
Pairwise Ranking: 16th
KRACH Ranking: 14th

This Season: 9-8-4 overall, 3-5-1-1 NCHC (7th)
Last Season: 24-14-1 overall (NCAA Regional Semifinalist), 17-6-1 NCHC (t-1st)

2022-2023 Season Statistics:

Team Offense: 3.48 goals scored/game – 10th of 62 teams
Team Defense: 3.10 goals allowed/game – 40th of 62 teams

Power Play: 29.2% (26 of 89) – 2nd of 62 teams
Penalty Kill: 84.4% (65 of 77) – 13th of 62 teams

Key Players: Junior F Riese Gaber (11-9-20), Sophomore F Jake Schmaltz (3-5-8), Junior F Louie Jamernik V (2-7-9), Graduate F Mark Senden (5-5-10), Freshman F Jackson Blake (9-13-22), Senior F Gavin Hain (8-3-11 in nineteen games), Freshman F Dylan James (3-7-10 in nineteen games) Graduate D Chris Jandric (2-18-20), Junior D Tyler Kleven (5-6-11), Senior D Ethan Frisch (2-7-9), Junior D Cooper Moore (2-6-8), Sophomore G Jakob Hellsten (5-4-2, 2.73 GAA, .871 SV%)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: December 10, 2022 (Kalamazoo, MI). North Dakota opened the scoring with a first-period Judd Caulfield power play goal, withstood a furious Western Michigan second period, and then turned the tables with a two-goal third period to blank the homestanding Broncos. UND netminder Drew DeRidder turned aside all 25 WMU shots, including six off the stick of Jason Pollin. In Friday’s opener, the two teams tied at two goals apiece before freshman Owen McLaughlin scored in the fifth round of the shootout to earn an extra point for the Green and White.

Last Meeting in Grand Forks: February 26, 2022. UND built a three-goal lead after just twelve minutes of play and boatraced the Broncos 5-2 at Ralph Engelstad Arena for their sixth consecutive regulation victory. Judd Caulfield scored twice for North Dakota, who won Friday’s opener 2-1. Fighting Hawks’ netminder Zach Driscoll made 55 saves in the weekend sweep.

Most Important Meeting: March 24, 2012 (St. Paul, MN). North Dakota upended Western Michigan 3-1 in the NCAA West Regional semifinal. Brock Nelson had two points, including an empty net goal with 25 seconds remaining that sent UND to the regional finals against Minnesota. Aaron Dell made 24 saves for the Green and White. The Broncos, who have played at the Division I level since 1975-76, have seven NCAA tournament appearances.

A Trip Down Memory Lane: Saturday, March 22, 2014 (Minneapolis, MN). North Dakota faced a must-win situation in the 3rd place game at the inaugural NCHC Frozen Faceoff, and did not disappoint the partisan crowd. The Green and White rolled to a 5-0 victory behind two first-period goals from Conner Gaarder. UND netminder Zane Gothberg made 25 saves for the shutout, and Dave Hakstol’s crew played the waiting game for several more hours before discovering that they had indeed made the NCAA tournament for the twelfth consecutive season.

All-Time Series: In the short history between the schools, UND has won 28 of the 39 games (28-10-1, .731), including twelve of the sixteen games played in Grand Forks. Before the 2016-17 season in which Western Michigan won three of the four meetings, WMU’s lone victory over North Dakota was a 2-1 road win on March 8th, 2014. The teams first met in 1997.

Last Ten: North Dakota has won six of the last ten meetings between the two teams (6-3-1, .650), outscoring the Broncos 31-21 over that stretch of games. Before the Broncos’ home sweep of North Dakota in January 2022, UND had swept the previous six with a scoring margin of 28-10.

Game News and Notes

Western Michigan moved up to the Division I ranks beginning with the 1975-76 season and has advanced to the NCAA tournament seven times. The Broncos have made the NCAA tourney twice (2017, 2022) in their first nine seasons in the NCHC after advancing to the national tournament twice (2011, 2012) in the last three seasons in the now-defunct CCHA. The Broncos are 9-0-0 when leading after two periods of play but just 3-9-1 when trailing or tied. UND’s Judd Caulfield has nine goals and two assists in twelve career games against WMU. Western Michigan has outscored opponents 36-13 in third periods this season. In the December series in Kalamazoo, UND killed off all eight Bronco power plays; in its last eighteen man-advantage opportunities, Western Michigan has scored just one power play goal (5.6%).

The Prediction

Including this weekend’s series, North Dakota has fourteen conference games remaining, and the time is now to start stacking wins. The biggest question mark is how Western Michigan will come out in its first game action since December 28th. Having last line change should allow UND head coach Brad Berry to send Hain, Jamernik, Senden, Kleven, and Frisch out against Polin, Sasson, and McAllister throughout the contest. The Green and White should be able to score at least one power play goal each night, and that will help tremendously. With this year’s North Dakota squad, it’s often been one step forward and at least one step back, so I’m calling a split. UND 4-2, WMU 5-3.

Broadcast Information

Friday’s game will be broadcast live on Midco Sports, with Saturday’s rematch available on Midco Sports Two. Both games will be available via livestream 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!