Category: Men’s Hockey

This is my yearly attempt to predict the ten finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. In the past, my results have been mixed, from a high of seven (including last year) to a low of four.

Last season, Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College) had basically won the award before the ten finalists were announced. By this time last year, “Johnny Hockey” had already collected 32 goals and 37 assists in 37 games (1.86 points/game).

This season, the nation’s top point producer comes from another Beantown program: Boston University’s Jack Eichel. The freshman phenom from North Chelmsford, Massachusetts (32 miles from Boston) has a stat line of 20 goals and 41 assists in 34 games (1.79 points/game).

Last year’s Hobey winner (Gaudreau) finished his collegiate career with a flourish, scoring four goals and adding seven assists in his final three NCAA appearances to finish with 80 points in 40 games played. That was the most points in a season since Colorado College junior forward Peter Sejna had 36 goals and 46 assists (82 points) for the Tigers in 2002-03.

No collegiate player has scored 100 points in a season since Paul Kariya went 25-75-100 in 39 games as a freshman with the Maine Black Bears in 1992-93. I bring up Kariya because he remains the only first-year player to win the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. In 34 years, seniors have taken home college hockey’s highest individual honor 23 times, while juniors and sophomores have won five times each.

Despite the fact that scoring is down in men’s college hockey this season (2.70 goals scored/game this year, compared to 2.82 goals/game last season and 2.74 in 2012-13), seventeen different skaters have hit the 20 goal plateau and fifty players (40 forwards and 10 defensemen) have collected more than 20 assists.

Six players have already reached 50 points this year, and a seventh (Michigan’s Zach Hyman) is one point shy. I’ve got four of those players on my top ten list (Boston University’s Jack Eichel, RIT’s Matt Garbowsky, Hyman, and Harvard’s Jimmy Vesey), with a fifth (Union’s Daniel Ciampini) an honorable mention. The other two to reach 50 points (BU’s Evan Rodriques and Union’s Mike Vecchione) are overshadowed by higher-profile teammates, and a Hobey nod for either of them is unlikely.

Of the top eight teams in the Pairwise rankings, six (North Dakota, Minnesota State, Denver, Boston University, Michigan Tech, and Miami) are represented among my ten finalists and six honorable mentions. The only two schools in the top eight that don’t get a nomination on my list are both NCHC teams: Minnesota-Duluth and Nebraska-Omaha. Minnesota-Duluth is led by Tony Cameranesi (8-20-28) up front, Andy Welinski (9-11-20) on defense, and Kasimir Kaskisuo (17-13-3, 2.31 GAA, .915 SV%, 1 SO) in net, while Nebraska-Omaha’s frontrunners are forward Jake Guentzel (12-23-35), defenseman Ian Brady (5-15-20), and goaltender Ryan Massa (12-7-6, 2.04 GA, .934 SV%, 1 SO). Despite the success of their teams, it is my opinion that none of these six players will make the final Hobey list.

Of my top sixteen, I’ve got eight forwards, three defensemen, and five goaltenders. My list is laden with upperclassmen (nine seniors, five juniors), with just one sophomore (Yale goaltender Alex Lyon) and the aforementioned first-year sensation Jack Eichel of Boston University.

Here’s my best shot at the ten Hobey Baker finalists:

Skaters (in alphabetical order):

Jack Eichel, freshman forward, Boston University
20 goals, 41 assists (61 points) in 34 games (1.79 points/game)
5 goals, 16 assists for 21 points in his last 10 games (2.10 points/game)

Incredibly, Eichel has only been held off the score sheet five times in 34 games this season, with 18 multi-point efforts to his credit. In his past ten outings, he has scored over two points per game while leading BU to the second weekend of the Hockey East playoff championship. There’s an excellent article by Scott Weighart here about Jack Eichel, who played for the U.S National Under-18 Team (NTDP) before attending Boston University. And a final point about Eichel’s impact: the Terriers went just 10-21-1 last season (their worst mark in over 40 years); this year (with Eichel), they are 21-7-5 with two trophies in the case already: the Beanpot championship (the program’s first since 2009, a national championship season) and the Hockey East regular season title.

Matt Garbowsky, senior forward, RIT
26 goals, 24 assists (50 points) in 36 games (1.39 points/game)
7 goals, 8 assists (15 points) in his last 10 games (1.50 points/game)

After missing 24 games of the 2013-14 season with a broken bone in his left wrist, Garbowsky came back with a vengeance this year, scoring 50 points to become the latest member of RIT’s Century Club (48-62-110 in 124 career games). There’s an excellent feature from the Democrat and Chronicle here which details Garbowsky’s return from injury and demonstrates just how much he means to the RIT hockey program. The Tigers’ captain, who hails from St. George, Ontario, is tied for second in the nation in goals (26), one back of Harvard’s Jimmy Vesey. RIT swept Air Force (Garbowsky had two goals and two assists) to make it to the second weekend of the AHA playoffs and would need to win the tournament title to advance to the NCAAs.

Zach Hyman, senior forward, Michigan
19 goals, 30 assists (49 points) in 34 games (1.44 points/game)
3 goals, 9 assists (12 points) in his last 10 games (1.20 points/game)

The senior from Toronto, Ontario had point streaks of nine and five games earlier this season, but he’s somewhat disappeared over the past two weekends, notching just two assists over the past four games. Hyman, who writes children’s books on the side, is also up for the Hockey Humanitarian Award and the Senior CLASS award. The Michigan Wolverines are currently tied for 20th in the Pairwise rankings after missing the NCAA tournament two straight years (they had advanced to the NCAAs 22 consecutive seasons before that), and if Michigan is going to win the Big Ten tournament (their only hope of making the field of 16), Hyman will need to lead the charge.

Tanner Kero, senior forward, Michigan Tech
19 goals, 26 assists (45 points) in 38 games (1.18 points/game)
6 goals, 4 assists (10 points) in his last 10 games (1.00 points/game)

Tanner Kero scored 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) in 28 conference games and led the Huskies to a second-place finish in the WCHA (one point behind league champion Minnesota State). There’s an excellent story here about how Kero felt about his final Great Lakes Invitational with the Huskies as favorites. Kero, who hails from Hancock, Michigan and played his junior hockey with the Fargo Force (USHL), was recently named the WCHA Player of the year and Student-Athlete of the Year. Michigan Tech (a program which has had only two winning seasons in the past 32 years) has a record of 28-8-2 and is a lock to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 1980-81 campaign. Kero has career marks of 54-56-110 in 150 games with the Huskies.

Joey LaLeggia, senior defenseman, Denver
13 goals, 25 assists (38 points) in 34 games (1.12 points/game)
4 goals, 12 assists (16 points) in his last 10 games (1.60 points/game)

The first defenseman to make my list hails from the University of Denver. LaLeggia, last season’s NCHC Defenseman of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year, has been everything for the Pioneers this season (and throughout his career) and has his team in position for a number-one seed in the NCAA tournament (currently 3rd in the Pairwise rankings). The senior from Burnaby, British Columbia is the third-most prolific blueliner in the nation, trailing only Minnesota’s Mike Reilly (who also made my list) and Notre Dame’s Robbie Russo, who scored three more points than LaLeggia but appeared in six more games. LaLeggia, who has often been overlooked because of his size (he is listed at 5’10 and 185 pounds), has played 153 games in his DU career, scoring 47 goals and adding 83 assists for 130 points. The Denver Pioneers just completed a first round sweep of NCHC rival Minnesota-Duluth (LaLeggia scored a goal and notched two assists) and are headed to Minneapolis for the Frozen Faceoff, looking for their second consecutive league playoff title.

Mike Reilly, junior defenseman, Minnesota
6 goals, 36 assists (42 points) in 36 games (1.17 points/game)
2 goals, 14 assists (16 points) in his last 10 games (1.60 points/game)

The second player from the Big Ten to make my list wears the Maroon and Gold of the Minnesota Gophers. Reilly is the top scoring defenseman in the country (17th among all skaters) and is tied for 2nd among all players with 36 assists (Jack Eichel has 41). The junior from nearby Chanhassen, Minnesota recently repeated as the Big Ten Defenseman of the Year and was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team. Reilly, who assisted on two goals each night in the Gophers’ sweep of visiting Penn State last weekend, is the Columbus Blue Jackets’ most exciting prospect and is often mentioned as a likely early departure from the college ranks. Minny is in a perilous Pairwise position at the moment (currently 13th), and may need to win the Big Ten playoff tournament (or win at least one game and get some help) in Detroit, Michigan to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Jimmy Vesey, junior forward, Harvard
27 goals, 26 assists (53 points) in 34 games (1.56 points/game)
8 goals, 6 assists (14 points) in his last 10 games (1.40 points/game)

The nation’s leading goal scorer hails from the hallowed halls of Harvard University. Vesey, who trails only Jack Eichel in points/game this season (1.56 to Eichel’s 1.79), has already collected 95 points (51 goals and 44 assists) in 92 career games for the Crimson. The junior from North Reading, Massachusetts is one of only nine players in the country with at least 20 goals and 20 assists. Vesey, who was featured in this Boston Herald article, scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime of a decisive Game Three against Yale in the ECAC playoffs on Sunday night. Harvard, currently 15th in the Pairwise rankings, will need to continue winning to extend its season, and Vesey will be key for the Crimson in Lake Placid this weekend.

Goaltenders (in alphabetical order):

Alex Lyon, sophomore goaltender, Yale
17-9-5, 1.58 goals-against average, .939 save percentage, 7 shutouts
5-3-2, 1.73 goals-against average, .931 save percentage, 3 shutouts in his last 10 games

Lyon is an easy addition to the Hobey Baker top ten. The sophomore from Baudette, Minnesota has the nation’s best goals-against average (1.58), is tied for the lead in save percentage (.939), and has posted more shutouts (seven) than any other netminder in the country. Lyon, who was recently named one of five finalists for the 2015 Mike Richter Award (most outstanding goaltender), has been Yale’s number one goalie since he arrived in New Haven in the fall of 2013. The Bulldogs are idle this weekend after falling to Harvard in the ECAC quarterfinals but have a slim chance at an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.

Jamie Phillips, junior goaltender, Michigan Tech
27-7-2, 1.62 goals-against average, .938 save percentage, 6 shutouts
8-1-1, 0.90 goals-against average, .964 save percentage, 3 shutouts in his last 10 games

Jamie Phillips was another of five finalists for the Mike Richter award, but his Huskies are in a much better position than Lyon’s Bulldogs. Michigan Tech opened the season with ten consecutive wins (Phillips started and won all ten) and is currently 5th in the Pairwise rankings headed into the WCHA Final Five (St. Paul, Minnesota). Phillips, from Caledonia, Ontario, is second in the nation in goals-against average (1.62), third in save percentage (.938), tied for first in wins (27), and second in shutouts (six) while playing the second-most minutes in the country (behind only CJ Motte of Ferris State). The All-WCHA First Teamer has played in every game this season for the Huskies, allowing two goals or less 29 times. He posted back-to-back shutouts against Alabama-Huntsville in the first round of the league playoffs and has not allowed a goal in over 180 minutes of game action.

Stephon Williams, junior goaltender, Minnesota State
23-5-3, 1.68 goals-against average, .923 save percentage, 4 shutouts
6-2-2, 1.59 goals-against average, .928 save percentage, 2 shutouts in his last 10 games

This final spot was a tough call between Williams and North Dakota’s Zane McIntyre, but I’m giving the edge to the Mavericks’ netminder simply because his numbers are better. While McIntyre has a better save percentage, Williams has the edge in goals-against average and shutouts. So it comes down to this: UND and Minnesota State played the 8th and 12th toughest schedules in the country (according to KRACH), and McIntyre allowed 21 more goals than Williams in five more games played. It is noteworthy that Stephon Williams, who hails from Fairbanks, Alaska, was responsible for the greatest goaltending moment of the 2014-15 season: he intentionally knocked his net off its moorings to draw attention to an injured teammate. A penalty shot was awarded, Williams proceeded to stop that attempt, and the Mavericks went on to defeat Minnesota. Again, this was a tough call, and it may be telling that Williams was not among five finalists for the 2015 Mike Richter Award, but I think he’s deserving.

Honorable Mention:

Daniel Ciampini, senior forward, Union
26 goals, 24 assists (50 points) in 39 games (1.28 points/game)

Austin Czarnik, senior forward, Miami
8 goals, 32 assists (40 points) in 37 games (1.08 points/game)

Robbie Russo, senior defenseman, Notre Dame
15 goals, 26 assists (41 points) in 40 games (1.03 points/game)

Cody Wydo, senior forward, Robert Morris
19 goals, 22 assists (41 points) in 36 games (1.14 points/game)

Zane McIntyre, junior goaltender, North Dakota
27-7-3, 1.97 goals-against average, .932 save percentage, 1 shutout

CJ Motte, senior goaltender, Ferris State
18-19-2, 2.05 goals-against average, .923 save percentage, 5 shutouts

So what do you think? Who would you include? Leave out? Feel free to comment below, and thanks for reading!

St. Cloud State won the inaugural season of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, with North Dakota hoisting the Penrose Cup this year. But beyond that, which teams are making their mark as frontrunners in the NCHC and which programs are quickly headed in the wrong direction?

For comparison’s sake, I have the teams ranked in order of their average league finish (2013-14 and 2014-15). There was one tie (Denver finished 6th and 4th over the past two seasons; Miami, 8th and 2nd), and I settled that by looking at the combined conference record for both schools.

Season and combined records are for conference games only.

Team	2014-15 record	2014-15 finish	2013-14 record	2013-14 finish	Combined record	Average finish
North Dakota	16-6-2-0	1st	15-9-0-0	2nd	31-15-2-0	1.5
Nebraska-Omaha	12-8-4-3	3rd	13-9-2-1	3rd	25-17-6-4	3.0
St. Cloud State	11-12-1-0	6th	15-6-3-0	1st	26-18-4-0	3.5
Minnesota-Duluth	12-9-3-0	5th	11-11-2-2	4th	23-20-5-2	4.5
University of Denver	13-10-1-1	4th	10-11-3-2	6th	23-21-4-3	5.0
Miami University	14-9-1-1	2nd	6-17-1-1	8th	20-26-2-2	5.0
Western Michigan	6-13-5-4	7th	11-11-2-2	5th	17-24-7-6	6.0
Colorado College	2-19-3-1	8th	6-13-5-1	7th	8-32-8-2	7.5

What stands out to you? Who are North Dakota’s biggest rivals, year in and year out? Which conference series do you most look forward to? And who do you expect to make the biggest jump next season?

At the beginning of last season, Miami was #1 in the national polls and expected to finish first in the inaugural season of the NCHC. The RedHawks returned Ryan McKay between the pipes (1.39 goals-against average, .946 save percentage, and four shutouts in 2012-13) and a pair of high-flying forwards in Riley Barber and Austin Czarnik.

Inconsistent goaltending and a string of injuries took their toll on Enrico Blasi’s squad. Furthermore, Miami went 4-10 in one-goal games last year and sputtered to a 15-20-3 record. It was the first time in ten seasons that the RedHawks failed to win at least twenty games.

Despite the disappointing regular season results, last place Miami traveled to league champion St. Cloud State for the first round of the NCHC playoffs and dispatched #4 St. Cloud State in a pair of tight games. At the inaugural Frozen Faceoff, the RedHawks blanked #11 North Dakota 3-0 before dropping a heartbreaker to Denver in the league championship game, ending their improbable run one game short of the NCAA tournament.

Miami only graduated two players from last year’s squad: forwards Max Cook (23 points in 111 career games) and Bryon Paulazzo (33 points in 105 games). To the cynic, bringing back almost the entire roster from a 15 win season might not be all that exciting, but this year has been markedly different for the boys from Oxford, Ohio. After allowing over three goals per game a year ago, Miami has brought that number down to 2.28. (North Dakota is allowing just 2.09 goals/game). And the RedHawks have been able to score with anyone, notching three or more goals in 19 of 32 games this year (and potting two goals in eight others).

This season, RedHawks netminder Jay Williams has taken over the starting spot, and he had a spectacular first half. The junior from McLean, Virginia went 12-2-0 over the first three months of the season with three shutout victories. Since the calendar turned to 2015, however, Williams has struggled, giving up three or more goals in four of eight contests and posting a pedestrian record of 4-4-0. More incredibly, Williams only made 38 of 45 stops in back-to-back losses against Minnesota-Duluth and Denver (his two most recent appearances) and was chased by the Pioneers after less than thirteen minutes (four goals allowed on thirteen shots).

North Dakota will be without the services of senior forward Mark MacMillan this weekend and for the foreseeable future. The senior from Penticton, British Columbia sustained a lower body injury while blocking a shot during a key 5-on-3 penalty kill early in last Saturday’s game against St. Cloud State. MacMillan, who may have played his last game for the Green and White, has 99 career points in 151 games at UND. The last player to fall one point short of UND’s Century Club was forward Wes Dorey (1997-2001), who collected 47 goals and 52 assists in 140 career games.

It appears as though Trevor Olson will be inserted in the lineup at wing this weekend, with senior forward Stephane Pattyn moving to center. North Dakota fans may remember that two key UND players were out of the lineup for the home split against Miami earlier this season; freshman forward Nick Schmaltz and sophomore defenseman Paul LaDue both missed that November series.

UND’s seven senior skaters (forwards Connor Gaarder, Mark MacMillan, Brendan O’Donnell, Michael Parks, and Stephane Pattyn along with defensemen Nick Mattson and Andrew Panzarella) have combined for 52 points over the last twelve games and rank as the fourth-most productive senior group in the nation with 118 points (Mercyhurst 171, Air Force 128, Minnesota 124).

North Dakota honored those seven players during last Saturday’s Senior Night celebration. The 2015 senior class has amassed a combined record of 97-46-16 (.660) with three straight trips to the NCAA tournament. By comparison, the winningest class under Dave Hakstol was the 2011 class (forwards Matt Frattin, Evan Trupp, Brad Malone, and Brent Davidson and defensemen Chay Genoway, Jake Marto, and Derrick LaPoint), who went 109-48-16 (.676) during their time at UND. Beginning with the incoming freshman class of 2002, every four-year player to wear the Green and White has collected 100 career victories.

Offensive capability from the blue line is a big reason for UND’s continued success. After leading the nation in scoring by defensemen last year, UND is first in the country in that category again this season. Through 33 games, North Dakota blueliners have scored 21 goals and added 77 assists for 98 points, or 2.97 points per game. Denver is second in that category with 94 points in 32 games (2.94 points/game).

More to the point, North Dakota’s top six defensemen have notched 14 goals and added 68 assists for 82 points (2.81 points/game). By comparison, the six Miami blueliners expected to be in the lineup this weekend have combined for 12 goals and 42 assists for 54 points (1.80 points/game). And furthermore, UND is so deep with talent on the blue line that freshman defenseman Tucker Poolman has been playing wing this season, and he’s chipped in with six goals and six assists.

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

UND junior netminder Zane McIntyre is squarely in the Hobey Baker conversation after another stellar performance last weekend against St. Cloud State (49 of 52 saves in the home sweep while not allowing an even-strength goal). McIntyre, who now sits 8th in the country in goals-against average (1.93) and 7th in save percentage (.933), has played the third-most minutes in the nation and has the most victories in the country (24). In my opinion, the junior from Thief River Falls, Minnesota will need to continue registering victories and pick up one or two more shutouts over the next two weekends of action to remain in contention for college hockey’s highest individual award.

Only three goalies in North Dakota hockey history have more wins in a season than McIntyre’s 24: Aaron Dell went 30-7-2 in 2010-11, Eddie Belfour notched 29 victories against only four defeats during his only season in Grand Forks (1986-87), and Jean-Phillippe Lamoureux posted a record of 27-11-4 in 2007-08.

It should be noted that Zane McIntyre is also statistically the best goaltender in North Dakota hockey history. His career goals-against average (2.06) and save percentage (.927) rank as the best all-time at UND. Former goaltending greats Jean-Phillippe Lamoureux, Jordan Parise, Aaron Dell, and Karl Goehring round out the top five.

Perhaps the biggest reason for UND’s success this season has been North Dakota’s ability to hold a lead. During the 2014-15 campaign, Dave Hakstol’s squad is unbeaten (20-0-2) when leading after the first forty minutes of play. In fact, over the past seven years, North Dakota is converting almost 90 percent of second intermission leads into victories and has just seven losses in the last 150 such situations (133-7-10). In fact, the last time UND lost when leading after two periods of play was November 1st, 2013 against visiting St. Cloud State, when a 1-0 lead turned into a 3-2 defeat.

Dave Hakstol has his team in a much better position than last year, when North Dakota’s NCAA tournament hopes went down to the wire. With a sparkling 9-1-1 non-conference record, UND currently sits in first place in the Pairwise rankings, one of five NCHC teams in line to make the NCAA tournament. Minnesota-Duluth (3rd), Miami (4th), Nebraska-Omaha (5th), and Denver (8th) would all make the field of 16 if the season ended today. St. Cloud State dropped from 14th to 17th in the Pairwise after losing two road games against North Dakota last weekend.

And speaking of Hakstol, the UND head coach has now won twenty or more games in each of his first eleven seasons behind the North Dakota bench. That mark is easily the longest current streak in men’s hockey (Jerry York is second with six straight seasons of twenty or more wins, and Quinnipiac’s Rand Pecknold has four).

North Dakota has already clinched a share of the Penrose Cup, which is awarded to the regular season league champion (Miami is the only team within striking distance). With one point this weekend, UND will claim the title outright and face Colorado College at home in the first round of the NCHC playoffs.

If league games were not decided by shootout, North Dakota would have already won the Penrose Cup: UND’s 15-5-2 record in NCHC action would be good for 32 points, while Miami’s 13-8-1 mark would only get them to 27.

The reason North Dakota is in such an enviable position (in the league and nationally) is that Dave Hasktol’s squad has played thirteen different teams this season and has a winning record against ten of them. UND earned splits against their other three opponents (Bemidji State, Minnesota-Duluth, and Miami), and would like at least a split this weekend to continue winning the Pairwise comparison against the RedHawks.

Miami Team Profile

Head Coach: Enrico Blasi (16th season at Miami, 346-227-57, .594)

Pairwise Ranking: 4th of 59 teams
National Ranking: #5/#5
This Season: 20-11-1 overall, 13-8-1-1 NCHC (2nd)
Last Ten Games: 6-3-1 overall, 6-3-1-1 NCHC
Last Season: 15-20-3 overall, 6-17-1-1 NCHC (8th)

Team Offense: 2.97 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.28 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 19.3% (27 of 140)
Penalty Kill: 83.1% (13 of 136)

Key players: Junior F Riley Barber (16-15-31), Senior F Austin Czarnik (2-30-32), Sophomore F Sean Kuraly (16-7-23), Senior F Blake Coleman (12-12-24), Sophomore F Anthony Louis (6-21-27). Sophomore D Matthew Caito (3-15-18), Freshman D Louie Belpedio (4-10-14), Junior G Jay Williams (16-6-0, 1.90 GAA, .920 SV%, 4 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Dave Hakstol (11th season at UND, 284-139-43, .656)

Pairwise Ranking: 1st of 59 teams
National Rankings: #1/#1
This Season: 24-6-3 overall, 15-5-2-0 NCHC (1st)
Last Ten Games: 8-1-1 overall, 8-1-1-0 NCHC
Last Season: 25-14-3 overall (NCAA Frozen Four appearance), 15-9-0-0 NCHC (2nd)

Team Offense: 3.39 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.09 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 20.9% (29 of 139)
Penalty Kill: 84.1% (116 of 138)

Key Players: Junior F Drake Caggiula (15-16-31), Senior F Michael Parks (12-19-31), Freshman F Nick Schmaltz (5-19-24), Senior F Brendan O’Donnell (11-6-17), Junior D Jordan Schmaltz (3-22-25), Sophomore D Paul LaDue (4-15-19), Senior D Nick Mattson (3-13-16), Junior G Zane McIntyre (24-6-3, 1.93 GAA, .933 SV%, 1 SO)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: November 15, 2014 (Grand Forks, ND). After surrendering the first goal early in the second period, North Dakota came roaring back with three of their own in the middle frame and cruised to a 4-1 win in front of 11,802 fans at Ralph Engelstad Arena. Junior forward Drake Caggiula potted two goals (including a highlight reel dangle through Ben Paulides’ skates) and assisted on another, while seniors Mark MacMillan and Michael Parks collected two points each. Zane McIntyre made 28 of 29 saves in the victory, while UND hung the loss on Ryan McKay (23 of 27 saves). Since then, McKay has only appeared in eight games for the RedHawks, going 4-2-1. Miami won the series opener by a final of 3-2, with both teams scoring a shorthanded goal.

Last Meeting in Oxford: October 19, 2013. Blake Coleman’s hat trick led the way for Miami, as the RedHawks rolled to a 6-2 home victory over UND. Zane Gothberg (now McIntyre) was chased from the game after allowing four goals on fifteen shots. Less than fifteen seconds after Clarke Saunders entered the game, Coleman, who had just scored on Gothberg, put one top-shelf on Saunders to make it 5-0. North Dakota won the opener, 4-2, with Blake Coleman being issued a game misconduct early in the contest. 3642 fans came through the gates each night (Steve Cady Arena’s listed capacity is 3200).

Most Important Meeting: Last season’s loss to Miami at the Frozen Faceoff could have ended North Dakota’s season, but UND rebounded with a 5-0 victory over Western Michigan. After Wisconsin did their part across the river in St. Paul, the Green and White used their second chance as fuel for a Frozen Four run. The series these two teams will play this weekend has both NCHC and NCAA tournament implications.

All-time Series: North Dakota leads the all-time series 6-3-1 (.650), including a 1-1-0 (.500) mark in games played in Oxford. Five of the ten all-time meetings between the schools came during the 2013-14 season, with UND picking up wins in three of those five games. The teams first played in 1999 (Badger Showdown, Milwaukee, WI).

Game News and Notes

North Dakota is 9-2 in one-goal games this season. Miami has only been outshot in six of 32 games this season; the RedHawks are 0-6 in those games. UND has not allowed an even-strength goal in almost 260 minutes of action. Miami made the NCAA tournament in nine of Enrico Blasi’s previous fifteen seasons as head coach. North Dakota senior forward Michael Parks has collected eleven points in seven career games against the RedHawks, leading all current players in that category.

The Prediction

In the absence of Mark MacMillan, it will take some time for Dave Hakstol’s new line combinations to gel. I give Miami the edge in Friday’s opener, with North Dakota roaring back in the rematch to remain unbeaten on Saturday nights (currently 15-0-2) and hoist the Penrose Cup. Miami 3-2, UND 4-2.

In the first year of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, St. Cloud State bested North Dakota by three points to claim the league’s first regular season championship. SCSU and UND were both invited to the NCAA tournament, and Denver earned the conference autobid by winning the inaugural Frozen Faceoff.

North Dakota and St. Cloud State have been paired up as schedule partners and rivals since the 2002-03 season. Two years later, the Center Ice Club created a commemorative trophy to mark the rivalry, and the two teams have been battling it out four times each season to claim the Challenge Cup.

UND had the better of the play in the first eight years of the Challenge Cup era, claiming the Cup four times and sharing the trophy three times while St. Cloud State only won the trophy once (2005-06). However, St. Cloud went 5-2-1 against North Dakota over the past two seasons (2012-14) and earned the last two Challenge Cups.

A November split in St. Cloud means that the Cup is on the line this weekend in Grand Forks.

According to KRACH, St. Cloud State has played the second-most difficult schedule in the country to this point. Over the last two weekends, the Huskies split at #6 Minnesota-Duluth and swept #5 Nebraska-Omaha. After this two game series in Grand Forks against #1 North Dakota, SCSU will host #7 Denver to close out the regular season. This weekend marks the Huskies’ twelfth ranked opponent of the year (UND has faced eight, and will travel to Oxford, Ohio to face the #5 Miami RedHawks next Friday and Saturday).

UND’s seven senior skaters (forwards Connor Gaarder, Mark MacMillan, Brendan O’Donnell, Michael Parks, and Stephane Pattyn along with defensemen Nick Mattson and Andrew Panzarella) have combined for 43 points over the last ten games and now rank as the fourth-most productive senior group in the nation with 109 points (Mercyhurst 170, Air Force 119, Minnesota 114).

North Dakota will honor those seven players during Saturday’s Senior Night celebration. The 2015 senior class has amassed a combined record of 95-46-16 (.656) with three straight trips to the NCAA tournament. By comparison, the winningest class under Dave Hakstol was the 2011 class (forwards Matt Frattin, Evan Trupp, Brad Malone, and Brent Davidson and defensemen Chay Genoway, Jake Marto, and Derrick LaPoint), who went 109-48-16 (.676) during their time at UND. Beginning with the incoming freshman class of 2002, every four-year player to wear the Green and White has collected 100 career victories.

Offensive capability from the blue line is a big reason for UND’s continued success. After leading the nation in scoring by defensemen last year, UND is first in the country in that category again this season. Through 31 games, North Dakota blueliners have scored 20 goals and added 71 assists for 91 points, or 2.94 points per game. Denver is second in that category with 88 points in 30 games (2.93 points/game).

More to the point, North Dakota’s top six defensemen have notched 13 goals and added 63 assists for 76 points (2.80 points/game). By comparison, the six SCSU blueliners expected to be in the lineup this weekend have combined for 10 goals and 39 assists for 49 points (1.85 points/game). And furthermore, UND is so deep with talent on the blue line that freshman defenseman Tucker Poolman has been playing wing this season, and he’s chipped in with six goals and five assists.

UND junior netminder Zane McIntyre has moved himself back into the Hobey Baker conversation after a stellar performance last weekend at Western Michigan (67 of 70 saves in the road sweep, with all three of WMU’s goals coming with the extra attacker). McIntyre, who now sits 12th in the country in goals-against average (1.96) and 8th in save percentage (.932), has played the fourth-most minutes in the nation and is tied for second in victories with 22 (Michigan Tech’s Jamie Phillips has 23). In my opinion, the junior from Thief River Falls, Minnesota will need to continue registering victories and pick up one or two more shutouts over the next three weekends of action to remain in contention for college hockey’s highest individual award.

It should also be noted that Zane McIntyre is also statistically the best goaltender in North Dakota hockey history. His career goals-against average (2.08) and save percentage (.927) rank as the best all-time at UND. Former goaltending greats Jean-Phillippe Lamoureux, Jordan Parise, Aaron Dell, and Karl Goehring round out the top five.

Perhaps the biggest reason for UND’s success this season has been North Dakota’s ability to hold a lead. During the 2014-15 campaign, Dave Hakstol’s squad is unbeaten (18-0-2) when leading after the first forty minutes of play. In fact, over the past seven years, North Dakota is converting almost 90 percent of second intermission leads into victories and has just seven losses in the last 148 such situations (131-7-10). In fact, the last time UND lost when leading after two periods of play was November 1st, 2013 against visiting St. Cloud State, when a 1-0 lead turned into a 3-2 defeat.

Back in November, I wrote this about the difference between year one and year two in the NCHC:

North Dakota finished second in the NCHC, and yet needed some help at the final hour to claim the last spot in the round of sixteen. UND went 8-4-3 in non-league play last season heading into the NCAAs, but the rest of the league struggled mightily, particularly against Hockey East (6-11-5) and the ECAC (4-7-3).

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference has a stellar record against other leagues so far this season, a far cry from last year’s troubles. Currently, six conference schools are ranked in the top sixteen in the country (only Western Michigan and Colorado College are unranked). If these numbers hold, the NCHC could easily place four or even five teams in the NCAA tournament in March after sending just three (and barely that) a year ago.

And now it’s looking like five or even six league schools could be invited to the NCAAs.

Dave Hakstol has his team in a much better position than last year, when North Dakota’s NCAA tournament hopes went down to the wire. With a sparkling 9-1-1 non-conference record, UND currently sits in second place in the Pairwise rankings, one of six NCHC teams in line to make the NCAA tournament. Minnesota-Duluth (3rd), Miami (4th), Denver (7th), Nebraska-Omaha (8th), and St. Cloud State (14th) would all make the field of 16 if the season ended today. The Huskies moved all the way from 19th to 14th in the Pairwise after sweeping Nebraska-Omaha last weekend.

And speaking of Hakstol, the UND head coach has now won twenty or more games in each of his first eleven seasons behind the North Dakota bench. That mark is easily the longest current streak in men’s hockey (Jerry York is second with five straight seasons of twenty or more wins, and the Eagles have 19 victories this season).

St. Cloud State Team Profile

Head Coach: (Bob Motzko, 10th season at SCSU, 199-150-41, .563)
Pairwise Ranking: 14th of 59 teams
National Ranking: NR/NR
This Season: 15-14-1 overall, 10-9-1-0 NCHC (6th)
Last Ten Games: 6-4-0 overall, 6-4-0-0 NCHC
Last Season: 22-11-5 overall (NCAA Region semifinalist), 15-6-3-0 NCHC (1st)

Team Offense: 2.87 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.47 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 23.4% (29 of 124)
Penalty Kill: 79.3% (73 of 92)

Key Players: Junior F Jonny Brodzinski (17-12-29), Junior F Joey Benik (11-18-29), Junior F Kalle Kossila (4-20-24), Freshman F Patrick Russell (10-13-23), Senior D Andrew Prochno (3-11-14), Junior D Ethan Prow (3-12-15), Sophomore G Charlie Lindgren (14-13-1, 2.30 GAA, .916 SV%, 2 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Dave Hakstol (11th season at UND, 282-139-43, .654)

Pairwise Ranking: 2nd of 59 teams
National Rankings: #1/#1
This Season: 22-6-3 overall, 13-5-2-0 NCHC (1st)
Last Ten Games: 8-1-1 overall, 6-1-1-0 NCHC
Last Season: 25-14-3 overall (NCAA Frozen Four appearance), 15-9-0-0 NCHC (2nd)

Team Offense: 3.42 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.13 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 20.5% (27 of 132)
Penalty Kill: 85.0% (108 of 127)

Key Players: Junior F Drake Caggiula (15-16-31), Senior F Michael Parks (12-19-31), Senior F Mark MacMillan (16-9-25), Freshman F Nick Schmaltz (4-19-23), Senior F Brendan O’Donnell (10-5-15), Junior D Jordan Schmaltz (3-22-25), Sophomore D Paul LaDue (4-13-17), Senior D Nick Mattson (2-11-13), Junior G Zane McIntyre (22-6-3, 1.96 GAA, .932 SV%, 1 SO)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: November 22, 2014 (St. Cloud, MN). On his 21st birthday, North Dakota freshman Trevor Olson potted the first two goals of his career (including the game-winner) and led UND to the 3-2 road victory over the Huskies. St. Cloud native Austin Poganski assisted on both Olson goals against his hometown team, and Brendan O’Donnell also scored for the Green and White (North Dakota is 19-0-1 all-time when O’Donnell lights the lamp). UND outshot the Huskies 39-29, and both teams went 0-for-3 with the man advantage. SCSU won Friday’s opener 3-2.

Last Meeting in Grand Forks: November 2, 2013. Troy Stecher staked UND to an early lead, but St. Cloud State dominated the final forty minutes of action, outshooting North Dakota 21-11 in the second and third periods and scoring the final three goals of the hockey game to earn the road sweep (SCSU won Friday’s opener 2-1). Nic Dowd (one goal, one assist) and Jonny Brodzinski (two assists) led the way for the Huskies.

Most Important Meeting: March 17, 2001 (St. Paul, MN). St. Cloud State defeated North Dakota 6-5 to claim the 2001 WCHA Final Five Championship. Derek Eastman scored the game-winner in overtime after UND scored three goals in the final ten minutes of regulation to force the extra session.

All-time Series: UND leads the all-time series, 62-37-12 (.613), including a 30-16-6 (.635) mark in games played in Grand Forks. However, North Dakota is winless (0-3-1) in the last four meetings at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Last Ten: St. Cloud holds a 6-3-1 (.650) edge in the last ten meetings between the teams and has outscored North Dakota 26-21 over that stretch of games.

Game News and Notes

UND goaltender Zane McIntyre is just 2-5-0 against the Huskies in his three years at North Dakota. Head coach Bob Motzko needs one victory this weekend to reach 200 for his career (ten seasons). North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol, who has 282 coaching victories in eleven seasons, is 24-15-7 (.598) in his career against the Huskies. UND can clinch home ice for the first round of the NCHC playoffs with at least three points this weekend.

The Prediction

This season, UND is 8-6-1 on Fridays and 14-0-2 on Saturdays. That trend continues this weekend, with St. Cloud State winning a close one in the opener before North Dakota takes over in the rematch, earning a split of the weekend series and a share of the Challenge Cup. SCSU 3-2, UND 4-1.

On a Personal Note

I look forward to this series every year because of the unique relationship we have with the St. Cloud State hockey fans. On behalf of SiouxSports.com, I would like to invite you to the UND/SCSU pre-game social on Saturday afternoon from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Muddy Rivers Bar and Grill (inside the Red Roof Inn/TownHouse) in downtown Grand Forks. This is a great opportunity to meet fans on both sides of the rivalry, win fabulous door prizes, enjoy a free appetizer bar, and view the Challenge Cup. This event is free and open to the public. Due to the venue, guests must be 21 years of age or older. Bring a friend or six!

Western Michigan is still somewhat of an unknown commodity to most North Dakota hockey fans. Before the Broncos joined the newly-formed NCHC in the fall of 2013, the two teams had only met five times, and just once since 1998: a 3-1 UND victory in the 2012 NCAA West Regional in St. Paul.

The Green and White went 4-1 against WMU last season, sweeping in Kalamazoo and splitting in Grand Forks before meeting up in Minneapolis for the third-place game of the inaugural NCHC Frozen Faceoff. After being shut out by Miami in the semifinals, Dave Hakstol had the boys ready to go from the drop of the puck and UND coasted to a 5-0 victory. That result, coupled with Wisconsin’s thrilling win in the Big Ten tournament across the river, propelled North Dakota to a thirteenth consecutive NCAA tournament bid.

This year’s version of Western Michigan has been up and down in league play (5-9-4 with three shootout victories), but head coach Andy Murray’s 7-3-0 non-conference record has fans in Kalamazoo hoping for a playoff run (the Broncos are currently 23rd in the Pairwise rankings). WMU has been able to score more consistently this season (2.75 goals/game), but the Broncos have given up three or more goals in five of their last nine games, including a 7-0 shellacking at the hands of St. Cloud State.

The boys from Kalamazoo, Michigan like to play a tight, physical brand of hockey, but that has meant quite a bit of time in the penalty box. WMU has been in 131 shorthanded situations already this season (compared to 108 power play opportunities). The Broncos’ blistering power play has scored 25 goals this year (converting at 23.1%), but their penalty killers have also allowed 25 goals to the opposition.

North Dakota’s specialty teams numbers are a bit more even: 119 power plays and 118 penalty kills this year, with a net of plus-eight goals (26 power play goals scored, 18 power play goals allowed). UND also leads the nation with nine shorthanded goals, while the Broncos are still looking for their first.

UND’s seven senior skaters (forwards Connor Gaarder, Mark MacMillan, Brendan O’Donnell, Michael Parks, and Stephane Pattyn along with defensemen Nick Mattson and Andrew Panzarella) have combined for 36 points over the last eight games and now rank as the fourth-most productive senior class in the nation with 102 points (Mercyhurst 167, Air Force 115, Minnesota 108).

Offensive capability from the blue line is another reason for UND’s continued success. After leading the nation in scoring by defensemen last year, UND is second in the country in that category this season. Through 29 games, North Dakota blueliners have scored 18 goals and added 65 assists for 83 points, or 2.86 points per game. Only Massachusetts-Lowell (2.87 points/game) has scored at a higher rate this year.

UND junior netminder Zane McIntyre sits squarely on the bubble for a Hobey Baker nod after another pedestrian performance last weekend versus Denver (52 of 57 saves in a win and a tie). McIntyre, who now sits 13th in the country in goals-against average (2.00) and 11th in save percentage (.930), has played the sixth-most minutes in the nation and is tied for second in victories (20). In my opinion, the junior from Thief River Falls, Minnesota will need to continue registering victories and pick up one or two more shutouts over the next month to remain in contention for college hockey’s highest individual award.

It should also be noted that Zane McIntyre is also statistically the best goaltender in North Dakota hockey history. His career goals-against average (2.08) and save percentage (.926) rank as the best all-time at UND. Former goaltending greats Jean-Phillippe Lamoureux, Jordan Parise, Aaron Dell, and Karl Goehring round out the top five.

One of the biggest reasons for UND’s success this season has been North Dakota’s ability to hold a lead. During the 2014-15 campaign, Dave Hakstol’s squad is unbeaten (16-0-2) when leading after the first forty minutes of play. In fact, over the past seven years, North Dakota is converting almost 90 percent of second intermission leads into victories and has just seven losses in the last 146 such situations (129-7-10).

Dave Hakstol has his team in a much better position than last year, when North Dakota’s NCAA tournament hopes went down to the wire. With a sparkling 9-1-1 non-conference record, UND currently sits in second place in the Pairwise rankings, one of five NCHC teams in line to make the NCAA tournament. Nebraska-Omaha (5th), Minnesota-Duluth (4th), Miami (6th), and Denver (9th) would all make the field of 16 if the season ended today. Of the remaining three league teams on the outside looking in, St. Cloud State is the closest to making the tournament, as the Huskies are currently in 19th place.

And speaking of Hakstol, the UND head coach has now won twenty or more games in each of his first eleven seasons behind the North Dakota bench. That mark is easily the longest current streak in men’s hockey (Jerry York is second with five straight seasons of twenty or more wins, and the Eagles have 18 victories this season).

Western Michigan Team Profile

Head Coach: Andy Murray, 4th season at WMU, 71-53-23, .561)

Pairwise Ranking: 23rd of 59 teams
National Ranking: NR
This Season: 12-12-4 overall, 5-9-4-3 NCHC (7th)
Last Ten Games: 5-3-2 overall, 3-3-2-1 NCHC
Last Season: 19-16-5 overall (missed NCAA tournament), 11-11-2-2 NCHC (t-4th)

Team Offense: 2.75 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.64 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 23.1% (25 of 108)
Penalty Kill: 80.9% (106 of 131)

Key Players: Junior F Colton Hargrove (12-10-22). Sophomore F Sheldon Dries (11-11-22), Senior F Justin Kovacs (4-17-21), Junior D Kenney Morrison (5-9-14), Sophomore D Taylor Fleming (2-9-11), Junior G Lukas Hafner (10-8-4, 2.28 GAA, .919 SV%)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Dave Hakstol (11th season at UND, 280-139-43, .653)

Pairwise Ranking: 2nd of 59 teams
National Rankings: #1/#1
This Season: 20-6-3 overall, 11-5-2-0 NCHC (t-1st)
Last Ten Games: 7-2-1 overall, 5-2-1-0 NCHC
Last Season: 25-14-3 overall (NCAA Frozen Four appearance), 15-9-0-0 NCHC (2nd)

Team Offense: 3.45 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.17 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 21.8% (26 of 119)
Penalty Kill: 84.7% (100 of 118)

Key Players: Junior F Drake Caggiula (13-16-29), Senior F Michael Parks (11-18-29), Senior F Mark MacMillan (15-8-23), Freshman F Nick Schmaltz (4-17-21), Senior F Brendan O’Donnell (10-5-15), Junior D Jordan Schmaltz (3-20-23), Sophomore D Paul LaDue (3-12-15), Sophomore D Troy Stecher (1-8-9 in 21 games), Junior G Zane McIntyre (20-6-3, 2.00 GAA, .930 SV%, 1 SO)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: Saturday, March 22nd (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 13th consecutive season.

Last Meeting in Kalamazoo: December 7, 2013. WMU netminder Frank Slubowski gave up three goals on thirteen shots before being pulled early in the second period and North Dakota held on for a 3-2 road victory. Western Michigan, which outshot UND 25-16, collected two power play goals on six attempts. The Green and White also won Friday’s opener by a 3-2 score.

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.

All-time Series: In the short history between the schools, UND has won nine of the ten games, outscoring the Broncos 45-19. WMU’s lone victory over North Dakota was a 2-1 road win on March 8th, 2014. The teams first met in 1997.

Game News and Notes

UND is 7-6-1 on Friday nights and 13-0-2 on Saturdays. Western Michigan is just 3-4-3 at home this season; North Dakota is 8-3-0 on the road. MacMillan, whose twelve goals in conference play lead all scorers, has a career line of 45-52-97 in 147 games played and needs just three points to join UND’s Century Club. There are currently 84 members of that exclusive group (100 career points). Thanks to junior forward Nolan LaPorte (eight power play goals), Western Michigan has been the best in the league (23.1 percent) with the man advantage. UND forward Luke Johnson has collected three goals and four assists in five career games against WMU.

The Prediction

North Dakota can take a huge step forward in the league race with two NCHC victories this weekend. It won’t be easy, but I see Zane McIntyre rebounding with a dominating goaltending performance in Kalamazoo. UND 4-2, 3-0.

 

 

 

 

 

UND’s PWR outlook is a bit more interesting this week than last — a sweep probably leaves them at #2 (though #1 and #3 are each possible), a split most likely results in a modest fall (though staying at #2 is possible), getting swept would throw UND at the mercy of its competitors.

 

That 2% chance of UND taking #1 with a sweep almost certainly requires Minnesota State to be swept by Alaska:

 

Please join us for the UND/SCSU pre-game social, an annual event which provides an opportunity for fans of the University of North Dakota and St. Cloud State University to gather, celebrate the great sport of hockey, and view the Challenge Cup, a traveling trophy which is presented to the team which collects more points in the four regular-season games between the schools. St. Cloud State claimed the Cup last season with a record of 3-1-0 against UND, outscoring North Dakota 11-9 in the four contests. The teams did not meet in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff or the NCAA tournament a year ago.

This event will be held on Saturday, February 28th from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Muddy Rivers Bar and Grill (inside the Red Roof Inn TownHouse) in downtown Grand Forks. Muddy Rivers is smoke-free, and the event is free and open to the public (due to the venue, guests must be 21 years of age or older). A free appetizer bar will be available, everyone in attendance will have the opportunity to win door prizes, and a hockey bus will take fans to Ralph Engelstad Arena and back again after the game.

SiouxSports.com is the title sponsor for the event. Other sponsors include:

Daydreams Specialties
Domino’s Pizza
Fargo Force
Happy Joes Pizza
Muddy Rivers Grill and Bar
Quiznos
SiouxPride.com
Speedway 805 Grill and Bar
Valley Dairy

Here’s a look at a few of the door prizes we’ll be giving away:

Fans of both teams enjoy the camaraderie at these social events and regularly comment that the connection between the two fan bases is among the best in college hockey.

Mark your calendars and join us for this event!

From the outside looking in, it appears as though Dean Blais has resurrected the hockey program in Omaha, bringing in top-end recruits and a new style of play. The Mavericks play an honest, up-tempo brand of hockey, something familiar to fans of the Green and White from Blais’ time in Grand Forks.

But for all of the improvements and excitement, it should be noted that Blais has only brought one team to the NCAA tournament. In 2010-11 (his second season behind the Mavericks bench and UNO’s first season in the WCHA), Nebraska-Omaha took #6-ranked Michigan to overtime but fell 3-2 in the NCAA West Regional semifinals.

For comparison’s sake, previous coach Mike Kemp only took the Mavericks to the NCAA tournament once during his twelve year tenure behind the bench. And to be fair, Blais had to contend with two league changes (first to the WCHA and now to the NCHC) in his first five seasons in Omaha.

This might be the year that changes everything. #5 Nebraska-Omaha has posted an overall record of 15-6-3 and currently sits in first place in the NCHC. Dean Blais’ squad earned an extra point with a shootout victory in Grand Forks on November 28th after the teams skated to a 2-2 tie. UND won the rematch on Saturday night but still sits one point behind the Mavericks in the conference standings.

This year’s version of the UNO Mavericks has a different look to it, as Dean Blais no longer has forwards Josh Archibald and Ryan Walters on the roster. The two combined for 108 goals and 120 assists in 264 college games. However, senior forward Dominic Zombo remains, and UND fans may remember his dad, Rick Zombo, who wore the green and white during Blais’ tenure in Grand Forks.

Despite being outshot by an average margin of 31-26 this year, senior goaltender Ryan Massa is keeping the Mavericks in games. His save percentage of .936 has him in eighth place nationally (four other netminders are tied for fourth at .937).

UNO’s first- and second-year players have carried the load over the first four months of the season. Sophomore forwards Austin Ortega (14-11-25) and Jake Guentzel (7-16-23) lead the way for the Mavericks, while a trio of freshmen (Jake Randolph 4-16-20, Avery Peterson 9-9-18, Tyler Vesel 5-11-16) round out the top five. In fact, nine of the top eleven point getters for Dean Blais this year are freshmen and sophomores.

By contrast, UND’s upperclassmen have been carrying the load. North Dakota’s seniors shined in recent home sweeps of Niagara and Colorado College. The seven skaters (forwards Connor Gaarder, Mark MacMillan, Brendan O’Donnell, Michael Parks, and Stephane Pattyn along with defensemen Nick Mattson and Andrew Panzarella) combined for 23 points over the last four games and now rank as the third-most productive senior class in the nation with 89 points (Mercyhurst 124, Air Force 99).

Offensive capability from the blue line is another reason for UND’s continued success. After leading the nation in scoring by defensemen last year, UND is second in the country in that category this season. Through 25 games, North Dakota blueliners have scored 16 goals and added 55 assists for 71 points, or 2.84 points per game. Only Massachusetts-Lowell has scored at a higher rate (19-53-72 in 25 games, 2.88/game).

UND junior netminder Zane McIntyre strengthened his case for a Hobey Baker nod with another outstanding performance last weekend (55 of 59 saves). McIntyre, who now sits on the top ten in the country in goals-against average (1.89) and save percentage (.933), has played the third-most minutes in the nation and has earned the most victories (18). In my opinion, the junior from Thief River Falls, Minnesota will need continue registering victories and pick up one or two more shutouts over the next two months to remain in contention for college hockey’s highest individual award.

It should also be noted that Zane McIntyre is also statistically the best goaltender in North Dakota hockey history. His career goals-against average (2.06) and save percentage (.927) rank as the best all-time at UND. Former goaltending greats Jean-Phillippe Lamoureux, Jordan Parise, Aaron Dell, and Karl Goehring round out the top five.

Dave Hakstol has his team in a much better position than last year. With a sparkling 9-1-1 non-conference record, UND currently sits in second place in the Pairwise rankings, one of five NCHC teams in line to make the NCAA tournament. Nebraska-Omaha (t-3rd), Minnesota-Duluth (7th), Miami (8th), and Denver (11th) would all make the field of 16 if the season ended today. No other league school is in the top twenty.

In the race for the league title, the schedule for the stretch run seems to favor the boys from Omaha. Over the last four weeks of the regular season, North Dakota will face Denver and Miami as well as Western Michigan (21st) and St. Cloud State (26th). Nebraska-Omaha will play Western Michigan and Colorado College (47th) at home and travel to St. Cloud State and Minnesota-Duluth to close out their NCHC schedule. UND’s four remaining opponents have a combined KRACH rating of 930; UNO’s four foes weigh in at just over 740.

Against common opponents this season, UND has a record of 8-4-0 while the Mavericks sit at 7-3-0.

Nebraska-Omaha Team Profile

Head Coach: Dean Blais (6th season at UNO, 106-92-21, .532)

Pairwise Ranking: t-3rd of 59 teams
National Rankings: #5/#5
This Season: 15-6-3 overall, 9-4-1-1 NCHC (1st)
Last Season: 17-18-2 overall, 13-9-2-1 NCHC (3rd)

Team Offense: 3.04 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.46 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 16.8% (16 of 95)
Penalty Kill: 83.9% (73 of 87)

Key Players: Sophomore F Austin Ortega (14-11-25), Sophomore F Jake Guentzel (7-16-23), Freshman F Jake Randolph (4-16-20), Freshman F Avery Peterson (9-9-18), Junior D Brian Cooper (4-9-13), Sophomore D Ian Brady (4-9-13), Senior G Ryan Massa (10-3-3, 2.00 GAA, .936 SV%, 1 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Dave Hakstol (11th season at UND, 278-138-42, .653)

Pairwise Ranking: 2nd of 59 teams
National Rankings: #1/#1
This Season: 18-5-2 overall, 9-4-1-0 NCHC (2nd)
Last Season: 25-14-3 overall (NCAA Frozen Four appearance), 15-9-0-0 NCHC (2nd)

Team Offense: 3.48 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.08 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 21.0% (21 of 100)
Penalty Kill: 86.4% (89 of 103)

Key Players: Junior F Drake Caggiula (10-16-26), Senior F Michael Parks (9-17-26), Senior F Mark MacMillan (13-8-21), Freshman F Nick Schmaltz (3-15-18), Junior D Jordan Schmaltz (3-17-20), Sophomore D Paul LaDue (3-9-12), Junior G Zane McIntyre (18-5-2, 1.89 GAA, .933 SV%, 1 SO)

By The Numbers:

Last meeting: November 29, 2014 (Grand Forks, ND). Zane McIntyre made 32 saves as the Green and White built a 3-1 lead and held on for a 3-2 home victory. North Dakota senior forward Mark McMillan scored a second period goal that withstood a lengthy review, and senior captain Stephane Pattyn potted a shorthanded tally late in the middle frame for the game winning goal. UND and UNO skated to a 2-2 tie in Friday’s opener, but Nebraska-Omaha won the shootout for the extra league point, a result that might loom large as race for the NCHC title winds down.

Last meeting in Omaha: 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.

All-time: UND leads the all-time series 8-5-1 (.607), including a 4-2 record in games played in Omaha. North Dakota has picked up six wins and a tie in the last ten games between the schools, outscoring the Mavs 26-23 over that stretch.

Game News and Notes

Dean Blais, who was the head coach at UND from 1994-2004, collected 262 victories at North Dakota and led the school to national titles in 1997 and 2000. Now in his eleventh season behind the bench, current UND head coach Dave Hakstol is in second place all-time with 278 coaching wins to his credit. Only Gino Gasparini, who picked up 392 victories from 1978-1994, has more. The Green and White have scored nine shorthanded goals this season, most in the nation. Nebraska-Omaha is 8-3-1 at home this year.

The Prediction

So far this season, North Dakota is 6-5-1 on Fridays and 12-0-1 on Saturdays. I’m going to flip that script and say that the Mavericks’ off week will affect them in the opener. Dean Blais will have his crew ready for Saturday’s rematch. UND 3-2, UNO 3-2.