Category: Men’s Hockey

With four days until the puck drops in Philadelphia, I thought I would weigh in on a few topics of interest regarding the last four teams standing in the 2013-14 college hockey season:

Number one:

It is interesting that in the first year of conference re-alignment, four different conferences are represented in the Frozen Four, including the two brand new leagues. The Big Ten and the National Collegiate Hockey Conference are made up of teams in the same geographical footprint – Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin – and each conference is looking to claim superiority since all of the teams represented compete for many of the same recruits. In just the same way as we used to compare the WCHA to the CCHA and Hockey East, we’ll be comparing national titles between the Big Ten and the NCHC, and that starts with Thursday’s tilt between Minnesota and North Dakota.

Number two:

It comes as no surprise that all four teams in the Frozen Four were represented on College Hockey News’ All-Star teams for 2013-14. The Frozen Four participants named to the All-CHN teams are:

Boston College: Junior F Johnny Gaudreau (1st team), Senior F Kevin Hayes (1st team)

Minnesota: Sophomore G Adam Wilcox (1st team), Sophomore D Mike Reilly (2nd team)

North Dakota: Senior D Dillon Simpson (1st team)

Union: Junior D Shayne Gostisbehere (1st team), Senior F Daniel Carr (2nd team)

Three players named to the Hobey Baker top ten were left off of the CHN list. Two junior goaltenders, Ferris State’s C.J. Motte and Wisconsin’s Joel Rumpel, were passed over in favor of UMass-Lowell’s sophomore netminder Connor Hellebuyck (one of my Hobey top ten choices). Ohio State junior forward Ryan Dzingel was not named to either all-star team, as the aforementioned Daniel Carr was tabbed instead.

It is also interesting to note that the big four conferences (Big Ten, ECAC, Hockey East, and the NCHC) each had three players named. Atlantic Hockey and the new-look WCHA were blanked on this year’s teams.

Number three:

There has been so much attention paid to the Minnesota/North Dakota tilt on Thursday that I think many people are overlooking how great the Boston College/Union matchup is. Union is the only school in the nation with thirty wins (30-6-4), and the Dutchmen, who won both the ECAC regular season and playoff titles, are ranked #1 in the country for a reason. Boston College has Johnny Gaudreau and Kevin Hayes, but Union is scoring 3.70 goals per game (compared to 4.10 for BC), and junior netminder Colin Stevens has six shutouts on the season and a goals-against average of 1.93. Check back on Wednesday for a complete preview of Thursday’s first semifinal.

Number four:

And speaking of North Dakota and Minnesota, the New York Times has a great article called “In Frozen Four, a Rivalry Interrupted Is Rekindled“. Some great quotes from former and current players, coaches, and some guy named Dave Berger. I encourage you to follow the link and check it out.

As North Dakota worked its way through the NCAA Midwest Regional last weekend, UND fans around the world paid attention. Some traveled to U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, many watched the games on ESPNU, and still others followed the results via live chat, fan forums, and social media.

It quickly became apparent that many of those fans keeping track of the boys from Grand Forks had worn the green and white themselves.

I’m not suggesting that this phenomenon of former players taking pride in their alma mater is unique, but the level of involvement and connection seems like something special.

Within minutes of Conner Gaarder’s double overtime game winner over Ferris State, T.J. Oshie (UND 2005-08) sent this tweet to the team:

TJ Oshie ‏@OSH74 • Mar 29
Congrats to the @UNDMHockey on their win tonight! Good luck in the #FrozenFour boyyyyys!!! #Sioux #RollTribe

Joe Gleason (UND 2009-13) was following the regional final with former teammates Derek Forbort (UND 2010-13) and Andrew MacWilliam (UND 2009-13). In a moment of Edina pride, Gleason assured the others (follow this link for a screenshot) that Gaarder, a former Hornet himself, would come through in the clutch.

Gleason has split time this season between the Rockford IceHogs (AHL) and the Toledo Walleye (ECHL), and I asked him why it was important for him to keep up with North Dakota hockey. Here’s what he told me:

@DBergerHockey we care more about that program than anything else. We talk every weekend but never about each other, just how the Sioux did. My mom doesn’t even watch my games anymore, she watches North Dakota and emails with my classmates’ parents!

Former Hobey Baker winner Ryan Duncan (UND 2005-09) is over in Germany, playing for Munich EHC after two stints with Salzburg EC (Austria) and a season with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League. In response to my request for a quote, he tweeted:

@DBergerHockey I check Brad Schlossman’s blog every day, watch highlights of every game. Stayed up till 5am in Europe this past weekend. watching the games while texting with former teammates. I’m a fan. Can’t get enough of Sioux hockey

I didn’t give him a hard time for reading Schlossman’s blog and not mine.

It’s interesting to note that not only is social media allowing former players to stay connected to UND and to each other, it also allowed me to check in with them and write this story.

It probably comes as no surprise that players from every generation continue to follow the University of North Dakota hockey program. Jeff Ulmer, who played for Dean Blais from 1995-1999 and has fashioned himself a fifteen year professional hockey career, had some unique perspective and sees some similarities between UND’s 1997 championship team and this year’s squad:

Congrats @UNDMHockey ! We weren’t given the easy route in ’97 either. Plenty of proud alumni behind you guys. #SiouxProud #FrozenFour

I caught up with Mitch Vig (UND 1994-98) the old fashioned way – by telephone. He was gracious enough to answer a few questions and visit about following the team. We talked about how things were so different when he signed. Twenty years ago, information was hard to come by. The former captain said, “I was down in Dubuque when I signed with the team, and we could find some stuff on the internet, but not like it is now. Once in a while I’d look at the Minneapolis paper and see what the WCHA teams were doing.”

And now that his hockey career is over, he says, things are different. “With all of the apps and the advent of social media, there are so many more sources of information. I get a lot of my news from Twitter and the College Hockey app right on my phone. Whenever I want to know, I can pull something right up.”

When talking about what it means to be a part of the University of North Dakota hockey program, Mitch Vig spoke about how the current team’s success is meaningful for him. “I always feel a large sense of pride. It’s not a unique situation, but there’s something special at North Dakota. You feel like part of a program, the fans, the guys, you’re part of a family and part of a program. You still, with social media and everything else, you feel a connection to some of the current players even though you don’t really know them. They’re a part of the family and a part of the program, too.”

I asked him what he thought another national title would mean for UND. He said, “It would mean a ton to get that eighth one. You don’t try to compare yourself to other schools, but that’s one way that people talk about teams, they measure them by national championships. We’re already one of the premiere programs, and getting closer to Michigan’s nine (titles) and putting one more up on all the other schools is very important.”

We talked about how, with the schools changing leagues, there wasn’t supposed to be a “Sioux/Gopher” game this season. He remarked, “I’m excited to watch how it all plays out. With the conference realignment, the first year that UND and Minnesota weren’t scheduled to play, that this is how it all worked out, that these two teams with this great rivalry get to meet with a chance to go to the national title game.”

At the end, I asked Mitch Vig whether he would be in Philadelphia for the Frozen Four, and he was still trying to get everything worked out. He told his friend that if they go, he might need some help learning what to do as a fan. Vig said, “I’ve been to one of these, but not in the stands, so I need to get filled in.”

It looks to me like Mitch Vig, like so many other former Sioux greats, already has it figured out. They have become such an important part of a fan base that makes the North Dakota family unique in college hockey.

Which team do you consider North Dakota’s biggest rival?

I have Minnesota at the top of my list, along with Boston College, Denver, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

And what makes some rivalries so intense? For some of the above-mentioned schools, it’s conference affiliation. Wisconsin joined the WCHA in 1969 and was a part of some of the most intense extra-curricular activities in UND hockey history – the pre-game brawl, the water bottle incident, and the line brawl in Madison.

Denver and UND have been in the same conference since 1951, and the two schools have been battling it out for league titles ever since (DU has 11, North Dakota, 15). Minnesota could make that same claim up until last season, but the Gophers bolted for the Big Ten (along with UW), creating a scheduling void that few wanted to see (but more on that later). For the Pioneers, the Badgers, the Gophers, and the team formerly known as the Fighting Sioux, familiarity bred contempt.

But why else? Why are Boston College and Michigan on my list? And why has Denver become such a bitter feud while Wisconsin has cooled a bit? It all boils down to tournament time.

Since 1997, UND has met 18 different teams in NCAA tournament action, and of those eighteen, seven have at one time or another ended North Dakota’s season. The Fighting Sioux avenged a loss to Michigan in 1998 with playoff wins in 2006 and 2007, but the Wolverines took out the most talented North Dakota team in recent memory at the 2011 Frozen Four in St. Paul. Denver has had UND’s number, defeating the Sioux in 2004 and 2005, although the boys from Grand Forks got some revenge in 2011.

Ferris State bounced North Dakota from the 2003 tournament, but last weekend’s double overtime regional final in Cincinnati evened the score. Yale twice ended UND’s season (2010 and 2013), and the 2009 overtime loss to New Hampshire was especially heartbreaking, as North Dakota led that game with three seconds remaining in regulation.

The seven tournament games between Boston College and UND (1999, 2000, 2001, and 2005-2008) are well-documented., with the Eagles holding a commanding 5-2 edge in those contests. North Dakota won its seventh national title with a victory over BC in 2000, and Dave Hakstol earned his only postseason victory over Jerry York in the 2005 East Region final (Worcester, MA).

Other teams UND has defeated in the NCAAs during that same span include Cornell (1997), Colorado College (1997, 2001), Boston University (1997, 2005), Niagara (2000, 2013), Maine (2000), Michigan State (2001), Holy Cross (2004, 2006), Princeton (2008), Renssalaer (2011), and Western Michigan (2012). These rivalries are not as intense as the schools listed above, and it is my opinion that it is because these schools have not ended UND’s season on the biggest stage that they are not regarded as such.

In other words, postseason games against Boston College, Denver, and Michigan seem to generate more interest because there is more postseason history, with victories on both sides of the ledger to keep things interesting. Of the others mentioned, Yale and Ferris State have some chance of becoming bigger rivalries down the road, provided the teams continue to meet in the NCAAs.

Up until 2008, Wisconsin and North Dakota had not met in the national tournament since the 1982 title game (a UND victory). The Green and White downed the Badgers in the 2008 regional final (Madison, WI) and in the opening round of this season’s NCAA tournament.

And that leaves us with Minnesota. The 1979 title game between North Dakota and Minnesota, which Minnesota won 4-3, would set off a 25 year span (1980-2004) during which the two schools would not meet in the NCAA tournament. That’s astounding. During that time, Minnesota advanced to the national tournament 20 times (winning titles in 2002 and 2003), and North Dakota advanced to the national tournament 12 times (winning titles in 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997, and 2000), and yet they never played each other.

North Dakota has somewhat atoned for the 1979 title game loss with NCAA victories over Minnesota in 2005 and 2007. The Gophers returned the favor in 2012, bouncing UND from the national tournament with a 5-2 victory in the West Regional final in St. Paul.

Why, for those 25 years, did the two fan bases continue to circle Sioux/Gopher weekend on their calendars? What was it about these two programs that caused every regular season matchup to feel like a playoff game and every WCHA Final Five tilt to feel like the Super Bowl? And that’s saying nothing about my heart rate during overtime of the 2007 West Regional Final or the 2005 Frozen Four Semifinal.

There are a few schools of thought about why the games between UND and Minnesota are so contentious. The teams recruit many of the same players, and some of that spills over onto the ice. Crowds are at fever pitch before the puck is dropped, and to some extent both teams try to live up to what they think the fans want.

Another way to compare rivalries is to list players and coaches from each team under consideration. In other words, I have no doubt that fans of North Dakota hockey can name head coaches Jerry York (Boston College), Red Berenson (Michigan), and Don Lucia (Minnesota). How many other coaches come to mind? Mike Eaves (Wisconsin)? George Gwozdecky of Denver (before he left/was shown the door)?

Which other coaches come to mind? How about former coaches?

The ability to name coaches from years past is definitely a measure of how long a school has been a bitter rival. Without looking, I could name former Minnesota coaches Doug Woog, Brad Beutow, and Herb Brooks. And I’m certain that Gopher fans can easily remember Dean Blais and Gino Gasparini. The more important the rivalry, the more we pay attention.

Think of all of the goaltenders from years past who have stolen victories or let pucks in from 180 feet: Adam Hauser, Steve DeBus, Alex Kangas, Kellen Briggs, Jeff Frazee, and Kent Patterson. Players who have scored big goals against North Dakota in important games: Brian Bonin, Johnny Pohl, Jordan Leopold, Thomas Vanek, Grant and Ryan Potulny, Phil Kessel, Blake Wheeler, Jacob Cepis, and Erik Haula.

And it’s important to remember that this works both ways. Fan of the Maroon and Gold still remember which two UND players crushed Kevin Wehrs into the same corner of Ralph Engelstad Arena (Matt Frattin and Brad Malone). Or how much it stung when Zach Parise chose North Dakota. The handshake lines, jersey pulls, more handshake lines, and incredible goals become a part of the story, and each game writes a new chapter.

It’s been interesting to hear both head coaches share thoughts on the rivalry this week. Minnesota head coach Don Lucia has been taking the approach that the trip to the Frozen Four should be the headline, not the opponent. But depending on the day or the audience, his comments also speak to how much both sides have invested in the two teams facing off in Philadelphia.

In this College Hockey News article about the rivalry, Lucia is quoted as saying “I almost had a kind of inkling: once North Dakota won, well, I guess we have to win now,” said Lucia, who oversaw a 7-3 opening-round win Saturday against Robert Morris. “You can’t go a year without playing.”

This after the Gophers coach claimed that the rivalry was unhealthy and too heated.

Hakstol has said continuously that the North Dakota-Minnesota matchup is important for both programs and important for the sport of hockey. In this Star Tribune article about the new schedule agreement, the UND coach had this to say: “This is a rivalry that our fans, alumni and team look forward to renewing. It is one of the most heated in all of college sports.”

The two schools are scheduled to resume the rivalry three seasons from now, with North Dakota heading to Mariucci Arena during the 2016-17 season and the Gophers returning the favor the following year. Dates for each series have not been announced.

It’s important for both sides to put aside pride and personal politics and reach a long-term schedule agreement that has each school traveling to the other at least once every four years. It’s good for the fans, it’s good for each program, and it’s good for the sport.

It’s also good for the players. It is my opinion that every four-year player at North Dakota and Minnesota should have the experience of playing in this rivalry, both home and away. So make it simple: keep the rivalry “on” for two seasons (with each school hosting one season and traveling the other), then “off” for two seasons.

And finally, there is some great content available across the vast interweb to keep you entertained until Thursday evening. The SiouxSports.com thread has some great videos and stories shared by fans on both sides of the rivalry. And Daddy Dump and Chase is counting down his favorite UND/Minnesota hockey memories from now until the puck drops. Both of those are worth a look. And if you’re so inclined, here’s a preview of the UND/Minnesota matchup in the Frozen Four.

What do you think? I’d like to hear your thoughts. Your stories. Your memories of the Sioux/Gopher rivalry. Please leave comments about your favorite games and ones you’d like to forget. It’s your turn. It’s your time. It’s North Dakota and Minnesota, on the ice once again. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.

The distance between Edina, Minnesota and Grand Forks, North Dakota is 317 miles. But for UND junior forward Conner Gaarder, the journey took him much further than that. The trail wasn’t straight, the path wasn’t clear. But Gaarder ended up making his mark on the University of North Dakota hockey program just like so many Edina hockey players before him.

The most famous hockey players from Edina are Bill Nyrop, who won three consecutive Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens (1976-1978); Paul Ranheim, who played for five different NHL clubs over 24 seasons; and Anders Lee, who currently plays for the New York Islanders. Brian Burke, former general manager and executive vice president for the Toronto Maple Leafs, also hails from Edina.

The Edina Hornets have won twelve Minnesota state high school hockey championships: 1969, 1971, 1974E, 1978E, 1979E, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1997, 2010, 2013, and 2014. The “E” designation is used to denote Edina East because, from 1973-1981, there was also an Edina West. After 1981, “West” became the new Edina High School and the old East building was converted to a community center.

Through it all, the hockey teams have been known as the Hornets, with their signature colors of kelly green and white.

Perhaps that’s why, in 1973, Brad Becker became the first Edina native to play at the University of North Dakota. Becker was a four-year letterwinner for the Fighting Sioux (1973-77), appearing in 143 games and collecting 123 points (66 goals, 57 assists). The 5-11, 165 pound former Hornet ended his career as just the ninth member of UND’s Century Club (100 career points), joining former Sioux greats Ben Cherski, Bill Reichart, Jim Cahoun, Earl Anderson, Ken Johansson, James Ridley, Roger Lamoureux, and Reg Morelli. Becker still ranks as one of North Dakota’s top fifty scorers of all time.

While Becker was in Grand Forks, he convinced David Geving and Scott Nieland to join him.

Geving played defense for two seasons at UND, appearing in 77 games. He scored 15 goals and notched 47 assists for 62 points while racking up 90 minutes in penalties. The Edina West product left the program after the 1975-76 season.

Nieland appeared in 32 games during the 1975-76 season, potting two goals and adding ten assists before deciding to transfer to Boston University. He sat out a year before appearing in 67 games over three seasons (1977-80) for the Terriers. Nieland perhaps gave up an opportunity for a national title with the Fighting Sioux by doing so, but he did collect three goals and thirteen assists at BU.

After Becker, Geving, and Nieland left Grand Forks, it would be almost 20 years before another Hornet would make his mark on the North Dakota hockey program. Peter Armbrust, standing identical in height to Brad Becker before him, appeared in 154 games for the Fighting Sioux from 1996 to 2000, winning two national titles (1997, 2000) and helping UND to a remarkable record of 124-32-10 (.777) under head coach Dean Blais. Armbrust, who served as captain of the 1999-2000 championship team, collected 50 points (21 goals, 29 assists) during his four year tenure and is perhaps best remembered for getting a puck past Minnesota’s Steve DeBus in overtime at the 1997 WCHA playoff championship.

Here’s Armbrust talking about his two championships at North Dakota.

During that same time, another Edina native appeared on the roster. Jeff Yurecko spent two years with the program (1999-2001) and collected three points in 29 games while experiencing an NCAA championship victory (2000) and an overtime loss in the title game (2001).

Joe Finley was the next to trade in the kelly green and white of his hometown Hornets for the green and white of North Dakota. The 6-7, 245 pound defenseman left his mark on the UND program in a variety of ways. Finley played in 154 games for the Fighting Sioux from 2005 to 2009 and served as assistant captain for the 2008-09 season. He helped lead North Dakota to four straight NCAA tournaments (three Frozen Fours), a Broadmoor Trophy (2006), and a MacNaughton Cup as a senior in 2008-09. A rugged blueliner, Finley was a +66 for his collegiate career with 303 penalty minutes.

Another Edina defenseman stepped in at North Dakota just as Finley was beginning his pro career. Joe Gleason played for Dave Hakstol from 2009 to 2013, appearing in 143 games and collecting 46 points while amassing 82 minutes in penalties. Gleason also helped UND earn four straight NCAA tournament bids (including one Frozen Four appearance) and a WCHA regular season championship in 2010-11. He was also a part of three straight WCHA Final Five championships (2010-12) and 105 overall victories (against just 48 losses) in his four year stint in Grand Forks.

And that brings us to the current North Dakota hockey roster. Junior Conner Gaarder is the latest Edina native to call Grand Forks home. The 5-10 forward has appeared in 108 games over his first three seasons, lighting the lamp 16 times and adding 21 assists. He scored the biggest goal of UND’s 2013-14 season in double overtime against Ferris State in the NCAA Midwest Regional final, sending North Dakota back to the Frozen Four (Philadelphia, PA).

Here’s the entire double overtime session, including Gaarder’s goal:

Conner Gaarder’s double overtime winner

What is most remarkable about Gaarder’s story is that he never dreamed that he would end up playing for Dave Hakstol. He had every intention of heading off to play Division III hockey, but the UND coaching staff asked him to walk on after another recruit de-committed. Gaarder has earned his way into the lineup and anchors North Dakota’s checking line. He also scored the first two goals in the NCHC third place game against Western Michigan, a game the boys from Grand Forks absolutely had to win in order to make the NCAA tournament.

I enjoyed seeing this Instagram picture of Joe Gleason’s conversation with some former teammates before and after Gaarder scored to send North Dakota to Philly. Here’s the full article talking about how former players stay connected to UND hockey.

And who’s next? Three Edina Hornets were selected to the All-USA boys hockey team, and two of those three have not given a verbal commitment to any school. Defenseman Tyler Nanne was named to the All-USA third team but has already committed to play his college hockey at Ohio State.

Senior goaltender Andrew Rohkohl (5-9, 150 pounds) was named to the All-USA first team. Rohkohl amassed a record of 23-4-1 with a 1.84 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. He had three shutouts on the season and made 36 stops in the title game as the Hornets claimed their 2nd-straight AA championship.

Senior forward Miguel Fidler (6-1, 185 pounds) was named to the All-USA second team. A pure goal scorer, Fidler scored 20 goals and notched 30 assists in 50 games while leading Edina to the state title.

What are the chances that either Andrew Rohkohl or Miguel Fidler will follow in the footsteps of the Hornets before them and make their mark on the University of North Dakota hockey program? Only time will tell.

I know it seems absurd to write an article defending a head coach who has his team in the NCAA Frozen Four for the sixth time in his ten seasons behind the bench. But, believe it or not, there are some who think that if this year’s version of the UND men’s hockey team doesn’t bring home the ultimate prize, that North Dakota should begin to look at other options moving forward.

First of all, the facts: Dave Hakstol is signed through the 2017-18 season. He received a six-year extension in April 2012, and he’s not going anywhere, not even if Minnesota throttles North Dakota next Thursday in Philadelphia.

But there’s another fact: expectations are (unrealistically) high in Grand Forks and among the University of North Dakota faithful. UND claims seven national titles, tied for second (with Denver) behind only the University of Michigan. Those in the know realize that the Wolverines collected six of those banners by the year 1956, when the college hockey landscape was vastly different.

The Fighting Sioux won five titles in a twenty year span (1980, 1982, 1987, 1997, 2000), an unprecedented level of success. But that was also a different time. In 1980, only five teams made the NCAA tournament (yes, five). In 1982 and 1987, eight teams were invited, with the quarterfinal games played as “two game total goals” series. In 1997 and 2000, the field had been expanded to 12 teams, with the top four teams earning a bye (and UND had a first-round bye in each of those seasons).

By the time Dave Hakstol began his head coaching career behind the North Dakota bench, the NCAA field had been expanded yet again to include 16 teams. In other words, every team needed to win four games in a single-elimination tournament to win a national championship. And there are 59 Division I men’s hockey teams across the country competing for those 16 NCAA bids.

In my opinion, making it to the NCAA Frozen Four is the equivalent of making it to the title game twenty years ago or winning a national championship thirty years ago. And Dave Hakstol has brought his team to the Frozen Four six times in his ten seasons behind the bench, tied with Jerry York (Boston College) for the most in the country during that span. Don Lucia (Minnesota) has taken the Gophers to the Frozen Four three times in ten years (and five total in his 15 seasons), and no other coach or school has more than two.

I said in this discussion thread that there are other accomplishments that can help to measure success, and fans have various opinions about which are the most important. But here’s the track record, keeping in mind that Hakstol is currently in his tenth head coaching campaign:

2 MacNaughton Cups (WCHA regular season championships)
10 consecutive seasons with 20 or more victories (an average record of 26-13-4)
10 consecutive seasons with a 1st round playoff series at home
10 consecutive appearances in the WCHA Final Five/NCHC Frozen Faceoff
4 Broadmoor Trophies (WCHA post-season championships)
10 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances
8 appearances in the NCAA Regional Final
6 appearances in the NCAA Frozen Four

We’re using the last decade as the measuring stick because that’s how long Hakstol has been coaching. But it’s also an important barometer of recent success, since public perception of top teams changes so often. In other words, Minnesota’s last titles were in 2002 and 2003, and Denver’s last two were in 2004 and 2005. Those are about to drop off of the table, and Denver hasn’t made a Frozen Four since then. Minnesota, on the other hand, advanced to the Frozen Four in 2005 (knocked off by North Dakota in the semifinals) and 2012 (defeated North Dakota in the regional final) before this season.

Aside from Boston College, North Dakota, and Minnesota, no other school has earned more than two Frozen Four bids in the past decade, and Dave Hakstol has done it six times.

Yes, I understand that Jerry York (Boston College) has also brought his team to six Frozen Fours in that time span, and has won three titles in the past decade (2008, 2010, 2012), but no one is saying that Dave Hakstol is a better coach than Jerry York (at least, they won’t until he wins a national title or two). But does that make him second-best in the country? Third?

Any time someone brings up the idea of “firing Hak”, my question is “and who’s your replacement?” In other words, it had better be good, because Hakstol has been excellent.

And to that point of “firing Hak”, there is a thread on our website’s fan forum dedicated to that topic. It attracts its share of apologists and defenders as well as critics, but it flares up again with each early-season miscue or late-season disappointment. Aside from discussion about prospective recruits, committed recruits, and former players, that topic attracts the most attention on our site.

Dave Hakstol is a seven-time Spencer Penrose finalist (national coach of the year). The only way that a coach can be named a finalist is by winning the regular season title in his conference or by bringing his team to the Frozen Four. You might say, “Well, yes, then they had to name him a finalist. They didn’t have a choice.” But why do you think that those are the qualifications for coach of the year finalists in the first place?

Because they’re the two toughest things to do in all of college hockey. And Hakstol has done one of those things twice (WCHA champions in 2009 and 2011) and the other one six times.

And lest you think that I’m just focusing on the Frozen Four appearances, let me remind you of a few other things:

He’s produced a Hobey Baker winner (Ryan Duncan, 2007), developed countless NHL players (including T.J. Oshie, Travis Zajac, Drew Stafford, and Jonathan Toews), and continues to bring in high-quality talent year after year. There is also something to be said for stability, as Hakstol is just the fourth head coach in the past 45 years at the University of North Dakota.

This year’s coaching job may be his best yet. After graduating Danny Kristo, Corban Knight, Carter Rowney, Joe Gleason, and Andrew MacWilliam (plus losing Derek Forbort early to the pros), Hakstol had to find a way to replace the 176 points that those six players collected last season (48.8% of UND’s production).

He’s done it primarily with a group of freshmen and sophomores who have appeared in 396 games this season, registering 61 goals and adding 106 assists. North Dakota seniors have accounted for just 35 of the team’s 338 points this year (10.4%).

In other words, the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team has an even brighter future than its past or even its present. And that’s saying something.

And finally, this from the Twitterverse:

Jayson Hajdu ‏@UNDSID · Mar 30
“Haj, can I tweet ‘hashtag fire Hak’?” — @UNDMHockey player to me in the locker room after last night’s win (over Ferris State in the Midwest Regional Final).

Jonathan Schaeffer ‏@J_SchaefferUND · Mar 30
@UNDSID did I read that right??? Hopefully sarcasm?

Jayson Hajdu ‏@UNDSID · Mar 30
@J_SchaefferUND Completely. (The players) hear it, too, and think it’s nothing short of laughable.

Alright, fans, it’s your turn. State your case. Leave your thoughts below.

As most of you have already figured out, this morning’s blog post, “Hobey Baker committee adds Gothberg to list of finalists” was an April Fools’ joke.

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

Here are my other four favorites from years past:

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

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

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

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

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

For the first time in its 34 year history, the Hobey Baker Memorial Award committee has acknowledged an oversight and is now working to correct it.

Specifically, an 11th player has been added to the list of finalists just one day before the field will be narrowed to three in what is known as the “Hobey Hat Trick”.

That player: North Dakota sophomore goaltender Zane Gothberg.

Leading up to the March 20th announcement of ten finalists, Gothberg had a record of 17-8-3 with a goals-against average of 2.08, a save percentage of .922, and two shutouts.

Those numbers were solid, but not spectacular enough to bump Ferris State’s C.J. Motte, Wisconsin’s Joel Rumpel, or Minnesota’s Adam Wilcox – fellow goaltenders all – off of the list of ten finalists.

But a Hobey committee member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said early this morning that after watching the second-year netminder from Thief River Falls, Minnesota outduel two of the other finalists (Wisconsin’s Rumpel and Ferris State’s Motte) at the Midwest Regional last weekend, they felt it was only right to add another name to the list.

“Talking about the goalies, Wilcox has been great all year. Rumpel and Motte also. But (in Cincinnati) Gothberg showed us that he belonged, too. And then we went back and looked, and he’s been great for North Dakota all year. But we couldn’t take anybody else off the list. So we just sort of thought that we could try something different. I mean, everybody knows that (Johnny) Gaudreau’s going to win it, and so if we can generate a little bit of interest this week by thinking outside the box about the thing, we might get a little bit more buzz.“

Over the past four games since the list of ten finalists was unveiled, Gothberg has gone 3-1, making 116 of 122 saves for a .951 save percentage and a 1.40 GAA . He saved his best for last, making 44 of 45 saves over 82 minutes in a double overtime victory over Ferris State in the regional final.

Remarkably, UND’s star between the pipes was passed over for not one but two awards at the NCAA Midwest Regional. Teammate Rocco Grimaldi was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, and Bulldog netminder C.J. Motte was named to the all-tourney team.

“We think he got jobbed, and that entered into it, too. He deserved something after the show he put on (against Ferris State), and this is what we came up with to reward his performance.”

With that stellar performance, Gothberg is now averaging less than two goals allowed per game (1.99) on the season and takes a record of 20-9-3 into the Frozen Four.

And to that last point, my source indicated that North Dakota’s 20th appearance in the Frozen Four also led to the decision, in a manner of speaking. The other three schools competing for an NCAA title in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania next weekend (Boston College, Union, and Minnesota) all have Hobey Baker finalists.

“And yeah, we looked at that, too. We saw that with Johnny Hockey and the other guy (Kevin Hayes) from BC, and Gostis-whateverhisnameis (Shayne Gostisbehere) from Union, and the Gopher goalie, that it would kind of be a neat thing to market if UND got somebody in, too. Frozen Four, four different conferences, four teams with a Hobey finalist, you know? Oops, oh yeah, and Gaudreau’s linemate, too.”

Two former North Dakota players have won college hockey’s highest individual honor. Tony Hrkac won the award in 1987 after setting a record for points in a season (46-70-116 in 48 games) that will never be broken. And twenty years later, Sioux forward Ryan Duncan took home the hardware despite some criticism that he was the third-best player on his own line (he played with T.J. Oshie and Jonathan Toews).

Four Minnesota players have won the Hobey (Neil Broten in 1981, Robb Stauber in 1988, Brian Bonin in 1996, and Jordan Leopold in 2002), while two Boston College players (David Emma in 1991 and Mike Mottau in 2000) have done the same. Union is looking for the program’s first Hobey Baker winner.

Another North Dakota goaltender, Jean-Philippe Lamoureux, was a Hobey Baker finalist in 2008, but despite a record of 26-11-4 with a 1.64 goals-against average, a .934 save percentage, and six shutouts, he was not named to the Hobey Hat Trick. North Dakota fans are used to Hobey heartbreak, as Jeff Panzer (who lost to Ryan Miller in 2001), Zach Parise (who was passed over for Junior Lessard in 2004), and Matt Frattin (who fell to Andy Miele in 2011) all came within a whisper of hockey immortality. And the year before the award’s inception, UND’s Mark Taylor was named the national player of the year after scoring 33 goals and adding 59 assists for 92 points in 40 games and leading the Fighting Sioux to their third NCAA title.

A news conference to formally announce the 11th member of this year’s Hobey class and further explain the rationale behind this unique development is scheduled to air at 4:01 p.m. Eastern time on ESPNU. The Hobey Hat Trick will be revealed as previously scheduled on Wednesday, April 2nd. I’ve got my prediction for the top three Hobey hopefuls here.

Before the ten Hobey Baker finalists were announced on Thursday, March 20th, I took my yearly shot at predicting the ten finalists. I managed to hit seven out of ten, correctly picking forwards Josh Archibald (junior, Nebraska-Omaha), Greg Carey (senior, St. Lawrence), Johnny Gaudreau (junior, Boston College), Kevin Hayes (senior, Boston College), defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (junior, Union), and goaltenders Joel Rumpel (junior, Wisconsin) and Adam Wilcox (sophomore, Minnesota).

The three finalists I missed on were junior goaltender C.J. Motte of Ferris State (I had senior goaltender Sam Brittain of Denver instead), Ohio State’s Ryan Dzingel (I had UMass-Lowell’s sophomore netminder Connor Hellebuyck in his spot), and Nic Dowd, senior forward from St. Cloud State (I had junior forward Austin Czarnik of Miami).

I did have Motte listed as one of my six honorable mention selections, but I completely missed on Nic Dowd. He’s definitely a great two-way player and team leader, but I just didn’t think he had the offensive numbers to crack the top ten. At the time of the announcement, the 6-2, 196 pounder from Huntsville, Alabama had collected 21 goals and notched 18 assists for 39 points in 36 games played (1.08 points/game). That mark was the lowest of all forwards in the Hobey top ten.

Ultimately, the reason I chose Austin Czarnik (12-33-45 in 35 games, 1.29 points/game at the time of the Hobey balloting) over Dowd is that Czarnik’s RedHawks had just gone to SCSU and swept the Huskies in the first round of the NCHC playoffs. Although the St. Cloud captain collected three points on the weekend (compared to two for Czarnik), I felt that the team’s results didn’t bode well for his inclusion on the Hobey list. The voters weighed St. Cloud State’s league championship (and Dowd’s role therein), and made a good choice in Nic Dowd.

I also felt good about picking Hellebuyck. I had this to say about the selection:

Conner Hellebuyck, sophomore goaltender, Massachusetts-Lowell
15-8-2, 1.87 goals-against average, .938 save percentage, 4 shutouts

Hellebuyck has the national save percentage lead by four points over Sam Brittain and Adam Wilcox, and he’s got the lowest GAA in the country, too. He’s only appeared in 25 games this season, and that might work against him, but he hasn’t lost back-to-back games since his first two starts of the year.

Ultimately, though, the voters went with OSU junior forward Ryan Dzingel, who had amassed 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points in 34 games for an Ohio State team that was fourth best in the Big Ten with an overall record of 16-13-5 at the time the picks were made. I didn’t think that Dzingel’s numbers were off the charts enough to get him in ahead of Hellebuyck, but evidentally the voters wanted Motte in over both Brittain and Hellebuyck and weren’t about to fill the Hobey top ten with four netminders.

And now, on to the Hobey Hat Trick. This is the first year in recent memory where one player has, for all intents and purposes, already won the award. Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College) is a stone-cold lock to take home the trophy, particularly after the junior forward from Carneys Point, New Jersey scored three goals and added five assists in two victories at the NCAA East Regional last weekend. Gaudreau now has 35 goals and 42 assists for 77 points in 39 games (1.97 points/game) and has his Eagles in yet another Frozen Four.

“Johnny Hockey” has collected the most points in a season since 2002-03, when Colorado College junior forward Peter Sejna had 36 goals and 46 assists (82 points) for the Tigers and senior forward Chris Kunitz scored 35 goals and added 44 assists (79 points) for Ferris State.

Because the award itself is a forgone conclusion, more of the excitement is focused on the other two spots in the Hobey Hat Trick.

It is important to note that two of the other schools in this year’s Frozen Four have Hobey finalists (Minnesota and Union), and their performances over the past two weekends might sway voters in their favor.

Minnesota sophomore goaltender Adam Wilcox lost to Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament but rebounded in the NCAA West Regional (St. Paul, MN). Wilcox stopped 46 of 49 shots on the weekend in victories over Robert Morris and St. Cloud State and posted a shutout in the regional final that propelled the Maroon and Gold to the Frozen Four. The second year netminder from South Saint Paul brings a record of 25-5-6 to Philadelphia with a 1.89 goals-against average of and a save percentage of .934 with four shutouts. Another factor in his favor is that Minnesota has been at or near the top of the polls all season, and Wilcox has carried the load, playing over ninety percent of his team’s minutes between the pipes.

I’ve got Wilcox in my Hobey Hat Trick.

The case is a bit murkier for Union junior defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. He’s been everything for the Dutchmen this season, but he’s more steady than flashy and he only added one assist in four playoff games since the ten finalists were announced. The assistant captain now has eight goals and 21 assists this season, and he didn’t make a jump offensively from his sophomore season. I’d love to see Gostisbehere rewarded for leading his team to 30 victories (the highest win total in program history) and Union’s second appearance in the Frozen Four, but I just don’t see it.

So who will be the third member of the prestigious Hobey Hat Trick?

I don’t see another goaltender making the cut, particularly since Wisconsin’s Joel Rumpel and Ferris State’s C.J. Motte were both outplayed in the Midwest Regional by North Dakota’s Zane Gothberg.

And I’m not about to put Nic Dowd or Ryan Dzingel in my top three if I didn’t have either of them in my original list of ten. For better or worse, that’s how I feel.

So that leaves us with the following list:

Josh Archibald, junior forward, Nebraska-Omaha
29 goals, 14 assists (43 points) in 37 games (1.16 points/game)

Greg Carey, senior forward, St. Lawrence
18 goals, 39 assists (57 points) in 38 games (1.50 points/game)

Kevin Hayes, senior forward, Boston College
27 goals, 36 assists (63 points) in 39 games (1.62 points/game)

Josh Archibald played his last college game on March 15th, signing a pro contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins . His 29 goals were third best in the nation this season, but the Mavericks’ lack of success in the postseason and his relatively low point total (18th in the country) hurt Archibald’s chances.

Greg Carey’s Saints also played their final game of the season on March 15th, and ended the year at 15-19-4. Carey’s 39 assists are the second-most in the country (behind only Gaudreau), but he was held off the score sheet six times in his last 13 games and, in my opinion, didn’t do enough down the stretch (only 12 points combined in February and March) to make a run at the top three.

And that brings us to Kevin Hayes. The senior Eagle solidified his Hobey resume with seven points (three goals, four assists) in two NCAA regional games last weekend. Of course, it’s the age-old question of whether Hayes is benefitting from Gaudreau’s incredible skill (and the answer is yes, he is), but Hayes also makes Johnny Hockey better. The 6-3, 205 pound right winger from Dorchester, Massachusetts (seven miles from BC’s campus) creates space for his smaller, quicker linemate.

Hayes has six game winning goals on the season, compared to just one for Greg Carey. The Eagles have played the sixth-toughest schedule in the country, compared to Nebraska-Omaha at 13 and St. Lawrence at 18. And Hayes’ development has been nothing short of phenomenal. After tallying 17 goals in 102 games over his first three seasons in Chestnut Hill, he’s lit the lamp 27 times in 39 games this year.

It’s been five years since teammates appeared together in the Hobey Hat Trick (Boston University’s Colin Wilson and Matt Gilroy in 2009), but I think that this is another one of those years. The award will go to Johnny Gaudreau, with Adam Wilcox and linemate Kevin Hayes sitting right there with him.

So there’s my Hobey Hat Trick: Johnny Gaudreau, Kevin Hayes, and Adam Wilcox.

Four Minnesota players have won the award (Neil Broten in 1981, Robb Stauber in 1988, Brian Bonin in 1996, and Jordan Leopold in 2002), while two Boston College players (David Emma in 1991 and Mike Mottau in 2000) have done the same.

And as always, I encourage everyone to read about the original Hobey Baker, hockey player and war hero.

Who ya got?

After the 2012-13 season, North Dakota moved from the WCHA to the NCHC, Wisconsin departed for the Big Ten, and Ferris State joined the WCHA after being a long-time member of the now-defunct CCHA.

Wisconsin finished 2nd in the Big Ten this season, while North Dakota ended up just behind St. Cloud State in the NCHC.

And Ferris State won the regular season title in the first year of the new-look WCHA and comes into the game tonight with 29 wins on the season. Bob Daniels, in his 22nd year behind the FSU bench, has his team playing a smart, physical brand of hockey backed by Hobey finalist C.J. Motte between the pipes.

Motte’s line is impressive. The junior netminder has a record of 28-8-3, a goals-against average of 2.20, a save percentage of .928, and five shutouts this season, including one yesterday in the Midwest Regional semifinal.

After blanking Colgate 1-0 behind a first period power play goal by freshman Gerald Mayhew, the Bulldogs find themselves one game away from the Frozen Four. If they advance, it would mark the second such appearance in three seasons.

Ferris State has played the 45th toughest schedule in Division I men’s hockey, the weakest slate of any team in the NCAA tournament not named Robert Morris. Including the regional games yesterday, the Bulldogs have played seven games against other teams in the NCAAs, going 2-5-0:

3 games versus #11 Minnesota State (0-3-0)
4 games versus #12 Colgate (2-2-0)

North Dakota has played nine games against the tournament field, with a record of 4-4-1:

1 game versus #4 Wisconsin (1-0-0)
4 games versus #8 St. Cloud State (1-3-0)
2 games versus #14 Vermont (1-0-1)
2 games versus #17 Denver (1-1-0)

After defeating Wisconsin last night, Dave Hakstol has the boys from Grand Forks on the cusp of their sixth Frozen Four appearance in his ten seasons behind the North Dakota bench and the ninth in the past 18 seasons overall. North Dakota has also appeared in twelve consecutive NCAA men’s ice hockey national tournaments, the longest active streak in the country. These results speak to the consistency of the program and aid in recruiting, as the coaching staff can assure potential recruits that they will have an opportunity to compete for a national title every season at UND.

Ferris State Team Profile

Head Coach: Bob Daniels (22nd season at Ferris State, 379-388-87, .495)

Pairwise Ranking: 4th
National Ranking: #6
This Season: 29-10-3 overall, 20-6-12 WCHA (1st)
Last Season: 16-16-5 overall, 13-12-3-1 CCHA (5th)

Team Offense: 3.26 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.19 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 17.1% (30 of 175)
Penalty Kill: 86.8% (171 of 197)

Key Players: Senior F Garrett Thompson (16-16-32), Junior F Justin Buzzeo (14-18-32), Senior F Cory Kane (13-18-31), Senior F Andy Huff (11-13-24), Senior D Scott Czarnowczan (6-19-25), Junior D Jason Binkley (3-21-24), Junior G C.J. Motte (28-8-3, 2.20 GAA, .928 SV%, 5 SO)

North Dakota Team Profile

Head Coach: Dave Hakstol (10th season at UND, 259-132-40, .647)

Pairwise Ranking: t-11th
National Ranking: #13
This Season: 24-13-3 overall, 15-9-0-0 NCHC (2nd)
Last Season: 22-13-7 overall (NCAA West Regional finalist), 14-7-7 WCHA (3rd)

Team Offense: 3.10 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 2.48 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 17.4% (31 of 178)
Penalty Kill: 82.8% (140 of 169)

Key Players: Sophomore F Rocco Grimaldi (17-22-39), Sophomore F Michael Parks (12-18-30), Junior F Mark MacMillan (10-16-26), Sophomore F Drake Caggiula (11-13-24), Freshman F Luke Johnson (8-13-21), Senior D Dillon Simpson (7-15-22), Sophomore D Jordan Schmaltz (6-17-23), Sophomore G Zane Gothberg (19-9-3, 2.05 GAA, .923 SV%, 3 SO)

By The Numbers

Last Meeting: March 28, 2003 (Minneapolis, MN). Ferris State used three assists from Chris Kunitz and 44 saves by Mike Brown to topple the Fighting Sioux 5-2 in the West Regional semifinal at Mariucci Arena. UND goaltender Jake Brandt was not particularly sharp, allowing three goals on twenty shots over the first two periods before being pulled in favor of Josh Siembida. Ferris State went 2-for-3 with the man advantage and sealed UND’s fate with an empty net goal in the final twenty seconds. North Dakota, which outshot the Bulldogs 46-27, received goals from David Lundbohm and Ryan Hale but failed to score on four power play opportunities and hit six posts. Head coach Dean Blais quipped, “We hit the pipe so hard I thought that puck was going to split in half.”

Most Important Meeting: With a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four (Philadelphia, PA) on the line, tonight’s Midwest Regional final is the most important meeting between the two hockey programs.

All-time Series: North Dakota is 5-1-0 all-time against Ferris State, outscoring the Bulldogs 32-20. The teams first met in December 1981, with the Fighting Sioux throttling the boys from Big Rapids, Michigan 5-2 and 6-2 at the original Ralph Engelstad Arena. UND would go on to win their fourth national title a little more than three months later, defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 5-2 for the championship.

Exactly 13 years to the day after their first series, the two schools met once again in Grand Forks, with the Green and White rolling to an 8-6, 5-2 sweep. And the sixth meeting between the two teams took place in Grand Rapids, Michigan on December 28th, 1997. North Dakota defeated the Bulldogs 6-3 to claim the championship of the Pepsi Invitational one night after downing Cornell 5-1.

Game News and Notes

Ferris State has outscored opponents 51-20 in the first period this season and boasts a record of 21-1-0 when leading after twenty minutes of play. North Dakota will have two seniors playing in today’s game (Dillon Simpson and Derek Rodwell), while FSU can dress as many as five. This is the third appearance in the NCAA tournament for the Bulldogs. Ferris State advanced to the regional final in 2003 and appeared in the national title game in 2012, losing 4-1 to Boston College.

The Prediction

It’s difficult to know what type of game we’ll see today. I fear that we’ll have a parade to the penalty box, which would seem to favor the Bulldogs. If Hakstol is able to roll four lines and gain momentum through a hard forecheck, it’ll be off to Philadelphia. C.J. Motte can’t shut out two teams in a row, can he? The first goal is big for both squads, and I think it goes UND’s way. North Dakota 4, Ferris State 2.

Here’s what I’ve got for the regional round:

West Regional:

Minnesota over Robert Morris
Notre Dame over St. Cloud State

Notre Dame over Minnesota

Midwest Regional:

Ferris State over Colgate
North Dakota over Wisconsin (link to game preview)

North Dakota over Ferris State

Northeast Regional:

Denver over Boston College
UMass-Lowell over Minnesota State-Mankato

UMass-Lowell over Denver

East Regional:

Union over Vermont
Providence over Quinnipiac

Union over Providence

Comment with your predictions below, and we’ll see who is still standing on Sunday!