DDC's 2021-22 Season Preview - UND Looks to Reload

Photo credit: INFORUM

As the minutes turned into periods, the periods turned into overtimes, the overtimes turned into hours, the way the 2020-21 season ended for the UND Fighting Hawks hockey team just didn't feel right. 

After a season of unbridled success that saw the Green and White win 22 games, earn their second consecutive Penrose Cup as NCHC regular season champions, win their first NCHC Frozen Faceoff tournament, and dominate in their first NCAA tournament game since 2017, watching that puck slide through netminder Adam Scheel's pads ending the longest tournament game in history in the 6th overtime of the regional final didn't make DDC angry, it made him sad. 

The 2020-21 Hawks were a squad that had it all -- top-end scoring, senior leadership, dynamic, playmaking defensemen, all-world goaltending. You name it, they had it. Looking forward to the new campaign, the faces may be different (and holy smokes, they are different), but a lot of those same traits exist in the 2021-22 incarnation of UND hockey. 

Let's take a look into the future of where DDC thinks this season will playout for UND, the NCHC, and the NCAA. 

It's time, ladies and gents. It's time for the big hits, the crazy passes, the buried one-timer. It's time for the Ralph. It's time for FULL ARENAS. Let's go.

UND Loses a Lot, Returns a Superstar

So. D., Jake Sanderson

Simply put, the Fighting Hawks got a little beat up in the offseason. Senior departures of Jordan Kawaguchi, Colin Adams, Grant Mismash were 1, 2, 7 on the team in scoring last season. Add in massive underclassman losses in defensemen Matt Kierstad and Jacob Bernard-Docker and forwards Shane Pinto and Jasper Weatherby (a late defection after a solid prospect camp with the Sharks), and UND has lost 7 of its 10 top scorers, including all five of their top 5. The cherry on top, Mike Richter finalist goalie Adam Scheel also left for a professional contract. 

Yikes. 

While an offseason like that makes many programs shudder, UND has a long tradition of reloading each season regardless of the previous outcome. Two major factors will play a role in that, in DDC's opinion -- the transfer portal that saw the Hawks grab five players and the return of defenseman Jake Sanderson. If that feels like a lot of pressure to put on one player, don't see it as a bane, see it as a badge of honor. 

The No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft had nothing short of an incredible freshman season. His numbers don't necessarily jump off the screen (2 goals, 15 assists -- 17 points), but his +20 sure does. And if anyone watched the second half of the season, especially in the overtime periods in the regional final and doesn't see a pure, unabashed superstar in Sanderson, you better get your eyes checked. The Whitefish, MT native will be the key cog for UND and DDC expects a significant point jump. On a team last season where Sanderson didn't have to produce a lot of points, he still showed that he absolutely can. All reports about him in the offseason indicate that he returns bigger, faster, and stronger and that's great news for Hawks' fans. 

The Rest of The Cupboard Isn't Bare

Sr. F., Mark Senden
was named UND's
2021-22 Captain 

While Sanderson looks to be the straw that stirs UND's drink, the sophomore alternate captain will have a supporting cast that can certainly do it's part. Sophomores Riese Gaber and Tyler Kleven, juniors Brenden Budy, Ethan Frisch, and Judd Caulfield, and seniors Gavin Hain and newly-named captain Mark Senden will be familiar faces for the Green and White attack. Newcomers from the transfer portal in Ashton Calder (Lake Superior State) and Connor Ford (Bowling Green) had tremendous success with their former squads and hope to gel quickly. Finally, replacing netminder Adam Scheel, who left for a pro contract, and Peter Thome, who transferred to St. Thomas for their inaugural season at Division I, in comes transfer Zach Driscoll from Bemidji State. Driscoll had an outstanding career with the Beavers and should not miss a beat for the Fighting Hawks.

Adding in NHL draft picks in freshmen forwards Jackson Kunz (fourth round) and Jake Schmaltz (seventh round) and defenseman Brent Johnson (third round) among a nine-man class, UND will likely need to build some continuity early on in the season, but has plenty of solid pieces to round out the 21-22 roster.

A Look at the NCHC

Losing who they did to graduation and the pro ranks, UND could very well take a small step back as they look to repeat as three-time Penrose Cup champions. Who would be next in line to take their place? DDC thinks this will be a tight race to the finish, once again, but it's St. Cloud State that seems poised to make the best run. Following their disappointing blowout loss to UMass in the National Championship game, the Huskies are locked and loaded for another run. Returning all five of their leading scorers led by sophomore stalwart Veeti Miettinen, SCSU have loads of scoring and talent. Behind the Huskies, Denver, Omaha, Minnesota Duluth, and Western will have their say with the Pioneers bringing in a powerful freshman class to go with solid returners. Here's how DDC thinks the NCHC will land.

1) St. Cloud State
2) North Dakota
3) Denver
4) Omaha
5) Minnesota Duluth
6) Western Michigan
7) Colorado College
8) Miami

A Peek Around the Country

So. D., Owen Power

All offseason it seems like it's been Michigan this, Michigan that... blah, blah, blah 😁. Frankly, the talk is deserved. 2021 No. 1 overall NHL pick Owen Power returns for the Wolverines on a team that features seven... yes... SEVEN first rounders. We'll see if that means domination and if a young and talented team can make a run or if they go by the wayside of previous "super teams". Minnesota should be a solid club, returning nearly everyone from a NCAA tournament team last season, and UMass looks to defend its natty despite heavy losses in the offseason. ASU and Colorado College get new barns, which is great for the game, and St. Thomas makes its jump. Gonna be a wonderful year. Can't wait! Here's DDC's preseason NCAA rankings.

1) St. Cloud State
2) UMass
3) Michigan
4) Minnesota
5) Minnesota State
6) North Dakota
7) Boston College
8) Denver
9) Minnesota Duluth
10) Quinnipiac

There you have it, folks. We're on to another season. Time keeps chuggin' along, doesn't it? So glad it's hockey season!

DDC's Top 10 Moments of 2015-16, Part II

UND Sr. F Drake Caggiula celebrates one of his two goals in the Green and White's 5-1 win over Quinnipiac in the
national championship game. Caggiula earned Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player honors. (Photo: Melissa Wade, USCHO.com)

DDC had a fun recollection today.

Just in case you've forgotten...  the UND men's hockey team is national champions. Just thought you all needed a reminder :).

Anyway, thanks for coming back for Part II of DDC's Top 10 Moments of the 2015-16. In this edition of the countdown, you'll see moments No. 8 through No. 6. All three aren't necessarily single moments, but all were incredibly important in the run to national title No. 8, the Green and White's first since 2000.

Let's get it started again, shall we?

No. 8 -- Battles with the Pios -- December 4-5, 2015, Grand Forks, N.D. and February 12-13, 2016, Denver, Colo.

The NCHC is a very young conference, but it in no way lacks tradition. Outside of the battles that the conference's eight teams have developed in the first three years, the NCHC is chocked full of rivalries that have spanned decades.

UND vs. St. Cloud State, UND vs. Minnesota Duluth, Colorado College vs. Denver all have seen huge games in big time spots.

But one truly stands alone and the 2015-16 season showed why UND vs. Denver is the best rivalry in the NCHC.

In December, the Pioneers traveled to Grand Forks with both teams on a significant roll. Two dominating performances by UND later in 5-1, 4-0 fashion, Denver headed back home as their head coach Jim Montgomery heralded the Green and White as the best team in the country. The CBS line put up 10 points and were a +15. DDC noted it was possibly the most dominating performance he'd seen out of any UND team over an entire weekend.

UND Fr. F, Brock Boeser pots a goal during the Green and White's 4-0 win for
a sweep over Denver in Grand Forks on December 5th. (Photo: Unheralded.Fish)

Denver would get it's revenge in February when UND traveled west to Colorado. Much like the CBS line had dominated in Grand Forks, the Pacific Rim line of Trevor Moore, Danton Heinen and Dylan Gambrell rolled North Dakota with 18 points in a 6-4, 4-1 sweep. Friday's game was one of the most exciting he's ever seen as the two traded blows in an intense and high-paced game.

Two teams played a fifth game in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff third place game, but it was the first four that truly set the stage for the legendary national semifinal game in Tampa. We'll get back to that later.

All things considered, these two series showed again why this rivalry is one of the best in college hockey.

No. 7 -- Back-to-back Banners -- March 4, 2016 -- Grand Forks, N.D.

Heading into the weekend of February 25-26, the race for the Penrose Cup as NCHC regular season champions was as tight as it could be.

UND and St. Cloud State we're tied atop the standings with just two weekends to go.

The Green and White got a huge sweep of Nebraska Omaha on the road and saw St. Cloud State go down in a stunning home sweep at the hands of Minnesota Duluth, leaving UND with just one point left for an outright Penrose Cup title for the second year in a row.

After clinching a share of the title against Omaha, the Green and White made it clear they had no intentions of "sharing that thing" and crushed Western Michigan 8-1 to take the Cup outright.

While it was just another step towards their ultimate goal, it's certainly no small feat to win in this conference and the Green and White enjoyed their celebration the next night after sweeping the Broncos with a 5-4 win.

No. 6 -- A Question Mark Becomes an Exclamation Point

UND Jr. G, Matt Hyrnkiw

Outside of the UND having to replace longtime head coach Dave Hakstol with Brad Berry, the biggest question mark coming into the 2015-16 season was between the pipes.

Who would replace all-world goaltender Zane McIntyre, the 2014-15 Mike Richter Award winner who left following his junior season for the professional ranks?

Coming into the season, UND had one goaltender who had played any time in a Green and White sweater -- sophomore Cam Johnson. The Michigan native had played just 21 minutes in his college career, getting chased from the net after allowing three goals against Lake Superior State on just 12 shots.

Other than Johnson, UND sported freshman Matej Tomek, a third-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers and walk-on Matt Hyrnkiw who also had never played a minute of college hockey.

The murky situation got even more complex as Tomek suffered an injury in preseason and Johnson left with a leg injury against BSU just three games into the season.

In stepped Hyrnkiw and the walk on exploded onto the scene. The junior rolled off a stunning 8-1 record. Johnson returned in a blowout loss at St. Cloud State, relieving Hyrnkiw in the third period.

Huge props to Mr. Hyrnkiw during this incredible run, but the rest of the way, it was Cam's net.

UND So. G, Cam Johnson was a key cog in the Green and White's run to No. 8.
The Michigan native's scoreless streak of 298:25 from December 5th to January 2nd
is the second best mark in college hockey history. (Photo: UNDsports.com)

Johnson was incredible after returning from injury and was a key cog in UND's run to No. 8.

In a stretch from December 5th to January 2nd, Cam shutout four consecutive opponents, not allowing a goal until late in the second period of a 4-1 win over Alabama-Huntsville, a span of nearly 300 minutes of game time. The 298:25 scoreless streak slated Johnson with the second-best mark in NCAA history. His four-straight shutouts is also second best all time.

298:25. What a run.

From question mark, to exclamation point, the UND goaltending situation marks another historic run in a season full of historic moments.

That's it for Part II. Come back later this week for moments No. 5 and No. 4. A preview -- Caggiula dangles for a game winner and one of DDC's favorite movies of all time becomes incredibly applicable.

Thanks for reading.

Roses and Thorns: No Need to Share

NCHC Playoffs First Round Matchups
Best-of-three series, at high seed:

No. 1 UND vs. No. 8 Colorado College;
No. 2 SCSU vs. No. 7 Western Mighigan;
No. 3 Denver vs. No. 6 Nebraska Omaha;
No. 4 Minnesota Duluth vs. No. 5 Miami.

The UND men's hockey team clinched a share of the Penrose Cup with a sweep of Nebraska Omaha last weekend, but after the series, the team made it very clear that a share wasn't enough.

Needing just one point against Western Michigan to become National Collegiate Hockey Conference champions outright, the Green and White wasted no time at the Ralph this past weekend.

UND rolled the Broncos for the entire 60 minute affair, winning in 8-1 fashion on Friday to clinch the Penrose all alone, for the second straight season. The Green and White paraded the Cup around the Ralph in celebration.

With the trophy in hand, UND struggled a bit on Saturday to find the same scoring touch, but battled back from a 3-1 deficit in the first period to a 5-4 win and a sweep in their last regular season series of the season, their 11th sweep of the year.

The CBS line ripped the Broncos on the weekend, tallying 13 points in the series. Brock Boeser's six-point weekend (3 goals, 3 assists) led the freshman to the NCHC scoring title, the first for a rookie in UND history.

Here's what stood out to DDC in UND's sweep of WMU in his last regular season Roses and Thorns column of the season.

Roses

No. 1 -- Brock Boeser and The CBS

As the regular season closed, the CBS regained its form against Western Michigan. The line of Drake Caggiula, Nick Schmaltz and Brock Boeser were incredible this weekend. Schmaltz's highlight reel goal that made it to No. 3 on SportsCenter's Top 10 was the lead, but the CBS didn't stop there. Boeser flashed his scoring touch here at :10 and at :55. Senior Caggiula also chipped in during his final regular season game for UND at 4:21 in this video, this time sniping the game-winner on Saturday to pace a dominant weekend for UND's top line. Boeser took the NCHC scoring title with a tremendous weekend, the first for a UND freshman. This line stirs the drink for the Green and White and with the playoffs kicking off this coming weekend, UND looks for more of the same as the skate for No. 8 starts.

No. 2 -- Sweet Send-Off for the Seniors

"That's tough," Chyzyk said after
UND's 5-4 win,  holding back tears.
"That's tough. Just thinking about
four years going through
your head. . . special place."

Senior night started off a bit rocky as WMU scored three goals on their first four shots of the game leading to starting goaltender Cam Johnson getting pulled in favor of Matt Hyrnkiw, stunning the REA crowd. Trailing 3-1 after the first period, Bryn Chyzyk entered the locker room and let the team know that it wasn't going to end like this. "Screw senior night," alternate captain Chyzyk told his teammates. "We need to win." In the second with Hyrnkiw in the net, Chyzyk responded accordingly, netting a short-handed goal to spark the comeback 5-4 win. Caggiula scored the game winner early in the third. It was a great weekend for the four as Sanderson chipped in two goals on Friday and St. Clair entered the lineup on Saturday after sitting out the night before. After the Saturday night win, the group watched their tribute video and emotions ran high. "Extremely emotional," Caggiula said of his final regular season home game. "It just exceeded everything I thought it could be. Even during the game, there were lots of ups and downs. Then, obviously, with it being senior night. . . it's pretty emotional seeing my mom cry before the game, so I've got to put a little on her. It's emotional but it's a special one." The group of seniors get one more go of it at the REA, in the first round of the NCHC playoffs this weekend against Colorado College.

No. 3 -- Offensive Explosion

UND netted 13 goals on the weekend, including eight on Friday in their highest output of the season. While the CBS line certainly did their part, the Green and White got plenty of secondary scoring against the Broncos. UND's fourth line scored four times on Friday, two each by Sanderson and freshman Chris Wilkie. Chyzyk, freshman Shane Gersich and juniors Paul LaDue and Troy Stecher rounded out the secondary scoring on Saturday. Eight goals from non-CBS players is a big deal for this team. Wilkie looked sharp on Friday and getting goals from the freshman who tied for the lead the USHL scoring title last year, is huge for UND going into the playoffs.

UND gathered with the Penrose Cup after a 8-1 win on Friday night that clinched the NCHC regular season title outright.

While the Penrose win is an important one for the Green and White, the team wants to accomplish much more. "There's other stuff out there for us," UND senior Coltyn Sanderson said after the win. "It's obviously a huge accomplishment, especially with the league we play in. At the same time, this program hasn't won a national championship in a long time. That's on our minds. I know it has been on mine for four years. It is now (on our minds) with the opportunity and skill within our room. That's the only thing we'll be satisfied with this year." (Photo Credit: Eric Hylden, Grand Forks Herald)

Thorns

No. 1 -- Injuries

*Sigh*.... Oh the lovely injury bug makes another appearance in the Thorns section. After a dynamite, four-point night (1g, 3a) on Friday, freshman Nick Schmaltz did not play on Saturday despite skating in warm ups. Schmaltz, who was nicked up in the third on Friday, left the ice and was replaced by Joel Janatuinen, who UND head coach Brad Berry had to call from the dorms to hurry into the lineup. Also adding to the injury frustration, captain Gage Ausmus left in the third on Saturday after taking a slapshot to the foot. The junior defenseman rejoined the sqaud for senior send-off, but the injury is still a concerning one for UND. Schmaltz and Ausmus are two key cogs for the Green and White and their status will be something to watch as UND prepares for the NCHC playoffs.

What a weekend. It's time to strap in, folks. The playoffs are here. Come back later this week as DDC previews the first round of the NCHC playoffs.

Thanks for reading.

Friday Gameday: "We Don't Wanna Share That Thing"

With a 4-2, 4-1 sweep last weekend in Omaha and a subsequent sweep by UMD over St. Cloud State, the UND men's hockey team clinched a share of the Penrose Cup as National Collegiate Hockey Conference regular season champions.

For the Green and White, simply put, that isn't enough.

Senior Bryn Chyzyk made that point very clear in this interview for "Through These Doors" after the Saturday win over the Mavericks.

As Chyzyk said, "We don't wanna share that thing."

Chyzyk and his three senior classmates, Drake Caggiula, Colten St. Clair and Coltyn Sanderson, will play their last regular season series in the Ralph Engelstad Arena this weekend as Western Michigan comes to town.

With 1 point this weekend, UND will win the Penrose outright, but with the playoffs just one week away, the Green and White cannot let off the gas.

Here's what to watch for as North Dakota and WMU set to faceoff in DDC's weekly "Who? What? How?" series preview.

Who?

Players to watch

Western Michigan

WMU Fr. F, Griffen Molino

Fr. F, Griffen Molino, 10 goals, 11 assists -- 21 points; Jr. F, Sheldon Dries, 10g, 7a -- 17 pts; Sr. F, Nolan LaPorte, 7g, 7a -- 14 pts; So. F, Frederik Tiffels, 6g, 7a -- 13 pts; Fr. F, Colt Conrad, 5g, 8a -- 13 pts; Sr. G., Lukas Hafner, 5-16-3, 3.59 goals against average, .897 save percentage.

UND

Fr. F, Brock Boeser, 22g (2nd in NCAA in rookie goals, T-4 overall in NCAA), 15a -- 37 pts (5th in NCAA in rookie scoring); Sr. F, Drake Caggiula, 17g, 19a -- 36 pts; So. F, Nick Schmaltz, 4g, 26a (5th in NCAA in assists per game with .93) -- 30 pts; Jr. D, Troy Stecher, 6g, 16a -- 22 pts; So. F, Austin Poganski, 8g, 13a -- 21 pts; So. G, Cam Johnson, 17-3-1 (2nd in NCAA in win percentage), 1.54 GAA (2nd in NCAA), .940 SV PCT (2nd in NCAA), 5 shutouts (T-5 in NCAA).

What?

Standout Stats

UND Fr. F, Brock Boeser
leads the NCHC in goals
(17) and points (29) in
conference games.

UND is allowing just 1.82 goals per game which slates them second in the NCAA.

The Green and White are 10th in the NCAA in goals per game with a 3.35 average. Western Michigan is 51st in the country at 2.19.

UND freshman Brock Boeser leads the NCHC in both goals (17) and points (29) in conference games. No North Dakota freshman has ever finished the season a top the conference scoring charts in either category.

North Dakota has the country's 6th-best penalty kill at 87.6% and since December 1st, the Green and White leads the NCAA with a 95.5% mark including 12 straight kills in their last four games.

The Green and White are 20-0-2 when leading after 2 periods this season and has not lost when leading after two in more than two years.

How?

How'd they get here?

No. 2 UND (No. 2 in PWR, 26-5-3, 17-4-1-1 -- 53 points, clinched at least a share of NCHC regular season title) swept Nebraska Omaha in Omaha 4-2, 4-1.

Western Michigan (8-21-3, 5-16-1-1 -- 17 pts, 7th in NCHC) was swept at home against Denver, 5-1, 4-1.

North Dakota swept the Broncos 2-0, 2-1 in Kalamazoo on January 29-30.

The Pick

DDC had to think hard last weekend, for a variety of reasons, to pick a sweep against Nebraska Omaha.

While the thought of a letdown after a convincing sweep that clinched UND's 17th conference title, the most in college hockey history, has crossed DDC's mind, this blogger just doesn't see it happening.

It's senior weekend at the Ralph and the four men leaving this program at season's end won't let the Green and White take a step back.

UND clinched at least a share of the Penrose Cup with a sweep last weekend
in Omaha. Will the Green and White skate away from their series
against the Western Michigan Broncos as outright champions?

WMU plays an aggressive and physical style of play, evidenced by two tight-checking games in Kalamazoo. UND grinded out a sweep 2-0, 2-1 in January and the Broncos will look to bring the same type of game to the Ralph

One point separates UND from outright possession of the Penrose Cup and DDC expects the Green and White to come out firing on Friday night to earn that. 

The Green and White are more talented in every facet than this WMU squad and with the conference tournament one week away, it's time for UND to flex its muscles.

UND SWEEPS ON SENIOR WEEKEND, 5-1, 3-0.

Thanks for reading. Check back early next week to see if UND didn't have to share the Penrose.

Roses and Thorns: Back-to-Back Banners

NCHC Standings:
1) UND (clinched share of league title) 17-4-1-1 -- 53 points;
T-2) Denver, 15-5-2 -- 47 pts; T-2) SCSU, 15-6-1-1 -- 47 pts;
T-4) UMD, 9-10-3-1 -- 31 pts; T-4) Miami, 9-11-2-2 -- 31 pts;
6) Omaha, 8-13-1 -- 25 pts; 7) WMU, 5-16-1-1 -- 17 pts;
8) Colorado College, 4-17-1 -- 13 pts.

UND, DU and SCSU have all clinched home ice
for the first round of the conference playoffs.

Click here for a breakdown of all NCHC scenarios
from the Grand Forks Herald's Brad Schlossman.

 

The UND men's hockey team came into Baxter Arena in Omaha tied for first place atop the National Collegiate Hockey Conference standings with St. Cloud State with just two weekends to go in the regular season.

The Green and White were facing an angry Nebraska Omaha squad coming off a rough sweep at the hands of the Huskies while SCSU was at home against a UMD team that got swept in a frustrating series against UND.

Sounds like a recipe for the Penrose Cup to be settled in the last weekend, right?

A pair of sweeps later, one by UND in dominant fashion over Omaha and another in shocking fashion for Minnesota Duluth over St. Cloud, the Green and White return to Grand Forks for the last weekend of the year as Penrose Cup champions for a second straight season. UND can finish no lower than in a tie for first, but will, at worst, share the league title.

It turned out to be a banner weekend for UND (25-5-3). With the 4-2, 4-1 sweep and subsequent UMD sweep over St. Cloud, the Green and White clinched their 17th conference title, the most in college hockey history.

Here's what stood out to DDC in this weekend's Roses and Thorns recap with Omaha and UND.

Roses

No. 1 -- Defensive Dominance

Two weekends ago, UND played arguably their worst defensive weekend as the Green and White were swept in Denver. North Dakota allowed 10 goals in the series while the Pioneers top line exposed UND, finding gaping holes in the slot and in front of the net while DU raced to a sweep. The Green and White got a bit of their defensive mojo back the next week in a sweep of Duluth and carried that momentum through to Omaha. UND was fantastic in the series, filling passing lanes with sticks, winning puck battles and clearing out the net front for goaltender Cam Johnson for a 4-2, 4-1 sweep. North Dakota was flying all series with a terrific team effort on the back check even without their best defenseman Troy Stecher, who served a one-game suspension on Friday night for a checking from behind penalty the Saturday before against UMD. Simply put, if the Green and White play defense like this the rest of the way, they will make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

No. 2 -- CBS is Must-See-TV, Once Again

UND Sr. F, Drake Caggiula
netted both game-winning
goals this weekend in the
4-2, 4-1 sweep at Omaha.

Injuries and a week of inconsistent play had mired the vaunted CBS line of Drake Caggiula, Brock Boeser and Nick Schmaltz in a bit of a slump over the last handful of weekends. However, against Omaha, the CBS line looks like they are getting back to form at the most important time of the season. Caggiula netted both game winners and added an assist on Saturday, Boeser added a pair of goals, his 21st and 22nd of the season and Schmaltz tallied an assist on Saturday to give the line six points on the weekend. Boeser leads the NCHC in goals, is second nationally in rookie goal scoring and is tied for fourth overall. A bonus rose goes to Caggiula specifically as the senior was all over the ice this weekend on both ends. The Ontario native brought all the bit of the Hobey Baker candidate play he'd shown for large parts of the season, forechecking, winning puck battles and creating scoring chances. UND fans saw what this team can be like during much of this year when this line is at its best and the CBS delivered that against Omaha.

No. 3 -- UND Shows Depth

A consistent storyline for the Green and White this season has been lack of scoring outside of the CBS line. Against the Mavericks, UND showed that they are absolutely more than a one line team. Forward Luke Johnson and defenseman Tucker Poolman netted goals on Friday, then, defenseman Keaton Thompson and forward Bryn Chyzyk added markers on Saturday, as the Green and White delivered the sweep. Austin Poganski added three assists, Johnny Simonson added a pair of helpers, while Poolman and Chyzyk also added assists, for a successful team statistical weekend.  The line of Johnson, Poganski and Rhett Gardner were terrific on Saturday, adding a physical element to the UND attack.

UND Jr. D, Keaton Thompson celebrates his second goal of the season on Saturday.
Thompson scored one of four non-CBS line goals in the series as UND swept
Nebraska Omaha 4-2, 4-1 in Omaha to clinch a share of the NCHC title.
(Photo Credit: Chris Machian, Omaha World-Herald)

Honorable Mention -- TRF Skates to State

One special shoutout to DDC's hometown Thief River Falls Prowlers as they topped defending Class A State champion East Grand Forks 3-1 in the Section 8A championship game to advance to the Minnesota State Tournament. Hopefully the Green and White brass are talking a good, hard look at TRF senior Ethan Johnson. The forward netted two goals in the title game, his 44th and 45th of the season. Johnson had seven goals in the section tournament and his 45 goals on the year is fourth-best in the state. DDC coached several of these young men in youth baseball during his high school days. Big props to DDC's hometown Prowlers.

Thief River Falls’ Brendan Bushy (66) and Wyatt Ortloff pile on top of teammate Ethan Johnson
after Johnson scored an empty-net goal to seal the Prowlers’ win over East Grand Forks on Thursday
in the Minnesota Section 8A championship game. (Photo Credit: Eric Hylden, Grand Forks Herald)

Thorns

No. 1 -- One Weekend Left

It's hard to believe, but there is only one weekend left in the regular season. UND's series against Western Michigan this weekend brings senior weekend, which will certainly be an emotional one for the four seniors, Bryn Chyzyk, Coltyn Sanderson, Colten St. Clair and Drake Caggiula. With the Penrose Cup likely in the house, UND needs just one point to take the conference title outright. It would be a fitting end for this group of four to skate with the "Penne Rosa" on their senior night. Here's to hoping the Green and White can make that happen. 

Thanks for reading. Come back later this week as DDC takes a look at UND's last regular season series of the season, as they take on the Western Michigan Broncos at the Ralph.