FBS Football Playoffs Proves NCAA Playoffs at the Higher Seed's Stadium Can work -- Looking at You NCAA Hockey

If you watched the first round of the FBS playoffs this afternoon, you noticed that the teams were playing at the home stadium of the higher seed. While perusing X.com this afternoon, hockey journalist Ryan Stieg retweeted Mike Eidelbes's excellent tweet. Grand Forks Herald hockey scribe Brad E. Schlossman followed suit. Sounds like a great idea. Let's get this done soon. 

Went to IU-ND football yesterday. Probably the best sporting event I’ve attended in terms of atmosphere and electricity.

Having it on campus made it a billion times greater. Hint hint hockey …

— Mike Eidelbes (@INCH) December 21, 2024

Home hockey regionals would be electric. https://t.co/iVNbUKeZjp

— Brad Elliott Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) December 21, 2024

Yes, it's well past time to revisit this subject again. We've beaten it to death, but we're not going away. Of course, you'll get some pushback from the same old soles, media members, coaches, and schools that want to play in quiet, empty, listless mausoleums masquerading as neutral-site hockey arenas. SMH! These arenas will be in exciting locations like Allen Town, Pennsylvania, or some arena that doesn't usually host hockey games. What could go wrong, right? You have to ask yourself what these people are afraid of? To be the best, you have to beat the best. It shouldn't matter if you have to play in an energy-filled arena. The Frozen Four isn't played in listless arenas. 

Last February, DU head hockey coach David Carle appeared on a podcast from Inside Hockey with Editor Adam Wodon and shared his perspective on the matter. Coach Carle was receptive to the idea. 

For the record, Adam Wodon of College Hockey News favors maintaining the status quo and does not support home-site regionals. 

Here are some points from that podcast. I included Carle's comments because he sees the whole picture and has a realistic opinion. 

"We are in a small minority of sports that do it this way, Carle said. College football is also neutral, but even the behemoth that it is, next year, expanding to 12. They are going to campus sites."

"We are vastly in the minority of not using home site top seeds hosting in any capacity," Carle said. "For the record, I'm against North Dakota being a one-seed this year and having three teams enter their building. That's worse than what we currently do—the top four seats hosting, you know, all the teams to four sites. It's worse when you talk about atmosphere, excitement, and the fan experience. I would get we all host games all the time, right? The top eight would host the bottom eight."

Let's get it done. It's well past time. Last season, I asked UND head coach Brad Berry if he favored playing regional games at home sites. 

Would Coach Berry’s team rather play in Minnesota or Duluth than in an empty arena in Bridgeport? Of course, he would.

“A hundred percent, Berry said. “That goes into the part of earning it. If we’re a lower seed and we have to go into a building. We already do that. We go into environments like that during the regular season; it shouldn’t be different in the playoffs. You have to win a game on the road. It’s going to provide a better atmosphere and a better experience for the college student-athletes.”

SCSU Assistant Coach R.J. Enga Airs Grievances Following Series with UND

SCSU Player Talks to the Refs During a Break in the Action

When I was a freshman at Upper Iowa University, our football coach told our team, following a painful loss, that we won class and we lost with class. Apparently, St. Cloud assistant coach R.J. Enga hasn't heard those words of advice. 

AUDIO: The Brett Larson Show from last night (12/16) from the @GreenMill

With Huskies assistant coach RJ Enga.

Next show will be Jan. 13. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all Huskies fans. https://t.co/MtmN5P0Dcf

— Jim Erickson (@SCSU_hockey_pbp) December 17, 2024

 

Coach Enga filled in for head coach Brent Larson on the Brent Larson Show with Huskies play-by-play radio announcer Jim Erickson. (You can listen to the whole show, linked in the tweet above.)  If you haven't heard it, check it out. It's interesting. 

Larson wasn't available because he had already left town to be an assistant coach with Team USA for the U20 World Junior Tourney. It was an interesting 40+ minutes. Enga aired his grievances about this past weekend's series. He attacked the linesmen, saying they dropped the pucks closer to the UND centermen, giving them an unfair advantage. The faceoff numbers were tied on Friday night 29-29; on Saturday, UND had the advantage 36-29. 

Whatever.

Enga attacked T.J. Semptimphelter, saying that he showed the ref up for taking his helmet off after being elbowed in the head on Friday night and taking off his helmet during Saturday's game after being elbowed in the head. Granted, the SCSU player was cross-checked into the UND goalie. He also attacked the ref for not making the right call. It sounds like sour grapes. 

After Friday's game, head coach Brad Berry got into a heated conversation with Larson. The video replay showed both coaches shouting obscenities at each other (you could read both men's lips). In the post-game press conference, coach Berry wasn't very pleased with what had transpired on the ice. 

"I'm not happy right now," Berry said. "I'm not going to get myself into trouble here, but that wasn't a great hockey play by them. For it to be a two-minute minor, that's a five-minute major and a game misconduct." 

Here's Enga's quote from the show, referring to Friday's dirty play that 

"If you watch the video, the young man that plays goalie for them, he threw his helmet off, tapping his head and stuff," Enga said on the radio show. "I'm not really sure what was going on with the guy. But when you watch it, it's like a split second, and I thought maybe a skate came up. We've seen some terrible incidents. I thought maybe that was the way he reacted. And then when I kind of saw it, definitely when I saw the video, I'm like, 'What is going on?'

"To me, don't make a mockery of the referees. Don't put them in those situations. Just play an honest, hard game and let's see who comes out on top. That's my opinion."

As I heard Enga's comment, I wondered; are you kidding me? Do we need to review the play in question again? Without beating a dead horse, It was a dirty play by Gavyn Thoreson. How did he expect the UND hockey team to react to Thoreson's antics? 

Here's the hit on T.J. Semptimphelter that irked UND coach Brad Berry tonight. pic.twitter.com/sXhGpKKQag

— Brad Elliott Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) December 14, 2024

Finally, Enga made a snide comment about Brad Schlossman, who referenced Thoreson's style of play when he was in the USHL. His remarks show that Enga had read Schlossman's Friday Gamer. 

"Thoreson was known as a skilled player and agitator T.J. Semptimphelter the United States Hockey League last year, where he had 87 penalty minutes for the Waterloo Black Hawks, " Schlossman wrote.

I don't see anything wrong with bringing that point up. For those keeping track at home, Thoreson had 103 PIMs in 85 USHL games. It's not out of line to bring that up, especially after he had just run over the opposition's goalie in an attempt to rally his team or take out their goalie. If you don't like it, don't read the opposition's beat writer's analysis. 

Finally, the league could come down on Enga. He could get suspended for making comments about the on-ice officials; he attacked their credibility and integrity. However, it's unlikely based on who the commissioner is. The two teams play in St. Cloud on January 31 and February 1, 2025. This could be an interesting rematch. 

Random Thoughts on the UND Goalie Position

In hockey, the most popular player on a hockey team is the backup goalie.

This season, the University of North Dakota's goalie position has been the subject of much discussion on X and fan message boards. Everyone has an opinion on the matter. It's been an interesting season, and the UND hockey team has faced their fair share of adversity. 

"This has been a tumultuous first half," head coach Brad Berry said. "Up and down, inconsistent. Every season is different, but my biggest positive is that we're going the right way. We still have a long way to go, and the second half is coming up. We have to keep our foot on the gas and know what we've built here. We've got to continue to build and grow."

I keep reading that UND sophomore goalie Hobie Hedquist needs to play, or he'll enter the transfer portal. First, anyone familiar with UND head coach Brad Berry knows he's a team-first coach, meaning no player is more important than the program. Why isn't Hedquist playing more? There could be a variety of reasons. 

My random thoughts on the UND goalie position: has anyone ever considered that T.J. Semptimphelter might be the better goaltender? It's something to think about. Hobie has occasionally let in some weak goals. The goal in game two against Cornell to open the third period comes to mind. I am not saying Hedquist is a bad goalie, not at all. Currently, Semptimphelter may be the better goalie for UND hockey. Based on how the season has gone, there's very little room to experiment with a goalie rotation, especially now that the first half has passed; the coaches need to put together the best lineup to win. If the coaching staff decides to ride a hot goalie, they may do that. 

What happens if he enters the portal? The coaching staff will recruit more goalies; there will be many available goalies, and the CHL players will be eligible to play NCAA hockey.

Since the 2021-22 season, UND has utilized the transfer portal to recruit a starting goalie.

Post UND's starting goalie, Adam Scheel, here's how the goalie position has played out. UND has used four goalies in four consecutive seasons who weren't initially recruited by UND but finished their college careers at UND. That's the nature of the transfer portal. Here's the list of Portal goalies UND has used since the 2021-22 season. I added Scheel for comparison purposes. 

2018-21; Adam Scheel  (52-18-5 (.726), 1.95 GAA and .915 Save Percentage)

2021-22; Zach Driscoll (22-11-1 (.642), 2.34 GAA, .908 Save Percentage)

2022-23; Drew DeRidder (13-9-4 (.576), 2.53, .899 Save Percentage )

2023-24; Ludvig Persson (22-11-2 (.657), 2.52 GAA, .904 Save Percentage)

2024-25; T.J. Semptimphelter (10-5-1 (.656), 2.56 GAA, .903 Save Percentage)

UND Hockey: Dirty Play to End Friday's Game May Have Inspired Team Saturday

Late in Friday's game, at the 15:48 mark of the third period, Huskies forward Gavyn Thoreson cut across in front of the UND net and tried to dislodge the puck frozen in T.J. Semptimphelter's glove. In the process, he blatantly ran over the UND goalie, making contact with his head. It was a dirty play; there is no justification for that play other than an intent to injure a goalie currently holding a shutout. There was no defending that play. Video by Brad E. Schlossman.

Here's the hit on T.J. Semptimphelter that irked UND coach Brad Berry tonight. pic.twitter.com/sXhGpKKQag

— Brad Elliott Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) December 14, 2024

For his troubles, Thoreson should have been assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct. It wasn't an accident but a deliberate play. Yes, the officials have a lot of leeway in this instance and have decided not to call a major penalty. 

In the post-game press conference, UND head coach Brad Berry was visibly upset with the play and exchanged pleasantries with SCSU head coach Brent Larson on the player's bench at the end of the game. 

"I'm not happy right now," Berry said. "I'm not going to get myself into trouble here, but that wasn't a great hockey play by them. For it to be a two-minute minor, that's a five-minute major and a game misconduct." 

In the game's waning seconds, UND defenseman Caleb MacDonald viciously cross-checked Thoreson in the back. We can only speculate about the move, but it appears MacDonald was sticking up for his teammate. Yes, yes, yes, I know; Husky fans will say that MacDonald's cross-check wasn't necessary and a dirty play. Maybe, but a message was sent to the Huskies that our team won't be pushed around. 

Caleb MacDonald's retaliation cross-checks on Gavyn Thoreson. Appears MacDonald also said something to Thoreson. pic.twitter.com/zgmhDsJw05

— Brad Elliott Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) December 14, 2024

Following UND's 4-3 OT win tonight, in the post-game press conference, one of the television media members asked Berry what was said on the bench between the two coaches. 

"Just like we talked about our team in the locker room, I think I'd rather not say," Berry said. He continued. "You find out a lot of things about a lot of people, and you try to take the high road and keep moving on to the next year."

You have to commend Berry for taking the high road. If you follow the hockey code, what's said on the ice stays on the ice. Looking from the outside in, last night's game probably hardened the UND hockey team and helped inspire tonight's gutsy come-from-behind win. The Huskies took the lead three times only to have UND tie the game. UND never gave up. 

Earlier in the season, UND had trouble closing out close games. Over the past two weekends, UND has been tied or behind in two games entering the third period and has found ways to win. That's progress in the right direction. In the final period, UND wore down the Huskies and outshot them 14-9. UND found a way to win in the OT. 

The Hawks close out the first half of the season with an 11-7-1 record. UND has won four in a row and are 6-1-1 in the last eight games. Currently, UND is sitting in second place in the NCHC standings, two points out of first place, with 17 points. 

UND Hockey: Yes, It’s Been a Rough Season

It wouldn't be a lie if I said that the start of the UND hockey team's 2024-25 season has been rocky. After 15 games, the team's overall record is 7-7-1 (.500), 2-2-0 NCHC. UND is 26th in the all-important Pairwise Rankings. The UND fanbase is getting antsy, and they want blood. Perusing the comments on X and a popular fan message board, some in the UND fanbase would like a change at the top. Yes, it's been a rough season. 

 Wait, what? 

Yes, you heard that right. With roughly 20 games remaining in the season, a vocal group of UND hockey fans wants the University of North Dakota to fire Brad Berry. Personally, this writer doesn't feel those sentiments, and for that, I was accused of being a toady for the UND hockey team. Let this season play out before kick dirt on the UND hockey team. No, the UND fanbase is known for being patient. This team is close to breaking out and could go on a second-half run. 

 The Berry File 

You have a coach who has amassed an impressive 213-111-34 (.642) record. His teams have won four of the last five NCHC regular season titles. In their first season with coach Berry, he helped guide UND to their first NCAA title since 2000. A feat former head coach Dave Hakstol couldn't do in 11 seasons with UND. That's neither a slam nor a slight; it's just a fact. 

 Our fans also wanted Hakstol fired, too. In April 2015, UND fans were unhappy with head coach Dave Hakstol; while still a member of the Hockey Writers, I wrote this. 

It must be the offseason; a vocal minority of North Dakota hockey fans are once again calling for the ouster of head coach Dave Hakstol. This time, some of those same fans want Hakstol to take the whole coaching staff with him. (Link) 

None of that matters anymore. Hakstol was hired as the Philadelphia Flyers head coach, and UND hired Berry to replace Hakstol. Fans are now channeling their anger towards the current head coach. I was reminded that Berry's teams have stumbled in the NCAA playoffs all summer, winning a single game since the magical season of 2015-16. According to the naysayers, conference titles are fine, but that's not UND hockey; winning NCAA titles is the standard. 

During hockey media day back in September, coach Berry was very frank. 

"There’s a focus in the locker room on hanging a ninth green banner. “North Dakota is not for everybody, head coach Brad Berry said. “There’s a lot of pressure here, and within that, you have to make sure that you invest in yourself every day and earn the opportunity to bring it. That’s what I like about our group; they’re buying into how we do things here and are humble, respectful, and hardworking.” 

On getting that ninth green banner: “We’ve done a good job getting to a certain point,” Berry said. “We got to get past that point. That’s on us as coaches and players, working together and building the physical and mental side that can take you to that level. We’ve done a few things to discuss and work on, and we will continue to do that.” 

UND Bitten by the Injury Bug 

This season, UND has been bitten by the injury bug. The Hawks have been without Kaleb Johnson (indefinitely), Bennett Zmolek (indefinitely), Tanner Komzak (Returned against RMU), Cameron Berg (week-to-week), Louis Jammernik V (week-to-week), Andrew Strathmann (Returned this past weekend), Cody Croal (Returned last Saturday night). Wait, hold the phone. Saturday night, at various points of the game, two more players went down to injury. Ben Strinden and Caleb MacDonald both left the game and didn't return. 

Injuries aside, UND's back end is pretty green. Last Saturday, UND dressed four freshmen and two sophomores. The upperclassman from the D-Core, Bennett Zmolek, is out due to injury. 

 Nobody from the UND hockey team is making excuses. Friday, after UND's 2-1 loss to BSU, coach Berry's post-game comments on the radio broadcast were very brief and to the point. The Hawks aren't scoring five-on-five, and it's showing in the box scores. 

"We had a ton of them (Grade A chances)," Berry said. "Then one goes off a guy's leg. You have to get a few more of those. You have to try to keep getting pucks to the net with traffic. There weren't many power plays tonight. Each team had two power plays, so you got to create five-on-five." 

On Friday's 2-1 Loss to BSU. "It was a step in the right direction; I think there's still more to give," Berry said. "We have to keep playing at a high level, and we need a scoring rebound tomorrow night. We're home at the Ralph and must win that game."

Finally, UND has 20 games left in the regular season; maybe we should all take a breath and relax. Cut the guys some slack; they've faced a lot of adversity in 15 games. Some of this adversity is a valuable lesson that will help them adjust to the rigors of the college hockey season. 

UND Hockey: Time to Step off of the Ledge, They're Fine

The University of North Dakota hockey team had a statement game Friday, winning 7-2 over Hockey East Powerhouse Boston University. UND came out of the gate like gangbusters. Ultimately, it wasn't even close in the end, as they scored five goals on 11 shots in the first period. For those who are mathematically challenged, that's a .454 save percentage. I said it last year, and I'll repeat it: Mathieu Caron has looked shaky every time he's played against UND.

I told someone this was one of my top-10 UND hockey games ever. 

What a difference a week makes. After last weekend's split with the Minnesota State Mavericks, some fans were again suggested that UND fire Brad Berry. Three games into the season, and they want Berry gone already. So, after the first period, I tweeted this to X. 

 

It’s 5-0, so do the fans on Sioux Sports still want to fire 🔥 the head coach? 😆🤣

— Eric J. Burton (@goon48) October 26, 2024

Let's at least wait till the end of the season to start the Fire Berry thread. He's not going anywhere, anyway. I've already predicted that the Hawks are going to the Frozen Four this year. 

I mean, seriously, I am kidding, not really. Last night's victory was a dismantling of the Boston University Terriers. It was a beatdown. UND came out determined and looked pissed off. They got in the shooting lanes and gave the Terriers nothing. When the Terriers got an odd-man rush, they recovered, breaking up the opportunities. UND forward Jake Schmaltz on the Hawks's quick start in the first period. 

 "After we got the lead, we didn't get too high, didn't get too low, just kind of machine-like mindset, and that kind of carried in the third but thought we we're ready to play, and we're going to have that same effort tomorrow," Schmaltz said.  

Boston University's Head Coach Said What?

Entering Friday’s game, the Terriers had the 62nd youngest team in college hockey. However, it wasn’t the younger players that Boston University head coach Jay Pandolfo was upset with. His veteran players didn’t answer the call.

“We certainly have a young group,” Pandolfo said. “A lot of these guys are playing in this environment for the first time, but I’m not putting it on the young guys. We have guys who are veteran players for us, who have been in tough environments and have experience, and they did not lead the way for us. Getting some of our young guys the first opportunity to play in this type of game, so I’m not putting it on them, but we had some older guys that have been around that did not help our group.”

What else can you say when you lose 7-2 in the opening game of a series?

“It makes it tough when you don’t win battles and compete all over the ice,” Pandolfo said. “It makes it difficult. That was the issue all night.

Jackson Blake Scores His First NHL Goal -- Coach Berry Weighs In

On Tuesday night, another former UND hockey player scored his first NHL goal. Caroline Hurricanes forward Jackson Blakes's goal helped the Hurricanes defeat the New Jersey 4-2. At the 10:16 mark of the third period, Blake scored the game-winning goal. It didn't take Blake long to score his first NHL goal in his third career game, and 106:18 into his second season. 

Here's what his former coach had to say about his first NHL goal. 

"I gotta be honest; reading what was going on, I don't think they were giving him a great chance to make that Carolina hurricane team, UND head coach Brad Berry said. "I think he was pegged to be in the minors right away and work his way up. That tells you what Jackson Blake is as far as what he did for a body of work here, being relentless, being a guy that was one of our best, if not our best player, every day, coming on the ice and for me as a coach, then it's worth it.

"When you leave North Dakota, which has a lot of things going on here, you want to make sure they have an opportunity for themselves to make the big club instead of toiling in the minors for years. For Jackson Blake, he got there. He has to stay there. He has to continue to earn it to be that everyday NHL player; many of our guys have done that just because they know their humility and what it takes to earn it every day."

Here's what his teammates had to say. 

"Every day I think I just get more comfortable," Blake said after the game during the post-game media scrum. "I'm realizing that I think I belong here in this league, and I've got to show it every night. I think every day is a tryout. I felt comfortable tonight and I think I'm just going to continue to feel that."

"It's awesome. Everyone's going to remember your first goal. Like Roddy said, we might not remember this game, but Blaker will for the rest of his life," Shayne Gostisbehere said. "For him and his family, it's all the hard work everyone put in to help get him to that point. Getting the game-winning goal is pretty cool, too."

Enjoy that first @NHL goal feeling, Jackson Blake!! pic.twitter.com/TdnYdN8xH0

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) October 16, 2024