Originally posted at the Hockey Writers - Combine...
I mentioned last Friday night after the exhibition game against US National Development Under 18 team that UND was going to face some self-created adversity, during their first weekend series of the 2012-13 season.
In their game against the UAA Seawolves, UND will play with bare bones lineup of 16 skaters – that’s two less than the number allowed by the rules when they take the ice in their first game.
Last season, UND played most of the last month of the 2011-12 campaign with 17 players or less due to injuries, so this really isn't anything new for the team from North Dakota.
Also, this will not be used as an excuse by the North Dakota coaching staff.
UND will be without senior forward Danny Kristo (19g-26a—45pts), who is suspended for the first two games of the season, due to an infraction of team rules.
Kristo will not make the trip with the team to Fairbanks, Alaska and he will not be back until the first home series of the season the following weekend against the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, on October 26 and 27 at Ralph Englestad Arena.
Also missing from the lineup, for “at least” the next two weeks is sophomore forward Michael Parks (12g-10a—22pts), who suffered an undisclosed lower body injury in the exhibition game against the University of Manitoba Bison.
Head coach Dave Hakstol was asked about the status of sophomore forward Michael Parks.
“Probably, I am guessing a few weeks for Michael Parks,” Hakstol said. “That is about as close I can come to narrowing it down. It certainly won’t be with the next one to two weeks, but I hope with the next few weeks we will be able to get him on the ice. It will all depend on how his rehab progresses and how he reacts.”
UND will also miss sophomore forward Brendan O’Donnell (5g-1a—6pts) , senior defenseman Andrew MacWilliam (2g-5a—7pts), senior forward Carter Rowney (18g-15—33pts) and senior forward Corbin Knight (16g-24a—40pts) who will all serve a one game suspension during first game against the University of Alaska Anchorage at the Brice Alaska Goal Rush tourney for a violation of team rules.
With Knight, Kirsto, Rowney and Parks absent for the first game of the season because of suspensions and the injury – based on last season numbers – UND will be missing some high end talent that scored 140 points last season – that doesn’t take a mathematical guru to figure out that’s a lot of offensive fire power missing from the UND line.
On the following night of the Brice Alaska Goal Rush tourney, sophomore forwards Connor Gaarder (4g-6a—10pts), Stephane Pattyn (4g-3a—7pts) and sophomore defenseman Andrew Panzarella (0g-4a—4pts) will all sit out due to an infraction of team rules...
1. Danny Kristo – Suspension
2. Corbin Knight – Suspension
3. Andrew MacWilliam – Suspension
4. Carter Rowney – Suspension
5. Brendan O'Donnell – Suspension
6. Michael Parks – Injury
This is the list of UND hockey players that will miss the game for UND against Alaska game
1. Danny Kristo – Suspension
2. Connor Gaarder– Suspension
3. Andrew Panzarella– Suspension
4. Stephane Pattyn– Suspension
5. Michael Parks – Injury
