Forks Down, UND Blasts ASU, 5-2

 

Friday, UND looked to even the score against Arizona State. The Sun Devils were making their first visit to Ralph Engelstad Arena. Through the first three games, ASU had gotten the better of UND, winning two out of three games. 

On Friday night, things started great for UND. NoDak got off to a fast start and took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission, with goals from Ben Strinden and Will Zellers. 

In the second period, UND faced some adversity. With UND clinging to a 2-0 lead, the Sun Devils gained momentum, scoring a power play goal by Kyle Smolen and an even-strength goal from Lucius Cruz. The second period would end in a 2-2 tie. 

What a difference a year makes. Last year's team would have found a way to lose after the Sun Devils tied the game. That didn't happen. UND came out in the third period with a purpose. 

The game wouldn't stay tied very long. At the 1:04 mark of the third period, freshman forward Will Zellers would score his second goal of the game. For those keeping track, Zellers now leads the Hawks in goal scoring. 

Before Brian Rivers could finish announcing the Zellers' goal, senior forward Tyler Young would score his first goal of his UND career. Young would also get an assist on UND's final goal, as sophomore forward Cody Croal scored to ice the game.  

With the injury to freshman forward Jack Kernan, Young was penciled into the lineup with Mac Swanson and Ellis Rickwood. In the post-game, Young was gracious and happy to get the opportunity. This brings new meaning to the next man up. Young made the most of his opportunity. 

"This is the most special locker room I've been in," Young said. "No one's treated differently, whether you're in or you're out. You're treated the same way. You're always ready."

How did UND end recruiting the senior forward Young? 

"You have to give GM (Bryn) Chyzyk credit for that," UND head coach Dane Jackson said.

For those wondering at home, Young is the son of the former NHL player Scott Young, yes, that one, the two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. 

When you look at this UND team, all four lines are contributing. Eleven players recorded points in Friday's game. Seventeen players have scored a goal for UND this season. 

Here are the highlights from Friday's 5-2 win. 

        

UND Hockey: Bryn Chyzyk's WWF Move?

This play got little air time on Twitter last night. I had someone ask me what I thought of the play. If you lay on the puck, before the whistle has blown, there's a good chance this is going to happen to you. In my opinion, Bryn Chyzyk is trying to dislodge the puck. The old go hard to the whistle play. Some have made the argument that the Badger player could have been given a delay of game penalty. Also, I wouldn't call this a WWF move, but I don't watch that sport either.

AndyJohnson, B5Q -- With Wisconsin center Cameron Hughes sprawled out on the ice in the corner, UND winger Bryn Chyzyk dropped two WWF style elbows to Hughes' back. After Chyzyk dropped the first one, he got back up and dropped another for good measure. Somehow the official standing four feet away didn't see anything wrong with that.

I want to be clear. The officiating this season has been absolutely brutal at times. If you don't believe me, read this blog post from another writer. The men in stripes have had some rough games. That being said, I am somewhat surprised penalty wasn't assessed on the play.

UND vs. Air Force: Bryn Chyzyk game-winning, overtime goal

University of North Dakota junior forward Bryn Chyzyk picked a heck of a good time to get his second goal of the season. Chyzyk's game-winning goal was his second goal of the season.

From the fancy stat department: UND and Minnesota-Duluth lead the nation with five shorthanded goals each. UND has five shorthanded goals in seven games and that leads the nation in .071 shorthanded goals per game.

Related articles

• UND Blitzes Providence College 6-1(ndgoon.blogspot.com)

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• North Dakota Beats Providence in Grand Forks(insidehockey.com)

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Compare and Contrast, Bryn Chyzyk and Adam Tambellini

I put this on my facebook page, but it applies.

Compare and contrast, a kid that was already on a team left at the first hint of adversity. Another kid, had that chance taken away from him and upon returning, talked about missing his teammates and thanked the coaching staff for getting another chance to be a member of that team.

Think about it. Both kids had the same number of points. Tonight, that kid made an immediate impact upon returning to the lineup. Nothing in life is given to you. Everyday is a battle and you have to work for every inch that you take.

In the old days if you were unhappy with the amount of playing time that you received you worked harder. You didn't quit on your teammates you didn't go find another team. You worked your ass off and strived to get better.

I couldn't be more happy for Bryn Chyzyk... He could have quit, but he kept at it. Go get em kid.

UND Hockey: End of season party lands five players in trouble with police

It would appear that history has repeated itself, once again for the UND hockey team. This past fall, before the season began; the UND hockey team had the team party that lead to numerous players getting cited for Possession Consumption of Alcohol by a Person under 21.

All four captains and numerous other players of the UND Hockey team, were suspended for at least one game, over the course of the opening weekend of the season. In addition, senior forward Danny Kristo sat out both games of the nonconference tourney that first weekend.

This week charges by Grand Forks County prosecutors were filed against four freshmen players cited for underage drinking, a Class B misdemeanor: Jordan Schmaltz, 18; Bryn Chyzyk, 19; Zane Gothberg, 20 and Drake Caggiula, 18. [Bismarck Tribune]

 

So, fast forward to March 31, 2013, after the 2012-13 season is over… Once again, we have UND hockey players cited for underage drinking. It would appear that two of these players didn’t learn their lesson, because they were cited earlier this season, for the same thing. 

Brad Elliot Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald – UND men’s hockey coach Dave Hakstol is taking scholarship money away from players after they received citations following the season.

Three freshman players — Zane Gothberg, 20, Colten St. Clair, 20, and Bryn Chyzyk, 20 — received citations for underage drinking, while sophomore Stephane Pattyn, 22, received a noise citation.

Gothberg’s minor occurred March 31 after the team returned home from the West Regional in Grand Rapids, Mich. The other players received their citations over the weekend.

“This is going to cost some people significant scholarship dollars and trigger other internal actions,” Hakstol said.

According to court records, Gothberg has already pled guilty to Possession/Consumption of Alcohol by a Person under 21. Gothberg will be required to pay a 325.00 fine.

Shot Charts UMD vs. UND game one

Tap of the stick to @statsoncrack ... After having a tough night in the face off dot last weekend, senior forward Corbin Knight was stellar going 18-11. UND as a team was dominant in the faceoff circle and went 53-32 in the faceoff circle. Freshman forward Rocco Grimaldi was 15-6 in the faceoff circle as well.

UND is ranked 48th overall nationally in the Penalty Minutes. So UND is not a bunch of goons that some seem to think… The “Halos” from Minneapolis are ranked 56th overall. On the flip side of that equation, UMD is ranked second overall nationally in Penalty Minutes.

I think that one point that has been glossed over so far this season is that fact that UND’s energy line which has included the likes of Steph Pattyn 4 PIM, Derek Rodwell 2 PIM, Bryn Chyzhyk 4 PIM and or Colton St. Clair 2 PIM have not taken a lot of penalty minutes.

Just for the record, from what I have heard from a few people that Steph Pattyn was a feared fighter in the MJHL and took his share of Penalty Minutes in junior hockey and has a grand total of 2 minors so far this season. Here is a video of one of his fights if you want take a look, there is an old saying, it's better to be the hammer than the nail...  [click to view]

At a recent press conference Bryn Chyzyk was asked, how intense of a person is Steph Pattyn.

It’s funny you ask, I played against him up in Manitoba. I was so scared of that guy, he’s a scary guy to play against, but I defiantly like him a lot better on my team.”