UND 4 UAA 1

Grand Forks, ND – The University of North Dakota fresh of their split in Alaska at the Brice Goal Rush Tourney, Fairbanks, Alaska returned to home ice to play the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, a team that they had played and beat last Friday night 5-0.

What was amazing with last Friday's win was UND would beat UAA using only 15 players due to team suspensions and an injury.

Tonight, UND would field a full lineup of players and this time UND would beat UAA 4-1 in front of 11,446 fans at Ralph Englestad Arena.

UND was strong in all three zones of the ice, and played a pretty solid game for 60 minutes. After the game, UND head coach Dave Hakstol agreed.

“For this time of year I thought we played with good pace,” Hakstol said. “Do we want to improve in every area? Yeah! I thought we came out and played a pretty solid game for 60 minutes.”

UND freshman goaltender Zane Gothberg got his first start of his collegiate career and became the first Thief River Falls, Minnesota native to start in goal for UND since the late UND goalie Ralph Engelstad during the 1948-49 season.

UND outshot the Seawolves 14-2 during the first period as Seawolves sophomore goalie Chris Kamal was sharp made many difficult shots to keep his team in the game.

The second period was a wild one, as UND broke the scoreless tie at the 01:10 mark of the second period when senior forward Corbin Knight scored from behind the net. Knight banked the shot off an un-expecting Seawolves defenseman Blake Leask’s skate and the puck ended up in the Seawolves net.

The shot might not have been pretty, but it counted none-the-less.

UND would strike again quickly, three minutes and 26 seconds later at the 04:46 mark, freshman forward Drake Caggiula, would score the first goal of his career, off a nice feed from Rocco Grimaldi.

Senior forward Carter Rowney would add to the lead as he scored at the 06:58 mark off a shot from the point by defenseman Dillon Simpson, 3-0 UND.

The UAA Seawolves would temporarily stop the bleeding as they cut the lead to 3-1, with a goal by senior forward Alex Gellert at the 15:39 mark.

Junior defenseman Derek Forbort would extend the lead to 4-1 when he scored on shot from the point. That would be all of the scoring in the second period as UND outshot the Seawolves 13-12.

After serving a two game suspension – Danny Kristo responded nicely with a three assists and had a strong game in all three zones of the ice tonight.  It looked like Kristo had something to prove tonight and he agreed.

“It was definitely frustrating going up to Alaska and having to sit out of both games,” Kristo said. “But it was just something; some guys had to just sit out one game. Unfortunately I had to sit out of two [games]. But, I thought I felt like I some motivation – some stuff to prove tonight. But it’s over with and I think the team is moving on – we’re just trying to move forward…”

That was all the scoring there would be in the game as Seawolves goalie Kris Kamal was solid in net and keep UND off of the board the rest of the way. UND goalie Zane Gothberg was also solid in net as he turned away 17 of 18 Seawolves shots.

Freshman forward Drake Caggiula was all smiles after the game and had this to say about scoring the first goal of his college career.

“Great feeling,” Caggiula said. “Unexplainable basically – to get that goal on home ice – no better feeling on that.”

UND and UAA will face off in game tomorrow night at 7:07 pm.

Related articles

• Notes from the Wednesday's UND Men's Hockey press conference (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND Squeaks Past USNDT U-18 Team (insidehockey.com)
• Nine Men out, UND heads north to Alaska (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND squeaks by USNDT U-18 team 6-4 (thehockeywriters.com)

UND during presidential elections years

I like most am tired of election commercials on my TV... I am also ready for this election to be over... I am also sure that there are many of you that are also tired of of the commercials and the elections mailings that you have to throw away every day as well. So since it’s an election year, I thought that I would see what UND has done in hockey during the presidential election years. 

UND won NCAA titles during the 1980 and 2000 Presidential election years, both years there was a Republican president elected to the presidency, both times UND won the title in Providence, Rhode Island. 

NCAA Tournament Championships

1980       North Dakota     31-8-1   5–2   Northern Michigan     Providence, RI   Providence Civic Center

2000       North Dakota     31-8-5   4–2     Boston College  Providence, RI   Providence Civic Center

UND also won two Broadmoor Trophies during presidential election years as well. 

WCHA Tournament Championships/Broadmoor Trophy

Year       Record  Coach

2000       31-8-5   Dean Blais

2012       25-12-3  Dave Hakstol

UND has also won two MacNaughton Cups during presidential election years where a Republican president was elected to office. 

Regular Season Championships/MacNaughton Cup

1980       31-8-1   John "Gino" Gasparini

2004       30-8-3   Dean Blais

Notes from the Wednesday's UND Men’s Hockey press conference

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers - Combine

This weekend UND plays their first WCHA series of the season against the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves at Ralph Englestad Arena, October 26th and 27th.

Senior forward Carter Rowney had to say about the team’s first trip of the season to Fairbanks Alaska.

“I think a lot of stepping stones this weekend,” Rowney said. “Playing shorthanded was definitely the biggest challenge probably up in Alaska. It definitely showed we can play with whoevers in the lineup – whoever is out of the lineup – we’re definitely able to compete out there and I think that’s huge – the depth in our lineup is huge and that’s the stepping stone we created on Friday night and Saturday night. I think it was a good weekend for us and we came together being on the road with the boys and a good weekend to get away.”

Carter Rowney on watching some of the young guys stepping up and scoring goals last weekend.

“Definitely, watching the game on Friday – watching some of those young guys play – a lot of them played unreal and played like veterans out there,” Rowney said. “Really good to see – a lot of them stepped up – to get comfortable real fast in games – they improved throughout the weekend I think that was something to look forward to and something for me as a senior to look down to say hey their working hard and it pushes me.”

Rowney on having a full lineup and having some of the younger on the roster players step up without the upper classmen in the lineup on Friday.

“I think it’s huge for our team,” Rowney said. “Because the more people push each other… its better – you know – coming every day to practice and having each person pushing one another – I think that’s only going to make our team improve.”

Head coach Dave Hakstol on what he learned about his team the first weekend.

“I like how we worked on Friday,” Hakstol said. “l like how we played. I thought we played a complete game. We played a tenacious game and went to the all of the hard areas and we had contributions from everybody. We backed off a little bit on Saturday and I don’t’ think we played with quite enough energy and most importantly our difference from Friday to Saturday, was going to those greasy areas offensively, I thought that was a big difference, so hopefully that is something we can be a little more consistent this weekend from Friday to Saturday.”

Coach Hakstol on playing in the last year of the current WCHA and opening their conference play at home against UAA.

We have talked about it a lot; you know right now – it’s one game and one day,” Hakstol said. You know the big picture of the last year and everything else, that’s been put in place and that’s with in the big picture. You know, the scene that we’re concerned about is one weekend against Alaska Anchorage that’s what we have to concentrate on. You know, we have seen it before – we know how competitive the league is – we know how competitive it will be and points in the first weekend of the season are just as critical as points on the last weekend, so we got to have a focused approach.”

Coach Hakstol on what kind of team UAA is and what we’re to expect from the UAA Seawolves.

“To be very honest with you, I don’t think Alaska Anchorage played very well last Friday night when we played against them,” Hakstol said.

“There was a completely different team that stepped on the ice against Merrimack [College] the following day – they played hard – they played hungry – they played gritty and I think that’s what we will see this weekend, a highly competitive team.”

Coach Hakstol on the status of injured forward Michael Parks this weekend.

“Same, no change there,” Hakstol said. “I said last week that it’s going to be a few weeks; that’s where he is at, it’s going to be a few weeks. That’s not a medical term, I realize, but that’s probably the best I can do for you, I don’t want to put a time frame on it, because I don’t know and I don’t think anybody truly does and it going to be a few weeks.”

UND junior goalie Clarke Saunders was asked about how it felt getting his first shutout of his career for UND in the first game of the season with UND.

“It feels pretty cool,” Saunders said. “I am just happy that the team got the win. Always nice to start the season likes that and I think that we’re all pretty happy.”

Saunders was asked about his expectations coming into UND as a transfer student.

“To earn a spot, Saunders said. “Just to play there was some tough competition coming in. Zane [Gothberg] and Tate [Maris] are both very good goalies, so just try to work as hard as I can, hopefully to play as much as I can.”

Saunders was asked if he is nervous about his first WCHA home series this weekend.

“A good nervous, Saunders said. “Probably more excited is the term that I would like to use. Obviously we had two exhibition games at the Ralph, but we’re really looking forward to the home opener and the sold out crowd and I am excited to see what that’s about and experience what it’s going to be like.”

Related articles

• Nine Men out, UND heads north to Alaska (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND Squeaks Past USNDT U-18 Team (insidehockey.com)
• UND squeaks by USNDT U-18 team 6-4 (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND: The Weekend Ahead (10/19-10/20) (insidehockey.com)
• Game Notes for UND versus UAA 10/26-10/27 (thehockeywriters.com)

While most of us were asleep... Sifting through the debries on day later

The discussion all started with this tweet in question.

The excuses are coming in from the NoDak fans fast and furious. Yes UND was suspension depleted. Still No. 2 team in country, right? Yep.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) October 21, 2012

As most college hockey fans know by now, North Dakota lost in the championship game of the Brice Goal Rush Tourney last night in Fairbanks, Alaska. Obviously, UND was "favored" to win the game and after they lost twitter and a few of the fan message boards were a buzz.

Actually, it happens a lot after UND loses just ask @UNDSID

I mean, it is, what it is. UND lost a hockey game that most thought they should have won. It's not like this loss is of the Holy Cross level. To quote a former Michigan player, "the best team doesn't always win." That's hockey and that's sports in general.

From the fun fact department. No team other than a team from Alaska has won the Brice Goal Rush Tourney, UA has won the tourney in 2009, 2010 and 2012. UAA won it in 2008 and 2011. That streak is in tact after this past weekend.

@chrismpeters they aren't #2 w/o their first line. Its an upset but if you've paid any attention to UND in Hak era they always start slow.
— Peter Christian (@Peter_Christian) October 21, 2012

These were some of the tweets that I found in my twitter feed today. I have to give credit, where credit is due, UND lost a game to a team that wanted the game more. UND didn't cash in on their opportunities and UA did, that's hockey. UND wasn't going to go 42-0-0, there will be a few more losses before the season is over and I bet they will lose a game to a team that they should've beaten.

@peter_christian It's still an upset. Alaska isn't very good.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) October 21, 2012

@chrismpeters I don't think anyone denies that. Its not "huge" as you've described it. Nobody wins trophies in October.
— Peter Christian (@Peter_Christian) October 21, 2012

Here is the list of teams that have played in the Alaska Goal Rush Tourney.
2008: Mercyhurst, Maine, UAA and UA
2009: Robert Morris, Rennselaer, UAA and UA
2010: Colorado College, Union, UAA and UA
2011: Mercyhurst, Omaha Nebraska, UAA and UA
2012: Merimack, North Dakota, UAA and UA


This is a blog post that I found on the subject today.

Alaska Nanooks Hockey blog --- Efforts like we saw tonight show exactly what the Nanooks are capable of. Tonight they outskated, and outworked a good North Dakota team. It's amazing the number of excuses that are out there online that the only reason that the Nanooks won was because of the suspensions to North Dakota players. My answer: those players made the choice to have the party, and getting caught was part of the risk and you have to live with those consequences. But that excuse can't be used to cope with the loss, nor take away anything from this victory for Alaska. The fact is UND was outplayed by the Nanooks tonight.

Related articles

• UND: The Weekend Ahead (10/19-10/20) (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Game Notes for UND vs UAA and UA 10/19-10/20 (thehockeywriters.com)
• Nine Men out, UND heads north to Alaska (thehockeywriters.com)
• Alaska Nanooks 2010 Hockey Intro Video (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

UND games to be shown on-line this weekend.

Here is the link to the Broadcasts

Upcoming UND Hockey Broadcasts

Friday, October 19, 2012

College Hockey Home

AK-Anchorage v. North Dakota @ AK-Fairbanks

Time 8:05PM CST Price $7.00.

Saturday, October 20, 2012
College Hockey Home
University of Alaska Fairbanks Versus University of North Dakota
Time 10:05 PM CST
Price$7.00.

University of Alaska Fairbanks (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Eight men out - UND players to miss some time...

UND Hockey Arena (Photo credit: jimmywayne)

It would appear that the University of North Dakota Hockey team is experiencing what I would call a rough start to their season. Now the Athletic Department has suspended eight players to start the season – most of which seems to be due to a team party that appears to have gotten a bit out of hand.

If Coach Hakstol doesn’t have his player’s attention now – he will never get their attention. As a person that follows the UND Hockey program closely – I am disappointed in the players because there off ice behavior shows a lack of focus. Obviously, we’re talking about young adults and college students do party from time-to-time, it’s a fact of life.

That being said, I don’t think that their offseason activities will have much of an effect on their season if they can get their act together. I can’t imagine what kind of consequences that will levied if someone gets into more trouble, especially after all that has happened in the last week.

It sounds like some players need to grow up and concentrate on playing hockey and need to spend less time having team parties. 

So if anyone is keeping track at home – the roster for the Brice Alaska Goal Rush tourney in Fairbanks Alaska is going to have a depleted roster both nights of the tourney.

Players that are suspended for the Anchorage Alaska game

1.       Danny Kristo

2.       Corbin Knight

3.       Andrew MacWilliam

4.       Carter Rowney

5.       Brendan O'Donnell

Players that are suspended for the Suspended for Alaska game

1.       Danny Kristo

2.       Connor Gaarder

3.       Andrew Panzarella

4.       Stephane Pattyn