HOF Game: UND vs. RPI

There are some changes to the lineup tonight. UND's Rhett Gardner will be out for tonight's game. He's listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Chase Perry starts in net for RPI tonight. He's the son of former UND goalie, Craig Perry. Cole Smith makes his UND debut.

Stltoday, Schmaltz hopes for battle of brothers in NHL

#484200741 / gettyimages.com

Here’s a good article in the St Louis Post-Dispatch about UND defenseman Jordan Schmaltz who’s currently at the St. Louis Blues development camp.

Jeremy Rutherford, stltoday.com -- He is a 6-foot-2, 193-pound puck-moving defenseman, who despite being considered a reach when the Blues drafted him No. 25 overall, has made considerable strides in two seasons at UND.

“It’s a great hockey program there, it’s a pressure school, and he’s succeeded there,” said Bill Armstrong, the Blues’ director of amateur scouting — who drafted Schmaltz and has watched him an estimated dozen times the past two seasons.

“I really liked his final game. He was just an outstanding player, creating offense and not giving up anything on the defensive side. We’re happy with his progression. He’s still got a long way to go to be a pro. But he’s got what you can’t teach, and that’s the elite hockey sense.”

As a sophomore in 2013-14, Schmaltz had six goals and 24 points in 41 games at North Dakota, earning him second-team honors in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

But in that final game that Armstrong alluded to, UND fell 2-1 in the NCAA semifinals to Minnesota, which netted the game-winner while shorthanded with 0.6 seconds remaining in regulation.

UND Hockey: A few Things on game day

Series history: There’s definitely a history between the two teams. Coming into this weekend, the University of North Dakota has never lost to Wisconsin during the NCAA playoffs. Historically, UND is 2-0 against the Badgers in the NCAA tournament.

First meeting: UND beat Wisconsin 5-2 during the 1982 NCAA Championship game. Second meeting: UND beat Wisconsin 3-2 in overtime in the 2008 Midwest Regional Championship game.  Andrew Kozek scored the game winning goal at the 1:47 mark of the first overtime to give UND the regional Championship.

All-time: The Badgers have an 86-65-12 record against UND. UND is 5-3-2 in the last 10 games against the Badgers. 

Here’s the video clip of the last time UND played against Wisconsin in the NCAA playoffs.

Breaking down the numbers

As most of you know, numbers mean nothing this time of year. You can throw records out the window. All of the teams that are in the NCAA tournament have a chance of winning. We found that out last season when Yale made their run through the NCAA playoffs. Yale was the last at-large bid to make the NCAA tournament. We also saw that when fourth seeded RIT knocked off number one seeded Denver 2-1 in the 2010 East regional. 

North Dakota (23-13-3) vs. Wisconsin (24-10-2)

UND didn’t play against Wisconsin this season. The two teams will resume the rivalry next season in Madison.

Common opponents (3)

Wisconsin split with the Miami RedHawks (0-2 L, 3-2W)

UND was 3-2 against the Miami RedHawks (4-2 W, 2-6 L, 3-2 W, 9-2 W, and 0-3 L)

Wisconsin swept the Colorado College Tigers (4-1 W, 4-3 W O.T.)

UND was 4-1-0 against the Colorado College Tigers (5-3 W, 3-2 W, 4-2 W, 2-3 L O.T. and 4-3 W)

Wisconsin was 2-0 against Northern Michigan (5-2 W, 2-1 W)

UND was 2-0 against Northern Michigan (3-2 W, 3-1 W)

Breaking down the Records

Wisconsin was 17-2-1 at home and 5-8-1 on the road. Neutral site 2-0. 

North Dakota was 14-7-1 at home and 8-5-2 on the road. Neutral site 1-1.

Badgers record when…

14-1-1 when they lead after one period

2-6-1 when they trail after one period

8-3-1 when tied after one period

18-0-1 when leading after two periods

2-8-1 when trailing after two periods

North Dakota’s record when…

13-1-1 when they lead after one period

5-9-0 when they trail after one period

5-3-2 when tied after one period

19-1-0 when leading after two periods

1-10-1 when trailing after two periods

 

Paul LaDue: 2012-13 USHL Defenseman of the Year (Video)

Researching an article that I am working on, found this video of incoming UND freshman defenseman Paul LaDue. This should give you an idea of what kind of player UND is getting.

Seats from the old Ralph

Old time hockey seats. 5 National championships @ old REA. Major nostalgia. pic.twitter.com/1CfGLjvZMA
— Tim O'Keefe (@UNDTimOKeefe) June 19, 2013

UND Hockey Awards

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Senior center Corban Knight has been named the recipient of the Jeff Anderson Scholarship Award as the University of North Dakota’s most valuable player, highlighting the 2012-13 team awards that were announced last night.

Knight was a Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist and a second-team All-American after registering career-highs in points (49), assists (33) and goals (16). His 33 assists, which tied for third nationally, made him UND’s first player to put together back-to-back 30-assist seasons since current Minnesota Wild star Zach Parise (2002-04).

Knight also earned All-WCHA Second Team honors and was named to the NCAA West Region All-Tournament Team. He led the nation with a career-high 623 faceoff wins, 120 more than any other player and second-most in UND single-season history. A two-time WCHA Offensive Player of the Week and the national player of the month in December, Knight put together a 19-game point streak that was UND’s longest in 25 years.

UND’s other team award recipients included:

Cliff "Fido" Purpur Award: Danny Kristo (Sr. || Forward || Eden Prairie, Minn.)

• Award is given to the player who exemplifies hard work, determination and being a creator of excitement on the ice
• Was a Hobey Baker Award finalist, first-team All-American and the College Hockey News Player of the Year
• Tied for second nationally with career-high 52 points and led WCHA with career-high 26 goals

Archie Krum Memorial Athletic Scholarship: Andrew MacWilliam (Sr. || Defense || Calgary, Alberta)

• Award is given to the player who demonstrates leadership qualities, high academic standards, athletic excellence
• Team captain was named to third straight Academic All-WCHA Team and was NCAA West Region All-Tournament Team selection
• Appeared in all 42 games and set career highs for points (13) and assists (11)

Tom Hoghaug Memorial Scholarship: Colten St. Clair (Fr. || Forward || Gilbert, Ariz.)

• Award is given to the freshman who demonstrates initiative, character and a sense of responsibility
• Appeared in 40 games and collected three goals and seven assists

Rookie of the Year: Rocco Grimaldi (Fr. || Forward || Rossmoor, Calif.)

• Led all WCHA rookies and ranked third nationally with 36 points in 40 games
• Led the nation’s freshmen with 147 shots on goal

Most Improved Player: Dillon Simpson (Jr. || Defense || Edmonton, Alberta)

• Appeared in all 42 games and led UND defensemen with career-high 24 points
• Also had career highs in goals (5) and assists (19)

Coaches' Unsung Hero Award: Joe Gleason (Sr. || Defense || Edina, Minn.)

• Played in 41 games and set career highs in points (18), goals (5) and assists (13)
• WCHA nominee for Derek Hines National Unsung Hero Award

Virg Foss 3-Star Award: Danny Kristo (Sr. || Forward || Eden Prairie, Minn.)

• Award is given to the player who receives the most 3-star voting points from the print media following home games
• Won award for second consecutive season
• Was a Hobey Baker Award finalist, first-team All-American and the College Hockey News Player of the Year
• Tied for second nationally with career-high 52 points and led WCHA with career-high 26 goals

North Dakota (22-13-7, 14-7-7 WCHA) qualified for the NCAA postseason tournament for the 11^th consecutive season, the longest active streak in Division I men’s hockey. UND advanced to the NCAA West Region final, where it was defeated by eventual-NCAA champion Yale

UND 6th in USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll

February 25, 2013

	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Quinnipiac	(37)	23- 4-5	975	1
2	Minnesota	(10)	21- 6-5	948	2
3	Miami	( 2)	21- 8-5	907	3
4	Boston College	( 1)	18- 8-3	835	4
5	New Hampshire		17- 8-5	770	5
6	North Dakota		17- 9-6	734	6
7	St. Cloud State		19-12-1	670	7
8	Western Michigan		18- 8-8	650	8
9	Minnesota State		20- 9-3	635	9
10	Denver		16-10-5	515	10
11	Notre Dame		19-12-3	489	11
12	Massachusetts-Lowell		18- 9-2	487	12
13	Nebraska-Omaha		18-12-2	356	14
14	Niagara		21- 6-5	335	16
15	Yale		14-10-3	323	13
16	Wisconsin		14-10-7	237	18
17	Merrimack		14-11-6	199	17
18	Dartmouth		13-10-4	119	19
19	Boston University		14-14-2	112	15
20	Providence		13-10-7	80	NR
Others receiving votes: Rensselaer 57, St. Lawrence 36, Union 14, Ferris State 12, Alaska 3, Robert Morris 2.

Division I College Hockey Scoring Leaders

Scoring Leaders

Related articles

• This weekend's NCAA Division one television schedule (2/15 - 2/17) (thehockeywriters.com)

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll; UND 7th

February 11, 2013

	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Quinnipiac	(41)	21- 3-4	983	2
2	Minnesota	( 9)	19- 5-4	949	1
3	Miami		18- 7-5	874	3
4	Boston College		16- 7-2	819	5
5	New Hampshire		16- 7-3	779	4
6	Western Michigan		18- 7-5	748	6
7	North Dakota		16- 8-6	720	7
8	St. Cloud State		18-11-1	657	8
9	Minnesota State		18- 9-3	559	11
10	Yale		13- 6-3	557	10
11	Denver		15- 9-5	495	9
12	Notre Dame		18-11-1	478	11
13	Boston University		13-11-1	331	13
14	Massachusetts-Lowell		14- 9-2	317	16
15	Niagara		18- 5-5	299	15
16	Nebraska-Omaha		16-12-2	274	14
17	Dartmouth		11- 8-4	216	17
18	Wisconsin		12- 9-7	158	19
19	Merrimack		13-10-5	151	20
20	Alaska		13-11-4	57	NR
Others receiving votes: Union 40, Providence 16, Ferris State 12, Northern Michigan 5, Colgate 2, St. Lawrence 2, Holy Cross 1, Rensselaer 1.

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/#ixzz2KelxPAVd

While the polls don’t really matter, I do have to admit that I am surprised that UND swept the UNO Mavericks and stayed at seventh. Looking at the top of the poll, and seeing Quinnipiac Bobcats sitting there, makes one wonder.