UND Crushes Miami, 7-1. Advances to the Frozen Faceoff

There's an old hockey cliche: It's very hard to end a team's season. On Saturday night, the UND hockey team looked like a determined team. They were determined not to play game three. It was pretty straightforward: Lose to the lowly RedHawks, and they'd be back on the ice on Sunday night. Mission accomplished: When the final horn sounded, the Hawks left no doubt as they crushed the Miami RedHawks 7-1 and sent them home looking for answers. 

Seven different players scored goals for UND - at the 13:17 mark of the first period, Riese Gaber scored his 18th goal of the season to give UND a 1-0 lead. Gaber is two short of 20 goals, and if he can reach 20 goals, it will be the first time since the 2005-06 season that three UND players have had 20 or more goals: Drew Stafford, 24; Jonathan Towes, 22; and T.J. Oshie, 24.

The Hawks scored another in the second and five in the third period to blow the game open. It was an impressive win against a bad hockey team. 

In one of the nice stories of the year, graduate forward Hunter Johannes scored the first UND goal of the season at Ralph and the last goal of the season at Ralph. This was a player that wanted to play at UND but didn't get the opportunity. After playing three seasons at AIC, he transferred to Lindenwood College. Due to COVID-19, he benefited from having a fifth year and transferred to UND—his dream school. He's made the most of his opportunity. 

The three stars of the game were 1st star Jackson Blake (1g-2a-3pts), 2nd Star Jackson Kunz (1g-2a-3pts), and third star of the game Hobie Hedquist 28 saves. It was the second multipoint game of Kunz's career and the first three-point game of his career. Kunz has (5g-6a-11pts) in his last 13 games. When asked about having his first three-point game of his career, Kunz was pretty low-key.

"I don't like talking about myself too much," Kunz said. "You're playing with good players, making one pass, and you don't know what they will do with it. I'm lucky to be able to be out there with the guys we have."

It didn't matter what the RedHawks game plan was; the Fighting Hawks had an answer for everything they tried. When a shot got through, the defense either blocked it, or freshman goalie Hobie Hedquist saved it. 

"We had the puck on our stick," Miami head coach Chris Bergeron said. "(We) don't do what we're asking them to do; we turn the puck over to the wrong guy, and it's one zero." 

This past weekend, UND's starting goalie was out with an undisclosed issue (injury or illness). During Saturday's post-game press conference, Brad Schlossman asked UND head coach Brad Berry for an update on his starting goalie. It was Mum's the word. 

"We're not going to divulge very much information because it's the playoffs," Berry said. "As the week progresses, we'll share more information, but right now, it's undisclosed." 

No matter what the issue was, UND didn't need Persson. The rookie phenom stopped 51 of 53 shots (.962). During the first period of Saturday's game, Hedquist was tested early and made quite a few difficult stops. 

Hedquist's play caught the eye of the Miami coach.

"For a guy who hasn't played much, he hasn't lost yet; he's 5-0 over 90 save percentage," Bergeron said. "They don't have bad players here. Whether he's played a bunch or not that much, he's proven he's a good player."

During the post-game press conference, I asked Coach Berry if he was tempted to ride a hot goalie and start him on Friday at the Frozen Faceoff. 

"Yeah, everything's on the table, Berry said. "You've known us long enough that we will put a lineup together that gives us a chance to win. We have two very good goaltenders. Hobie proved himself now, and Ludvig proved himself in the past. We will go through the week here. We'll keep moving forward. It's nice to know guys get to come in and contribute."

Goon’s Takeaways: UND Sweeps Alaska With 6-2 Win

Entering the weekend, UND juggled their forward lines to spark offensive output. Head coach Brad Berry put Hunter Johannes, Cameron Berg, and Riese Gaber on the top line. That line got hot and sparked UND. When the weekend was over, the Hawks had scored 12 goals. 
For the weekend, the top line scored (7g-4a--11pts). 

Mission Accomplished.

UND swept the Nanooks in a convincing fashion (6-4 W and 6-2 W). UND finishes the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 9-2-1 record, its best mark since the 2019-20 season (9-1-1). 

UND captain Riese Gaber racked up (3g-3a--6pts); he also scored two of his three goals on the power play. After this weekend's play, Gaber now has six multi-point games and recorded back-to-back games with at least three points for the first time in his career. 

Junior forward Cameron Berg is getting hot at the right time. He has scored (8g-6a--14pts) in the last 12 games. Berg is fourth on the team in points with (9g-10a--19pts). 

Another player who had an outstanding weekend was sophomore forward Owen McLaughlin; he had a five-point weekend scoring (2g-3a--5pts). In 20 games, McLaughlin has scored (7g-13a--20pts), and he's a plus-six. 

Last night, grad student defenseman Garrett Pyke extended his point streak to seven games with an assist. This past weekend, he had three assists against his former team. Pyke has points in eight of the last nine games (2g-7a--9pts). In 20 games with UND, Pyke has (2g-15a--17pts). 

UND has now gone 13 straight games without a regulation loss, dating back to the 3-2 loss on November 3, 2023, at Boston University. 

 

Goon's Takeaways: CC Beat UND 3-2 in OT

Friday night in Grand Forks, the University of North Dakota hockey team opened their two-game conference series against the Colorado College Tigers. This is the last series before the new year. UND would take a two-goal lead with goals from Dylan James and Louis Jamernik V. Then the momentum swung in CC's favor. 

At the 18:10 mark of the second period, UND was the power play when graduate forward Hunter Johannes took an ill-advised, undisciplined penalty in the O-Zone to negate UND's power play. Head coach Brad Berry was unhappy with the undisciplined play in the post-game press conference. It was a bad penalty to take. 

"When you're on a power play trying to score a goal, that's not the time to take a penalty," Berry said. "That's not being team first." It was a bad night for the hometown team; they were a step slow and looked out of sorts. 

"We got away from our game, our identity at North Dakota, Louis Jamernick V said. "That's playing hard, fast, winning puck battles."

 "It kind of got away from us as far as our game," Berry said. "It crept into the second for sure. Not enough guys going tonight. The Jamernik, Schmaltz, and James line were very good for us; they were our top line tonight and played a simple north game. They played fast and played direct, and I didn't think enough of our guys did." 

The Tigers scored three unanswered goals by Noah Laba and Max Burkholder to win 3-2 in OT. It was UND's second straight 3-2 loss in overtime and the first time this season they've dropped back-to-back games. The frustrating thing for the UND players and their fans is that UND held CC to zero shots in the final 22 minutes of the contest (third period and OT) until CC's Laba scored the game-winning goal. 

The Tigers 3-2 OT win snapped a 15-game unbeaten streak for UND, who hadn't lost to the Tigers since Mar. 1, 2019. 

You can watch the highlights below if you haven't seen the game. 

             

UND Beats Miami 6-4 in Game One

The University of North Dakota hockey team opened their conference schedule at home with a 6-4 win against the Miami RedHawks. 

UND Scored two in the first period, three in the second period and one in the third period. At the 11:59 mark of the first period, graduate forward Hunter Johannes would get UND on the board with this beautful goal from the top of the circles. That was goal number six of the year. Assists Cameron Berg and Jackson Blake.

On the prowl again!#UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/yh12Z4PB7k

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 18, 2023

At the 14:32 mark of the first period, freshman forward Jayden Perron would give UND a 2-0 lead with his sixth goal of the seasons. Assists by Hunter Johannes, Cameron Berg. Perron has yet to record an assist, he has 6 goals in 11 games. Johannes now has two multi-point games on the season. Last season, he has seven multi-point games with Lindenwood. 

Follow your shot, kids!#UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/2uA4KdPgec

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 18, 2023

At the 7:52 mark of the second period, Owen McLauglin give UND a 3-0 lead. Assists Jackson Blake and Riese Gaber.

Their connection is special. #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/vB4kMpnyhF

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 18, 2023

Miami would get two quick goals less than a minutes apart by PJ Fletcher, and Matthew Barbolini. Unfortunately, the RedHawks didn't post the goals on their Twitter page.

At the 12:42 mark of the second period, UND would take a two goal lead with a goal from Jackson Blake. The RedHawks would challenge the goal for a handpass, but the goal would stand.

Oh nothing, just Jackson's third game this season with at least three points. #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/XmjrfwawwQ

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 18, 2023

Less than two minutes later, senior forward Carson Albrecht assist Owen McLaughlin. In the pregame, I was talking to Virg Foss and he said that Albrecht was going to score tonight. He's also add an assist later in the game.

200-foot player! #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/LgQD3Knyh1

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 18, 2023

UND didn't take long to open the scoring in the third period. Seven seconds in sophomore forward Dylan James would give UND a 6-2 lead. That would close out the scoring or UND. Albrecht would pick up the assist.

DJ, turn it up! #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/QQPToGSdEQ

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 18, 2023

Miami would scored to goals in the final two minutes of the game to make the score 6-4.

UND Graduate Forward Hunter Johannes is Turning Heads

This season, if you have watched the UND hockey team play, you will have noticed number 28, Graduate Forward Hunter Johannes. After five games, Johannes is UND's leading goal scorer. He scored UND's first goal of the season, a shorthanded goal. Two of his four goals are shorthanded goals, that also leads UND.  Are you noticing a theme here? Johannes is finding ways to get it done. 

Friday night, entering the second period, UND held a comfortable 4-0 lead over Minnesota State.  At the 9:55 mark of the second period, Johannes would score his fourth goal of the year, to give UND an even more comfortable 5-0 lead. 

This guy just loves scoring goals! #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/nQ8qqYwjj5

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) October 28, 2023

                  

In the post-game press conference, I asked UND head coach Brad Berry if he expected Johannes to be leading the team in goals after five games? 

"Probably didn't think it early on, Berry said. "When he came in here (last January) ... he played at Lindenwood.  He scored against all of the good teams. He scored against us, Denver, Minnesota. He scored against a lot of good teams. So, it's not surprising. The other thing that's not surprising is his work ethic and how he plays so fast.  He makes other teams turn pucks over and he is powerful. When you put all that together, recipe for having a good start."

Johannes works hard in practice and in the weight room. His efforts have shown up in the box scores as goals. That's a good way to stay in the lineup. 

"He's a worker in the weight room," Berry said. "I think he was a guy growing up that never got a lot of accolades or a lot of attention. He's out to prove to people that he can play and that he's doing a good job."

UND Struggles on the Power Play

Last season, the UND power play ended the season ranked second in the nation, ironically, behind this week’s opponent Minnesota State. Last season, UND was a juggernaut on the power play, they scored 27.3 percent of their power plays. This season it’s a different story. Early on, the UND hockey team has struggled on the power play. 

Through four games, UND’s power play is ranked 54th nationally, and has scored a single power-play goal, and is currently sitting at 5.6 percent. While UND isn’t satisfied with their power play, the coaching staff isn’t going to panic UND captain Riese Gaber isn’t worried about the power play.

“I don’t think it’s anything, just chemistry, Gaber said after Friday’s game against Minnesota. “Like I said, we’re all good players and capable of making plays, it’s just not clicking right now, but I’m confident that we’ll get clicking.”

From the interesting fact department; UND’s next opponent sits just below UND and is ranked 55th nationally on the power play. You have to think that both teams will eventually figure it out.

From the fun fact department, UND has scored more short-handed goals than they have power play goals. To date, UND has scored two short-handed goals, that's tied for second nationally. Hunter Johannes has scored both short-handed goals for UND.  (Link to More)

Johannes gets us rolling again! #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/CSA17ZJZs2

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) October 14, 2023