NCHC Suspends Troy Stecher

Junior defenseman Troy Stecher has been given a one-game suspension by the NCHC for game-ending checking from behind penalty. Almost immediately following the game, there were whispers about Stecher missing this Friday's game against the UNO Mavericks. This is a big loss for UND, but there's enough depth to make it through the weekend.

This is a dangerous hit, and the type of hit we would like to see illuminated from all levels of hockey. If you watch the video embed above above, at the end of the video, is the hit in question.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) has issued a one-game suspension to North Dakota junior defenseman Troy Stecher, in accordance with the conference’s supplemental discipline policy, the NCHC announced Tuesday, Feb. 23. The suspension stems from an illegal hit during UND’s game against Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 20.

Stecher was suspended after the review of a play in which a hit was delivered to the back of a Minnesota Duluth player at 20:00 of the third period Saturday at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks. A major penalty for checking from behind and a game misconduct were assessed on the play.

Stecher will be required to serve the suspension during UND’s next game, which is Friday, Feb. 26 at Omaha. Stecher is eligible to return for the Fighting Hawks in the series finale with the Mavericks on Saturday, Feb. 27 at Baxter Arena in Omaha.

UND vs. Simon Fraser exhibition game lines

UND forward lines

9 Drake Caggiula–19 Rocco Grimaldi–27 Luke Johnson

26 Coltyn Sanderson–16 Mitch MacMillan–15 Michael Parks (A)
28 Stephane Pattyn (A) –13 Connor Gaarder–11 Derek Rodwell
17 Colten St. Clair–10 Adam Tambellini–7 Wade Murphy
Extra Forwards 25 Mitch MacMillan– 22  Andrew Panzarella

UND Defense Pairings

18 Dillon Simpson ©–24 Jordan Schmaltz
4 Keaton Thompson–6 Paul LaDue
5 Nick Mattson–2 Troy Stecher

UND goalies

31 Zane Gothberg
30 Matt Hrynkiw

Coltyn Sanderson into the lineup tonight. Clarke Saunders is sick and will not dress. UND dressing 14 forwards, 6 defensemen and 2 goalies.
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDMHockey) January 5, 2014

UND defensemen Stecher, Thompson honored by NCHC

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota defensemen Troy Stecher and Keaton Thompson have garnered weekly honors from the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) for their play in North Dakota’s non-conference split with St. Lawrence last weekend.

Stecher was named the NCHC Defenseman of the Week while Thompson was named the league’s rookie of the week. Miami junior forward Austin Czarnik was named NCHC Offensive Player of the Week and Western Michigan junior Frank Slubowski was named NCHC Goaltender of the Week.

Stecher, a freshman from Richmond, British Columbia, was a +1 each night against St. Lawrence and assisted on Connor Gaarder’s go-ahead, power-play goal late in the second period of Saturday’s 3-2 victory. Stecher helped UND hold the nation’s top power play scoreless in three chances on Saturday and was UND’s only defenseman to register a positive plus/minus in the series.

With a goal and four assists through 14 games this season, Stecher is tied for the team scoring lead among freshmen.

Thompson, also a freshman defenseman, scored his first career goal in Friday’s 5-2 loss. The Devils Lake, N.D., native, who was playing in just his fourth collegiate game, was also a +1 on the night. He posted an even rating the following night in UND’s 3-2 win.

In five games this season, Thompson has one goal and one assist and leads the team with a +2 rating.

UND returns to conference play this weekend with a road series at Western Michigan on Friday and Saturday.

UND’s NCHC Honorees in 2013-14

Nov. 18: Dillon Simpson, Defenseman of the Week

Dec. 2:   Troy Stecher, Defenseman of the Week

              Keaton Thompson, Rookie of the Week

Related articles

• UND Hockey: Age is Just a Number (thehockeywriters.com)
• NCHC Hockey: Dave Starman Shares His Thoughts On The Historic Weekend (thehockeywriters.com)
• NCHC Hockey: Breaking Down the Numbers (thehockeywriters.com)

Ryan Gropp commits to North Dakota

Committed to the University of North Dakota! Very excited for the opportunity #sioux
— Ryan Gropp (@Gropper8) July 5, 2013

Penticton Vees forward Ryan Gropp has committed to play hockey at the University of North Dakota. Gropp is the team mate of Vees captain Troy Stecher who's also committed to the University of North Dakota as well. Gropp is said to be one of the top forwards from the 1996 age group. Gropp is also a team mate of  in coming freshman Wade Murphy who's set to make his debut at UND this fall.

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