I picked Will Zellers Scoring the OT Winner; Are Winning Lottery Tickets Next?

 

Last Saturday night, history repeated itself; for the eighth series in a row, the University of North Dakota hockey team went to overtime in one of their games against the Bemidji State Beavers. Let's set the stage. It was game two in Grand Forks, ND. As the regulation ended, the two teams were tied 1-1. 

Lightning had struck again. We got another overtime period of free hockey.  

Typically, while attending a UND hockey game, I am flanked by my good friend Virg Foss. On this particular weekend, Foss wasn't feeling well. He stayed home because he wasn't feeling well. He sent me a DM and asked me, "Who's your pick for the winning goal? Either team." I replied, "Zellers." Virg said, "Kernan for us and Vig for them." My reply, "We are winning this game, Virg." 

Here's why I didn't go with a pick for the Beavers: this year's UND hockey team has a killer instinct and is getting better with each week. While last year's team didn't have the mental makeup to finish games, this team thrives on adversity. On this particular night, I was lucky. Yes, I did buy a Powerball ticket this week. 

I have another prediction: Zellers is only going to get better in the second half of the season. He's got a deadly shot and is tied for the lead in goals with Ben Strinden, with nine goals. The Boston Bruins must be happy they drafted him. 

So it happened. 

Sweep vibes #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/6M3WUBO30j

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 30, 2025

   This week, Foss talked about our exchange in his Hawk-Eye Talk article.   

Hawk-ey Talk with Virg Foss: Pick The Winnerhttps://t.co/0cU36eN8oP#UNDproud | #LGH

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) December 5, 2025

Foss Nails it - yet again!

If you haven’t read this article by Virg Foss, it’s worth a look. I have always been a big fan of Foss’ work because he puts a lot of emotion into his work and he paints a nice picture with his elegant words.

That’s not a slam on anyone – because the WCHA is blessed with some awesome beat writers starting with UND’s Brad Schlossman – I just like his writing style.

I might date myself here, I can also remember when Foss covered Fighting Sioux Hockey until he retired in the mid 2000’s.

Virg Foss, Grand Forks Herald --- Officially, the days of the Fighting Sioux athletic teams are past. It will be years before another nickname may be adopted.

I’m fine with that indefinite delay. I see reporters are calling UND the “Green-and-White” on occasion in some sports stories and I guess that’s OK. When I think of Green-and-White locally, though, I think of East Grand Forks Senior High, not UND.

It does limit writers/broadcasters when a team has no nickname, I grant you that. And maybe if I covered the UND teams on a regular basis, I’d tire of typing “UND” over and over.

In times long ago, UND’s teams used be called the NoDaks and carried a nickname of the Flickertails.

I’d rather see occasional use of NoDaks than Green-and-White. The Flickertails can remain in the dusty archives, as far as I’m concerned.

Without a nickname now for the teams, I for one prefer the use of North Dakota. Plain and simple, just North Dakota. We are North Dakota.

It’s a proud name, and yes, it is who we are who live in this state.

I am not sure that I am sold on Green and White either – I have only used it once in a post – I am not sure that it rolls off of the tongue or the finger tips but like Foss said, “and maybe if I covered the UND teams on a regular basis, I’d tire of typing “UND” over and over.”

While reading his post-game report in the Herald on Friday night, I saw that Brad used Green and White in the title. Is this the beginning of something new? I don’t know; but we have a long time to be creative until UND comes up with a new name.

Whether people like it or not – Green and White does kind of fill the void by the loss of a historic nickname – although there was no memo released from the UND athletic department this time around – the writers are no longer refer to UND as the Fighting Sioux. Like it or not – most of us old school fans don’t.

No matter what the name becomes there is going to be someone that doesn’t like the new nickname. This is where I think that branding matters.

This is also the reason I am for not being in a hurry to pick something else for a nickname. I have a bad feeling we’re going to get stuck with a really bad nickname that few of us can get behind. I would rather have no nickname and use “Green and White” than to have a nickname that I will never be able to get behind. What do you think?