brianvf

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/after-difficult-summer-ben-strinden-is-having-the-most-fun-year-of-hockey-ive-ever-had

All I'm asking for is the team to get over 30 wins this season. That isn't so hard, is it?

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-practice-journal-fighting-hawks-skate-in-denny-sanford-premier-center

One of the Bubble Bros won the weekly shootout:

This part will be interesting. The whole year seemed like a down year for HEA typical power schools. It'll be interesting to see if that disparity plays out on the ice. Not just for UND, but for all the teams playing the HEA teams in the first round.

Getting to be that time of year. When the season could be over at anytime. Seems crazy to me how quickly it comes each season....

Schloss piece on 5 things to know about Merrimack: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/5-things-to-know-about-unds-first-round-opponent-merrimack Essentially... They are hot...7 game unbeaten streak. They have a stud goalie that has played every minute of every game for them this season. They have four NHL draft picks...one of them being ex-UND player Emerson. They block a ton of shots...2nd in the NCAA behind only Robert Morris. Their top 2 lines are excellent...5 of the 6 have 13+ goals.

Just one thing left to do then. Win the whole effin thing.

Schloss article on how UND might handle the Boisvert "legacy" now that he's in the NHL: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/schlossman-how-will-und-handle-sacha-boisverts-legacy

Agreed, for sure. You don't tell those two guys to wait a year (and risk them de-committing) unless you have something already in place.

I saw that stat as well, and it matches with the UConn HEA final game. UConn had them hemmed in their zone for shifts at a time. Mack's goalie played well, but some of the shots were just dumb luck that they didn't go in for UConn. If UND gets that many chances in tight, I like their chances. Merrimack seemed to do a really good job blocking shots, but the number of high quality chances that they gave up was pretty crazy.

Same.

I’m rooting for MSUM out of that region. Doubt it will happen but I sure don’t want DU or WMU potentially playing for another title. DU for obvious reasons. WMU…a large % of their fan base acts like they have won a ton of titles after their one win last year. So it wouldn’t upset me if they bowed out as well.

CHN "Experts" Pick 'em: https://www.collegehockeynews.com/reports/ncaa/picksRegionals.php Every single one picked MSU out of their regional. All but one picked Michigan out of their regional. Only one picked WMU, most of the rest went DU with one MSUM. UND gets 5 of 9 picks, with the rest going Providence. McMahon is the only one picking Mack over UND in 1st round.

They'll need to boost up the NIL this summer if they want to get the Ruck bros.

Herald SF regional preview: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/ncaa-sioux-falls-regional-at-a-glance Didn't realize that UND has the #2 FR scoring class in the country, behind only QU.

Young facing his old team: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/tyler-young-set-to-face-former-team-in-ncaa-tournament

Beauty of a goal from Schmaltz. Of course he stripped the puck from behind...how many times did he do that his soph season at UND?

Hagens from BC signs an ATO with Boston and will start in the AHL. Kind of an odd move, but he still could technically go back to BC. Doubt that would happen though.

Article on Smaby: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/matt-smaby-hopes-experiences-have-prepped-und-for-ncaa-tournament

Ziemer heading to MSU?

Strinden

They really narrowed it down.