Dave Berger

2023 NCHC Frozen Faceoff Preview: North Dakota vs. St. Cloud State Discuss. Dave

2023 NCHC Frozen Faceoff Preview: North Dakota vs. St. Cloud State Discuss. Dave

2023 NCHC Frozen Faceoff Preview: North Dakota vs. St. Cloud State Discuss. Dave

If UND knocks off a #1 seed in Fargo, that would feel like more than just "meh" to me. Dave

One key storyline next weekend is that Denver is absolutely locked in (100% of all scenarios) as the #3 overall seed in the NCAA tournament and St. Cloud State is nearly locked in (98%) as the #7 overall seed. By contrast, Colorado College and North Dakota need to win two games at the X to keep playing. Dave

NCHC Playoff Preview: North Dakota at Omaha Discuss. Dave

NCHC Playoff Preview: North Dakota at Omaha Discuss. Dave

NCHC Playoff Preview: North Dakota at Omaha Discuss. Dave

I know that was the stat displayed inside the arena on Saturday night, but it's actually the 2nd time in 21 years (or the 3rd time in 28 years)... March 8-9, 2002 at Minnesota (2-7 L, 3-4 OTL) March 15-16, 2019 at Denver (0-2 L, 2-4 L) Prior to 2002, the last time UND was on the road for the first round of the conference playoffs was in 1995. The last time UND had home ice and did not advance to the league semifinals was in 1996. That means that from 1997-2022, North Dakota hosted the first round 22 times and advanced 22 times. During that stretch, UND went on the road twice and got swept twice, missing the WCHA Final Five in 2002 and the NCHC Frozen Faceoff in 2019. (There was no NCHC tourney in 2020, and the format was modified in 2021.) Dave

Weekend Preview: North Dakota vs. Omaha Discuss. Dave

Weekend Preview: North Dakota vs. Omaha Discuss. Dave

Alaska's strength of schedule is 31st. Dave

Alaska's strength of schedule is 31st, right in the middle of the pack. Here are the teams with at least 20 victories and a more difficult schedule than Alaska (20-10-2): Minnesota (25-8-1): 3rd toughest schedule Denver (26-8-0): 13th Michigan (20-11-3): 2nd Penn State (20-13-1): 6th Western Michigan (21-12-1): 11th Boston University (22-10-0): 19th Michigan Tech (22-9-4): 23rd Minnesota State (21-12-1): 15th And that's it. Dave

Down The Home Stretch: Where Will North Dakota finish in the NCHC standings? Discuss. Dave

Weekend Preview: UND at Colorado College Discuss. Dave

Weekend Preview: North Dakota vs. St. Cloud State Discuss. Dave

I was alluding to the fact that the 2015-16 blueliners averaged 0.48 points per contest (24-91-115 in 241 combined games played), and this year's squad is above that number (0.53). But your point is well made. The championship d-corps chipped in offensively while also allowing just 1.84 goals per game (2nd-best in the nation), while this year's team is allowing 3.14 (45th). I'll update the article to clarify. Thanks! Dave

Weekend Preview: North Dakota vs. St. Cloud State Discuss. Dave

Spot on regarding Michael Emerson and Jayden Perron. Full article regarding the 2023-24 roster will drop later this week, but I will say that Cody Croal (2003 birthdate) is most likely the third forward in (if necessary), followed by Jaksen Panzer (2004). Singleton (also 2004) went back to the AJHL this season and most likely will come in Fall of 2024. Aside from the two certain losses up front (Hain and Senden), the other forwards to watch (in order of flight risk) are Caulfield, Gaber, Montgomery, Albrecht, Kunz, and Costantini. Dave

Down The Home Stretch: Who Will Win The 2023 Penrose Cup? This article also dives into my predicted order of finish in the NCHC. DIscuss. Dave

Weekend Preview: UND at Denver Discuss. Dave

The piece of cod which passes all understanding...

Weekend Preview: UND at Miami Discuss. Dave

Weekend Preview: UND vs. Minnesota Duluth Discuss. Dave

Weekend Preview: UND vs. Western Michigan Discuss. Dave