Dustin

This year's team definitely seems to have that sought-after mix of upper-class defensemen, dynamic scoring youth, and rock solid goaltending. I can't think of a game situation where I wouldn't trust the players to either win a big faceoff, make a big save, or provide relentless sustained pressure.

I would say it's somewhat likely to have a game against WMU in Grand Forks in March.

Agree, we will be net positive in '26 vs. '25.

I think the post was made tongue-in-cheek, knowing that "benching" a player for a weekend with no games was inconsequential.

Current NPI would have a regional (presumably Sioux Falls) look like this: (3) UND vs. (14) BC (6) UMD vs (11) Dartmouth

I can’t claim to know anything about coaching hockey, but that seemed to be Hakstol’s biggest plague - he didn’t/couldn’t/wouldn’t adjust from his 4 line rotation. While Hak certainly had some great teams, the 4 line depth of this year’s team seems capable enough to just be rolled one after the other.

Glad it worked out for Homer to start against his old team in his old arena and get the win. Also glad we don’t have think about it anymore. On to Špunar.

"He's got nicknames!"

I agree with this. Would be a good (and the right) opportunity to keep any rust from forming.

Great win.

Providence wins it in OT on another BC turnover.

Two brutal defensive zone turnovers by BC led directly to Providence's goals. They lead now 2-1, despite being outshot something like 15-5.

Providence vs BC on ESPNU. Two on-the-bubble teams.

Characters like Hakstol, Woog, Lucia, and Gwozdecky sure added an extra element to the rivalries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwOAbc18NZs The Gospel according to Pat Sweeney.

YES!! What an all-time classic.

When the NCHC was forming (2011), Notre Dame had recently played in a National Championship game (2008 - lost to Boston College), and did again shortly after play began (2018 - lost to Minn-Duluth), so they were at very worst an equivalent hockey school to some of the schools we did end up with. Plus, the conference is called the National Collegiate Hockey Conference - few schools have a "national" branding like Notre Dame.

My recollection is that Notre Dame's TV contract with NBC was a sticking point in getting a conference TV deal.

Wisco gets one back. 4-2.

Now 4-1 Mich St. with 3 mins left in 2nd.

Random though - I think Wisconsin and Michigan State are my two favorite B1G hockey teams. I read the comment above on Notre Dame, and if they did the leave the B1G, I would absolutely want them in the NCHC. Should have been a charter member. Probably the only missed calculation by the NCHC.

3-1 Mich St. now.

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/college/back-at-und-danny-freund-excited-to-reunite-with-quarterback-jerry-kaminski

I mean, I start listing random guesses of players from the 1987 team, but the more interesting thing to me is that there are no ads on the boards. When did that start?

I think Danny really wants to be at UND. He already was here a long time, and I don't think he would have left had Bubba not hung on for too long. But, the experience he gained by leaving makes him far more valuable now than had he not left at all. Welcome back, Danny! Looking forward to you and Eric taking UND football to new heights.