2022-23 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[stoneySIOUX]

8 minutes ago, AJS said:

This team is going to be really good this year. They will be a #1 seed in March. 

I feel the same way. So much good leadership and our defense will be absolute stalwarts. Assuming progression in goal scoring from returners and a bunch of new, highly-skilled forwards, we have something cookin.

[AJS]

The #1 seed guarantee is based on a few things. Defensively they'll be elite. Goaltending above average. Offensively, an average / slightly above average NCHC Top 6, but where I really think this team will shine offensively is the bottom 6 / depth. I was thinking what forward group this team reminds me of and I thought 2019 had a lot of similarities. Coming off a very down year, they would come at you in waves. This is going to be a fun year.

[scpa0305]

2 hours ago, The Sicatoka said:

Jandric - Johnson leaves me wondering who's managing the defensive zone. 

They’re another year older.

[scpa0305]

1 hour ago, The Sicatoka said:

I've guessed at: 

Kleven - Frisch
Jandric - Farmer

... then an epic weekly battle for the third pair slots. 

I've pondered to some that Moore-Johnson-Bast-Sidorski would be the top four on about half the college teams out there.
< convince me I'm wrong meme here > 

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/333842/ryan-sidorski

[The Sicatoka]

28 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/333842/ryan-sidorski

Not sure if you are saying Sidorski doesn't meet my "top four other places" notion? At Union his last season ... 

Quote

Finished fourth on the team in ice time at nearly 18 minutes per contest … Ranked among the top-5 on the team in each season for blocked shots, including sitting third in 2021-22 with 40 ... 

He got play at Union. 

[siouxfaninseattle]

I'm sure this will be a good team but I'm not quite as optimistic as some are. I don't see this team winning as many draws as the past couple of teams. Scoring could be challenging too. There seems to be a lot of confidence in the freshmen, and not much scoring punch coming back (Gaber excepted). Certainly, will be a tournament team.

[stoneySIOUX]

21 minutes ago, siouxfaninseattle said:

I'm sure this will be a good team but I'm not quite as optimistic as some are. I don't see this team winning as many draws as the past couple of teams. Scoring could be challenging too. There seems to be a lot of confidence in the freshmen, and not much scoring punch coming back (Gaber excepted). Certainly, will be a tournament team.

This team will possess the puck just fine, IMO. They may not win A LOT of draws, but they are loaded with big, strong, fast bodies that will dig out pucks. 

Guys like Schmaltz, Costantini, Judd, Kunz, Portz should all take scoring steps. That's 30+ goals from those guys. Hain was having a fantastic start to his season and along with contributors like Sendo and Jammer, they should AT LEAST score as much as they did last year. With them adding high impact freshmen to a deep and skilled d-corps, I think you may be a little bit underselling the scoring punch. We'll be average to above average in goal scoring. Pair that with a top tier D and solid goaltending, you have a very good to great team. 

[scpa0305]

6 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

This team will possess the puck just fine, IMO. They may not win A LOT of draws, but they are loaded with big, strong, fast bodies that will dig out pucks. 

Guys like Schmaltz, Costantini, Judd, Kunz, Portz should all take scoring steps. That's 30+ goals from those guys. Hain was having a fantastic start to his season and along with contributors like Sendo and Jammer, they should AT LEAST score as much as they did last year. With them adding high impact freshmen to a deep and skilled d-corps, I think you may be a little bit underselling the scoring punch. We'll be average to above average in goal scoring. Pair that with a top tier D and solid goaltending, you have a very good to great team. 

Agreed, this team will be really good.  Not a ton of raw skill at the upperclassmen level, but hopefully there’s enough grit to score. Hopefully they play a possession game, last year’s dump and chase mentality was tough to watch at times.

[tnt]

1 hour ago, siouxfaninseattle said:

I'm sure this will be a good team but I'm not quite as optimistic as some are. I don't see this team winning as many draws as the past couple of teams. Scoring could be challenging too. There seems to be a lot of confidence in the freshmen, and not much scoring punch coming back (Gaber excepted). Certainly, will be a tournament team.

As we saw from St. Cloud last year, nothing is a given.  The pieces are there, but they still need to have done their work over the summer, and chemistry is always huge in the scheme of things. I think bringing back Hain and Senden gives us a good start at maintaining the ethic that needs to be a constant.  You can bet a few losses early in the year will have people jumping off the ledge, as that was the case last year with a team almost starting over.  Freshmen still have a learning curve, but if they can contribute, I like the returning guys and the transfers to fill in any gaps until they figure it out on both ends.

[ChadR]

On 9/9/2022 at 3:47 PM, scpa0305 said:

Agreed, this team will be really good.  Not a ton of raw skill at the upperclassmen level, but hopefully there’s enough grit to score. Hopefully they play a possession game, last year’s dump and chase mentality was tough to watch at times.

Blake will have 30+ pts this year. James won't be far beinhd.

[scpa0305]

3 hours ago, ChadR said:

Blake will have 30+ pts this year. James won't be far beinhd.

Really like the optimism. If they get close to what you’re preaching I’ll be a happy camper

[siouxvblove]

Late to the party, just made my account but glad we got the transfer from Michigan State. Gotta deepen the roster to get where we need to be this season

[Wilbur]

On 9/10/2022 at 8:16 PM, ChadR said:

Blake will have 30+ pts this year. James won't be far beinhd.

I think he's got a great opportunity too.  The kid just finds ways at whatever level he's at to get on the score sheet.  Excited to see who he's with with early in the year.  Hopefully Gaber at some point.   

[fightingsioux4life]

15 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

I think he's got a great opportunity too.  The kid just finds ways at whatever level he's at to get on the score sheet.  Excited to see who he's with with early in the year.  Hopefully Gaber at some point.   

Gaber will have fun playing with these freshmen.

[The Sicatoka]

On 9/10/2022 at 8:16 PM, ChadR said:

Blake will have 30+ pts this year. James won't be far beinhd.

WET BLANKET ALERT:

Matteo Costantini had a very good freshman campaign last year: 35 GP, 21 pts. 

You're telling me you believe there'll be two guys that blow through that like nothin'. I hope you're right, but color me skeptical. 

[sioux rube]

9 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

WET BLANKET ALERT:

Matteo Costantini had a very good freshman campaign last year: 35 GP, 21 pts. 

You're telling me you believe there'll be two guys that blow through that like nothin'. I hope you're right, but color me skeptical. 

Very skeptical but yes prove us wrong 

[burd]

I'd be interested in knowing how you all think this team will match up against DU and UMD.  Not which teams are best based on talent and experience, but how the Hawks will match up against the kind of teams those two will put on the ice--the kinds of forechecks they use, neutral zone defenses, etc.  I single those two teams out there because they will likely be factors in both the conference and NCAA championships, plus the fact that we fans are always comparing our recruits to theirs as if they are the standard we are measured against.  

[stoneySIOUX]

11 minutes ago, burd said:

I'd be interested in knowing how you all think this team will match up against DU and UMD.  Not which teams are best based on talent and experience, but how the Hawks will match up against the kind of teams those two will put on the ice--the kinds of forechecks they use, neutral zone defenses, etc.  I single those two teams out there because they will likely be factors in both the conference and NCAA championships, plus the fact that we fans are always comparing our recruits to theirs as if they are the standard we are measured against.  

I think this team will certainly not lack in speed or tenacity. There are too many upperclassmen who know the routine. To be able to get through heavy forecheck, those are two very big factors. Another element to get through heavy forecheck, defense is skill. I think we have a nice influx of skill in our freshmen and I do expect a couple of players to make solid progression. We'll see, but I am certainly hopeful. 

[The Sicatoka]

1 hour ago, stoneySIOUX said:

There are too many upperclassmen who know the routine. 

College hockey is an upperclassman's game. 

There isn't much you can show those guys that they won't say, "Oh, that < bleep > again. Nice try. Whatever." and just go about their business. 

[hockey1]

Bemidji State is having a pre-sale going on for tickets. Does anyone have the pre-sale code?

[The Sicatoka]

More doom and gloom grist for @gfhockey:

• UND Volleyball has ten at six foot or taller.
• UND Hockey only has eleven in that category! 

They're barely taller than women's volleyball! Oh-noes! 

Fire Bubs!   

[Kevin G]

3 hours ago, The Sicatoka said:

More doom and gloom grist for @gfhockey:

• UND Volleyball has ten at six foot or taller.
• UND Hockey only has eleven in that category! 

They're barely taller than women's volleyball! Oh-noes! 

Fire Bubs!   

Their net is higher though. In volleyball inches, our boys are like eleven feet tall.

[stoneySIOUX]

Ness was back at practice today, FYI. Apparently nothing big. Been putting in and working on systems the past week or so, so not a lot of line building. DeRidder looking sharp. Was told he's very calm in the net and very technical.

[brianvf]

5 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

Ness was back at practice today, FYI. Apparently nothing big. Been putting in and working on systems the past week or so, so not a lot of line building. DeRidder looking sharp. Was told he's very calm in the net and very technical.

Thanks for the updates, appreciate it as the excitement builds toward the new season starting!

I feel that DeRidder will have a good year in net.  He's never had a team (especially d-corps) as good in front of him as what he'll have this year.

[SiouxFan100]

We might not lose a game all year