2022-23 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[stoneySIOUX]

6 hours ago, Esoteric said:

How likely will they cut Blake?

Very unlikely.

[fightingsioux4life]

14 hours ago, Esoteric said:

How likely will they cut Blake?

If they want to win, they'll keep him on the team. He is a dynamic player, much like his father before him.

[brianvf]

The new Through These Doors has an in-depth look at all the new weight room improvements at REA.
Pretty incredible stuff from the high altitude room to all the new high-tech equipment and recovery area.
I can't imagine there are many NHL arenas that have this type of area available to them...let alone college arenas:

 

[Goon]

19 hours ago, fightingsioux4life said:

If they want to win, they'll keep him on the team. He is a dynamic player, much like his father before him.

Not happening. He's a dynamic player. 

[tnt]

18 minutes ago, Goon said:

Not happening. He's a dynamic player. 

But the way for the U.S. to have a chance at the gold isn't going to be to try outscore teams like Canada, as it would be hard to compete with guys like Shane Wright, Connor Bedard, and Adam Fantilli.   The U.S. might have to have a bunch of guys that are two way players, so you never know what that final roster could look like.  Agree, he should be there, but you never know. 

[Goon]

2 minutes ago, tnt said:

But the way for the U.S. to have a chance at the gold isn't going to be to try outscore teams like Canada, as it would be hard to compete with guys like Shane Wright, Connor Bedard, and Adam Fantilli.   The U.S. might have to have a bunch of guys that are two way players, so you never know what that final roster could look like.  Agree, he should be there, but you never know. 

That's a good point, I guess, I'd be shocked if he's not on the team. 

[tnt]

1 minute ago, Goon said:

That's a good point, I guess, I'd be shocked if he's not on the team. 

Agree, they are going to have to take advantage on the power play, and Blake is a great guy to have with his abilities. 

[The Sicatoka]

Looks like Blake made the 25 credentialed. (See Twitter thread for what that means.) 

 

[brianvf]

BSU gives UND an early Christmas gift by sweeping MSUM.
That enables UND to jump over both of them (and WMU) in the PWR and moves UND to #21. 

Thank you to the Beavers!   

[siouxweet]

10 hours ago, brianvf said:

BSU gives UND an early Christmas gift by sweeping MSUM.
That enables UND to jump over both of them (and WMU) in the PWR and moves UND to #21. 

Thank you to the Beavers!   

Now go and win 6 or 7 games in January to put yourself in position to make a meaningful run in Feb and March.

[cberkas]

22 hours ago, brianvf said:

BSU gives UND an early Christmas gift by sweeping MSUM.
That enables UND to jump over both of them (and WMU) in the PWR and moves UND to #21. 

Thank you to the Beavers!   

Next is the dangerous 4-12-0 that can still a game if not careful.

[brianvf]

 

[Kevin G]

So far this year has been disappointing. So out of curiosity (and hockey boredom) I decided to compare this year's team to Berry's other teams. (Note: I copied and pasted the data from an Excel spreadsheet. Hopefully this works...)

A comparison of each of Brad Berry's eight teams:

	Goals Scored/Game	Goals Allowed/Game	Goal margin/game	Win %	PWR
2015-16	3.68	1.84	+1.84	0.818	3
2016-17	3.18	2.60	+0.58	0.562	10
2017-18	2.93	2.38	+0.55	0.571	14
2018-19	2.51	2.43	+0.08	0.514	20
2019-20	3.86	1.94	+1.92	0.800	1
2020-21	3.93	1.97	+1.96	0.776	2
2021-22	3.05	2.59	+0.46	0.628	7
average	3.31	2.25	+1.06	0.710	8
2022-23	3.42	3.16	+0.26	0.474	21

A few takeaways:

• THREE ONE SIX. The current team's Goals Allowed/Game sticks out like a sore thumb. We haven't seen anything like it in Berry's tenure, and it's not particularly close. It's essentially a goal more per game than the average of Berry's seven other teams. 
• Honestly, the biggest takeaway for me has to do with the 2019-20 and 2020-21 teams. I had already forgotten how good those two teams were. Just look at how they compare with the 2015-16 team.
• You remember correctly: That 2018-19 team just couldn't buy a goal. 
• Hopium: There is still time to improve defensively this season, and (more hopium) I would submit that it's more realistic to improve defensively within a season than to suddenly find a bunch of extra scoring.
• Last bit of hopium: The last time Berry fielded a mediocre team (2018-19), he followed it up with two of the best seasons (albeit without a championship) in UND hockey history. 

 

[Kevin G]

Jackson Blake scored in USA's 5-2 win over Finland in a pre-tournament warmup game. 

[brianvf]

23 minutes ago, Kevin G said:

Jackson Blake scored in USA's 5-2 win over Finland in a pre-tournament warmup game. 

It was a Gaber-esque goal.   

There's a thread over on the Community section about the WJC tourney:

https://forum.siouxsports.com/topic/34502-2023-world-junior-championship/

 

[Kevin G]

1 hour ago, brianvf said:

It was a Gaber-esque goal.   

There's a thread over on the Community section about the WJC tourney:

https://forum.siouxsports.com/topic/34502-2023-world-junior-championship/

 

Ahhh...I was wondering why there was no chatter regarding Blake's goal. I rarely leave the "Men's Hockey" lounge.

[Green Banner]

7 hours ago, Kevin G said:

So far this year has been disappointing. So out of curiosity (and hockey boredom) I decided to compare this year's team to Berry's other teams. (Note: I copied and pasted the data from an Excel spreadsheet. Hopefully this works...)

A comparison of each of Brad Berry's eight teams:

	Goals Scored/Game	Goals Allowed/Game	Goal margin/game	Win %	PWR
2015-16	3.68	1.84	+1.84	0.818	3
2016-17	3.18	2.60	+0.58	0.562	10
2017-18	2.93	2.38	+0.55	0.571	14
2018-19	2.51	2.43	+0.08	0.514	20
2019-20	3.86	1.94	+1.92	0.800	1
2020-21	3.93	1.97	+1.96	0.776	2
2021-22	3.05	2.59	+0.46	0.628	7
average	3.31	2.25	+1.06	0.710	8
2022-23	3.42	3.16	+0.26	0.474	21

A few takeaways:

• THREE ONE SIX. The current team's Goals Allowed/Game sticks out like a sore thumb. We haven't seen anything like it in Berry's tenure, and it's not particularly close. It's essentially a goal more per game than the average of Berry's seven other teams. 
• Honestly, the biggest takeaway for me has to do with the 2019-20 and 2020-21 teams. I had already forgotten how good those two teams were. Just look at how they compare with the 2015-16 team.
• You remember correctly: That 2018-19 team just couldn't buy a goal. 
• Hopium: There is still time to improve defensively this season, and (more hopium) I would submit that it's more realistic to improve defensively within a season than to suddenly find a bunch of extra scoring.
• Last bit of hopium: The last time Berry fielded a mediocre team (2018-19), he followed it up with two of the best seasons (albeit without a championship) in UND hockey history. 

 

I dont see the XG analytical stat in your comparison

[Esoteric]

14 hours ago, Kevin G said:

So far this year has been disappointing. So out of curiosity (and hockey boredom) I decided to compare this year's team to Berry's other teams. (Note: I copied and pasted the data from an Excel spreadsheet. Hopefully this works...)

A comparison of each of Brad Berry's eight teams:

	Goals Scored/Game	Goals Allowed/Game	Goal margin/game	Win %	PWR
2015-16	3.68	1.84	+1.84	0.818	3
2016-17	3.18	2.60	+0.58	0.562	10
2017-18	2.93	2.38	+0.55	0.571	14
2018-19	2.51	2.43	+0.08	0.514	20
2019-20	3.86	1.94	+1.92	0.800	1
2020-21	3.93	1.97	+1.96	0.776	2
2021-22	3.05	2.59	+0.46	0.628	7
average	3.31	2.25	+1.06	0.710	8
2022-23	3.42	3.16	+0.26	0.474	21

A few takeaways:

• THREE ONE SIX. The current team's Goals Allowed/Game sticks out like a sore thumb. We haven't seen anything like it in Berry's tenure, and it's not particularly close. It's essentially a goal more per game than the average of Berry's seven other teams. 
• Honestly, the biggest takeaway for me has to do with the 2019-20 and 2020-21 teams. I had already forgotten how good those two teams were. Just look at how they compare with the 2015-16 team.
• You remember correctly: That 2018-19 team just couldn't buy a goal. 
• Hopium: There is still time to improve defensively this season, and (more hopium) I would submit that it's more realistic to improve defensively within a season than to suddenly find a bunch of extra scoring.
• Last bit of hopium: The last time Berry fielded a mediocre team (2018-19), he followed it up with two of the best seasons (albeit without a championship) in UND hockey history. 

 

This is a useful spreadsheet.

[Esoteric]

On 12/17/2022 at 9:37 AM, siouxweet said:

Now go and win 6 or 7 games in January to put yourself in position to make a meaningful run in Feb and March.

Another reason to thank the Beavers!

[brianvf]

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-hockey-lines-up-series-against-first-time-opponent

Quote

Quote

UND's nonconference schedule is already set for the next two seasons.

The Fighting Hawks have started work on 2025-26, too.

UND has signed two series for that season already. One is against a familiar opponent. One will be a first-time foe.

The Fighting Hawks will play Bemidji State in a home-and-away series, continuing the longtime U.S. Highway 2 rivalry between the teams.

They'll also play Mercyhurst of Atlantic Hockey — a team UND has never played in program history.

The Lakers, based out of Erie, Pa., are one of just eight NCAA Division-I teams who have never played against UND.

The others are Lindenwood, UConn, Bentley, RIT, Sacred Heart and Division-I newcomers Long Island University and St. Thomas. The Fighting Hawks will play Lindenwood for the first time on Jan. 6-7.

 

 

[brianvf]

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/jackson-blake-appears-set-to-play-large-role-for-team-usa-at-the-world-juniors

Quote

Blake, a fourth-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, is expected to open the tournament playing right wing on the second line for the United States.

That line will be centered by Chaz Lucius of the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose. The left wing will be Michigan freshman Rutger McGroarty. Lucius and McGroarty are both first-round picks of the Winnipeg Jets.

Blake also will play on the second power-play unit on the right flank, the opposite side he plays at UND.

His power-play unit also features Lucius, Minnesota freshman forward Jimmy Snuggerud, Michigan sophomore forward Dylan Duke and UMass sophomore defenseman Ryan Ufko.

 

[brianvf]

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/a-look-at-the-effectiveness-of-und-forward-griffin-ness

Quote

He's averaging modest 9 minutes, 48 seconds of ice time per game, ranking 11th among the 15 UND forwards who have played this season.

But underlying numbers show the junior forward has been particularly effective in his minutes during the first half of the season.

Ness ranks second on UND's team in goals per minute of ice time, only behind Riese Gaber. He's slightly ahead of rookie Jackson Blake.

Outside of Gaber, only 10 other National Collegiate Hockey Conference players are scoring more goals per minute than Ness — Minnesota Duluth's Ben Steeves, Omaha's Jack Randl, Western Michigan's Jamie Rome, Denver's Carter Mazur, Colorado College's Hunter McKown, St. Cloud State's Zach Okabe, St. Cloud State's Grant Cruikshank, Western Michigan's Jason Polin, Miami's John Waldron and St. Cloud State's Jami Krannila.

All of those players are regulars on the power play, averaging more than two minutes per game with the man advantage. All of them are all-NCHC candidates.

 

[Esoteric]

On 12/19/2022 at 1:33 PM, brianvf said:

 

Wishing Jackson a great tournament.

[Esoteric]

On 12/24/2022 at 9:24 PM, brianvf said:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-hockey-lines-up-series-against-first-time-opponent

 

Interesting

[The Sicatoka]

11 hours ago, brianvf said:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/a-look-at-the-effectiveness-of-und-forward-griffin-ness

What that tells me is Ness on a fourth line is better than other teams' third or fourth line. Now if Ness was doing that against opponent first lines ...