2023-24 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[brianvf]

Expected Roster as of 4/14/23 -

Going by a somewhat typical 26-man roster (15 F / 8 D / 3 G):

Forwards (15)
Fr - Emerson / Perron
So - Blake / James / McLaughlin / Strinden / Montgomery (RS)
Jr - Schmaltz / Kunz / Berg
Sr - Gaber / Jamernik / Ness
Gr - Albrecht / Johannes

Defense (8)
Fr - Benoit / Komzak / Wiebe / Livanavage / Strathmann
So - Zmolek
Gr - Pyke / Pehrson

Goalies (3)
Fr - Hedquist
So - Johnson
Sr - Persson

Portal and/or Recruit
D - Maybe one more (depending on Strathmann decision on playing another year of juniors)
F - Maybe one more (been hinted that we might carry 16F again this year)

[The Sicatoka]

@brianvfI'd honestly only claim 7D for now until Strathmann is official one way or the other.

Also, Albrecht, Persson, Jamernik, Gaber, and Ness each have two seasons of play yet remaining. By eligibility they'd be "Jr". (They all played the 2020-21 year which doesn't count and 'never happened'.) 

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

14 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

It's only April. 

Last April we were probably already arguing Sioux vs Hawks so it's an improvement.

[petey23]

1 hour ago, AJS said:

How I think about this is Pehrson might not be the top NHL caliber defenseman that was in the portal, but for what UND desperately needed, he was most likely the most coveted player for the UND coaching staff that was in the portal. The addition of Pehrson changes expectations for next year. Here's where we're at now defensively.

• Pyke / Pehrson would be a great Top pairing.
• Zmolek would be a great Second pairing RHD 

Now, you can look at the talented LHD Freshman class and whoever proves it, can step into that 2nd pairing. 

The scouting reports on all three of the portal defenseman has to give everyone so much optimism. Defense first. That's exactly what they need for next year (from those portal additions).

Pehrson definitely fits the defense first or maybe defense only role. Not sure which game he scored in as a freshman but he currently is riding a 92+ game streak of not scoring a goal. Also of note, he had ZERO penalties in 39 games last season.

[AJS]

21 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Or split them up and pair one experienced dman with one freshman to break those guys in as well.
The team has certainly come together quickly.

Last season all these decisions took a few more months to work themselves out.

My thought is there are only a handful of Freshman defenseman that would be top-pair caliber guys on a tournament team. 

I'm really going back and forth on what I hope happens with the 8th spot. I'm starting to lean more toward if it's truly this Fall or Fall of 24, that Strathmann delays to 24. Ideally, you get another Higher-End (i.e. 2nd or 3rd pair) RH shot. This is putting stock that Komzak would be that #8 guy, then you have 2 Freshman that would be 2nd / 3rd pair guys nightly, with the 3rd as an extra skater. Pretty ideal situation for everyone. 

[dden3]

21 minutes ago, petey23 said:

Pehrson definitely fits the defense first or maybe defense only role. Not sure which game he scored in as a freshman but he currently is riding a 92+ game streak of not scoring a goal. Also of note, he had ZERO penalties in 39 games last season.

That zero penalty factoid does not work in our culture. 

[Kevin G]

1 hour ago, SiouxForever said:

Chemistry and true leadership (or a true leader stepping up on this team) will drive this team to how far it'll go next year imho!

They'll have to gel and teach the freshie D-man and the freshie D-man will need incremental jump/progress for the 2nd half of the season. 

The importance of leadership on the player side is hard to overstate. Last season there just seemed to be something a bit off in that department. 

[Kevin G]

1 minute ago, dden3 said:

That zero penalty factoid does not work in our culture. 

Just don’t give him #25. 

[stoneySIOUX]

2 minutes ago, Kevin G said:

Just don’t give him #25. 

HA! I personally would LOVE to see Johannes in #25 haha.

[brianvf]

1 hour ago, The Sicatoka said:

Also, Albrecht, Persson, Jamernik, Gaber, and Ness each have two seasons of play yet remaining. By eligibility they'd be "Jr". (They all played the 2020-21 year which doesn't count and 'never happened'.) 

We'll cross all those bridges when we get to them next season.   
Until then, I'm just impressed that Berry assembled this entire team within a couple weeks of the season ending. 

[brianvf]

48 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

HA! I personally would LOVE to see Johannes in #25 haha.

Haha, those poor refs.

[Wilbur]

Experienced d core....check.

Experienced goalie....check.

Some forwards that can roll....check.

Here they've got me all excited now......

[fightingsioux4life]

4 hours ago, The Sicatoka said:

Monster get.

 

This pushes back against the whole "B1G Taking Over The World" narrative pushed by some on here.

Great pick up! 

[Oxbow6]

So I should plan on using my home NCHC quarterfinal series tickets next season?

[iramurphy]

18 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

So I should plan on using my home NCHC quarterfinal series tickets next season?

Yup. 

[Wilbur]

19 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

So I should plan on using my home NCHC quarterfinal series tickets next season?

I'd be mildly upset if the team wasn't in St. Paul twice in the spring.  

[tnt]

1 hour ago, fightingsioux4life said:

This pushes back against the whole "B1G Taking Over The World" narrative pushed by some on here.

Great pick up! 

This really doesn’t do anything unless it works out.  The guy we got was most likely not invited back to Michigan. It’s exciting that it looks like he fills a need, but many were super excited when we got Farmer too, and not everyone was happy with him.

[Blackheart]

Sorry if I missed it, but is there at least a framework of next season’s schedule available?

[90siouxfan]

Is the consensus that we carry 3 goalies next season and not 4?  Is Hedquist coming in this fall certain at this point?

[brianvf]

44 minutes ago, Blackheart said:

Sorry if I missed it, but is there at least a framework of next season’s schedule available?

NCHC schedule isn't posted yet, so just non-conf listed as of now.

vs. Manitoba (exhibition, single game), Oct. 7
vs. Wisconsin and Army, Ice Breaker Tournament, Oct. 13-14
vs. Minnesota, Oct. 20-21
vs. MSU-Mankato, Oct. 27-28
at Boston University, Nov. 3-4
vs. Bemidji State, Nov. 24-25
vs. Alaska (Fairbanks), Jan. 5-6

Note: UND does not travel to Western Michigan in 2023-24. St. Cloud State does not come to Grand Forks.

[BusinessSiouxt]

1 hour ago, fightingsioux4life said:

This pushes back against the whole "B1G Taking Over The World" narrative pushed by some on here.

Great pick up! 

But what if it’s just ‘infiltration’ prior to the take over? 

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

2 hours ago, fightingsioux4life said:

This pushes back against the whole "B1G Taking Over The World" narrative pushed by some on here.

Great pick up! 

Also, they haven’t won the big game despite some on here thinking it was a foregone conclusion either MN or Michigan already had the title in hand.

[ChadR]

Can we please flip 2 recruits for the last 2 spots - a D & F. We did good in the portal with the upperclassmen, but time to get back to what UND has been good at forever. Recruiting.

Go steal some recruits. Who care's if it's against the gentleman's agreement.

[tnt]

11 minutes ago, ChadR said:

Can we please flip 2 recruits for the last 2 spots - a D & F. We did good in the portal with the upperclassmen, but time to get back to what UND has been good at forever. Recruiting.

Go steal some recruits. Who care's if it's against the gentleman's agreement.

Steal someone from Wisconsin, they’re no gentlemen.

[brianvf]

18 minutes ago, ChadR said:

Can we please flip 2 recruits for the last 2 spots - a D & F. We did good in the portal with the upperclassmen, but time to get back to what UND has been good at forever. Recruiting.

Go steal some recruits. Who care's if it's against the gentleman's agreement.

For D, I'd rather find a SO or JR in the portal.  Even if Strathmann is delaying a year, that's still four FR D coming in...that'd be a big class to potentially replace in four years (in the unlikely circumstance that they all stay all four years).

It'd be nice to start to balance the classes out a bit.