2023-24 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[Sweethockey]

26 minutes ago, nodakvindy said:

You can actually now play an exhibition game against an NCAA team.   I'd be all for a UND Augie game in Rapid City as a poor man's exhibition destination game to help promote hockey in the Dakotas. If Minot of Bismarck had a large enough facility I'd suggest a game there would make sense as well. 

I do hope we get augie on the schedule soon, helping a new program that has ties to UND much like Lindenwood.

I see they have Denver, CC, Notre Dame, and Arizona State scheduled.

[siouxkid12]

On 4/18/2023 at 8:15 PM, cberkas said:

Start scheduling a different team then Bemidji every season. or just make Bemidji an exhibition game after the Manitoba game. 

Can you explain your reasoning? I am seriously curious

[AJS]

9 minutes ago, siouxkid12 said:

Can you explain your reasoning? I am seriously curious

I seem to be in the minority liking the Bemidji series every year. It's far too practical not to do. 

[skateshattrick]

28 minutes ago, siouxkid12 said:

Can you explain your reasoning? I am seriously curious

I agree with cberkas. There is nothing to gain by playing Bemidji every year. If we lose, it is a pairwise killer because they are rarely a top 25 team. If we win, it does not help. It is always a tough game because they play the Jacques Lemaire trap style game that makes it difficult to score more than 2 goals. It is also painful hockey to watch. I already dislike the way UMD plays, but at least they have some high end skill. 

[siouxforce19]

14 minutes ago, skateshattrick said:

I agree with cberkas. There is nothing to gain by playing Bemidji every year. If we lose, it is a pairwise killer because they are rarely a top 25 team. If we win, it does not help. It is always a tough game because they play the Jacques Lemaire trap style game that makes it difficult to score more than 2 goals. It is also painful hockey to watch. I already dislike the way UMD plays, but at least they have some high end skill. 

Bemidji is not a Pairwise killer. A PWR killer is losing twice to the team ranked dead last. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Bemidji ranked in the bottom half of the PWR in recent years. They’re always in the 20s or lurking around there. 

[skateshattrick]

1 minute ago, siouxforce19 said:

Bemidji is not a Pairwise killer. A PWR killer is losing twice to the team ranked dead last. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Bemidji ranked in the bottom half of the PWR in recent years. They’re always in the 20s or lurking around there. 

Bemidji was 34 this year in the pairwise. 

[iramurphy]

Just now, skateshattrick said:

Bemidji was 34 this year in the pairwise. 

Then if we can’t beat them it’s on us. However it hurts us in the pairwise is on us. We are who we are. 

[skateshattrick]

2 minutes ago, iramurphy said:

Then if we can’t beat them it’s on us. However it hurts us in the pairwise is on us. We are who we are. 

Why take that chance against a team that tries to win a game with a race to 2 goals? We have nothing to gain by playing them. No one has disputed my contention that playing Bemidji is like watching paint dry. I'm not saying playing them every now and again, but why every year?

For historical context, Bemidji's pairwise last year was 29. It was good the 2 years before that (10 and 12), but if you go deeper they were 35 in 2018-19, 31 in 2017-18, 29 in 2016-17 and 32 in 2015-16. They are typically going to be between 29 and 35. 

[The Sicatoka]

1 hour ago, AJS said:

I seem to be in the minority liking the Bemidji series every year. It's far too practical not to do. 

If BSU was the dreg of that conference I'd be against; but, being they are perennially competitive it's a good series from both a PWR and fiscal viewpoint. 

[iramurphy]

It’s usually early in the season. It is an opportunity to evaluate new guys and line pairings. We need to be able to win games against teams that play their style. How many times have our good teams been knocked off in games where we can’t get a needed goal? It’s an early measuring stick as to where we are and what we need to work on.
 

If we are reluctant to play Bemidji or similar teams, then we might not be that good. I read goofy comments about “setting the bar”. We as “keyboard expert critics” don’t set the bar,  but if we have any qualms about playing Bemidji, then that’s an awfully low bar.
 

A small part of it is helping build college hockey. A part of it is regional interest. I like playing Army. I would guess they are usually lower than Bemidji in the pairwise. Heck we play Miami every year. 

[The Sicatoka]

34 minutes ago, skateshattrick said:

Why take that chance against a team that tries to win a game with a race to 2 goals?

Because it's a good preview of March and April (playoff) hockey, or at least how it tends to be. 

[Oxbow6]

42 minutes ago, iramurphy said:

Then if we can’t beat them it’s on us. However it hurts us in the pairwise is on us. We are who we are. 

If you're traveling to AZ for tee times before spring break is officially done you got bigger issues than playing Bemidji.

[The Sicatoka]

1 minute ago, iramurphy said:

... I like playing Army. ...

Though you may have some personal biases ... Colonel, is it?   

[iramurphy]

9 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Though you may have some personal biases ... Colonel, is it?   

Major, but I was only in 4 1/2 yrs. 
You are correct, I would like a 2 for 1 with them so our guys would have an opportunity to experience their campus and the history associated with it. It’s a beautiful campus on the Hudson. If anyone gets an opportunity to tour the campusI would recommend. 

[siouxkid12]

47 minutes ago, skateshattrick said:

Why take that chance against a team that tries to win a game with a race to 2 goals? We have nothing to gain by playing them. No one has disputed my contention that playing Bemidji is like watching paint dry. I'm not saying playing them every now and again, but why every year?

For historical context, Bemidji's pairwise last year was 29. It was good the 2 years before that (10 and 12), but if you go deeper they were 35 in 2018-19, 31 in 2017-18, 29 in 2016-17 and 32 in 2015-16. They are typically going to be between 29 and 35. 

Why take a chance with any team then? Playing Bemidji and developing a rivalry with them is a good thing for local/college hockey. 
Have you seen UND in the pairwise lately? With the way we have been the last few years, I wouldn't be going around knocking other teams while saying it "hurts" us to play them. Guess what, if we wouldn't have tied them last year, we would've been in a better position in the Pairwise. If they are an easy team to beat, then we should beat them. All you need to do in college hockey is win your games, the rest will take care of itself.
It's time for our fanbase to get over this "we are better than other teams" mentality, its sickening.

[The Sicatoka]

7 minutes ago, siouxkid12 said:

All you need to do in college hockey is win your games, the rest will take care of itself.

.

[Sodbuster]

1 hour ago, iramurphy said:

It’s usually early in the season. It is an opportunity to evaluate new guys and line pairings. We need to be able to win games against teams that play their style. How many times have our good teams been knocked off in games where we can’t get a needed goal? It’s an early measuring stick as to where we are and what we need to work on.
 

If we are reluctant to play Bemidji or similar teams, then we might not be that good. I read goofy comments about “setting the bar”. We as “keyboard expert critics” don’t set the bar,  but if we have any qualms about playing Bemidji, then that’s an awfully low bar.
 

A small part of it is helping build college hockey. A part of it is regional interest. I like playing Army. I would guess they are usually lower than Bemidji in the pairwise. Heck we play Miami every year. 

I see that both games are in GF this year vs. the usual home and home. 

[SiouxFanatic]

Quote

These two commits are pretty good players, neither got a solid opportunity at previous schools. I’m very curious if Strand can somehow keep Pionk and Littler. I’d also watch for two North Dakota forwards to enter the portal and come to Kato. Buckle up it’s going to be fun!

A purple Mavs fan posted this over at USCHO. Not hard to figure out they're most likely referring to McLaughlin and James since their new HC was the HC for Sioux City when those two were there. Seems like wishful thinking. Both players are looking at increased roles on the team for the 23-24 season as sophomores.

[The Sicatoka]

Costantini landed at WMU; however, I could see Portz end up in ManCow. Beyond that, yeah, wishful thinking. 

[siouxforce19]

12 minutes ago, SiouxFanatic said:

A purple Mavs fan posted this over at USCHO. Not hard to figure out they're most likely referring to McLaughlin and James since their new HC was the HC for Sioux City when those two were there. Seems like wishful thinking. Both players are looking at increased roles on the team for the 23-24 season as sophomores.

lol that’s actually hilarious if they think that. 

[SuhakiYeahYeah]

15 minutes ago, siouxforce19 said:

lol that’s actually hilarious if they think that. 

It hilarious if they think they can get one of them. If they think they can get both, it's absolute comedy gold.

[The Sicatoka]

I saw over the weekend that Hobie Hedquist didn't finish a game and didn't play the next night. I'm hoping it was precautionary and not serious. But I also wonder what that did to thoughts about the roster. 

They're sitting 15F/7D/3G, so they need one more D but don't seem to be in any rush.
They've (using Schlossman's lips) talked about a 16F as "Montgomery insurance". 

I sure would like to know what's up with HH to make sure the current plan still works. 

[The Sicatoka]

Repeating myself, I miss Nancy Burggraf. 
She turned Mike Commodore from looking like he was on double runners to a guy with an NCAA title and a Worlds gold ... oh, and a Stanley Cup. His last UND season pregame warm-up was edge-work that would've broken both of his ankles as a freshman, a pure tribute to Nancy. 

Team skating is not was it has been in the past.
I believe it needs to be an off-season focus going into 2023-24.
We have players with stunning puck skills and talent but in the end it is still a skating game. 
We need better first step burst, better three stride speed, and better edge strength. 

We could use a team skating revival. 

That's the team off-season homework assignment. Grades at Thanksgiving. 

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Stride-Nancy-Burggraf-Story/dp/1880654415

[mattim]

She claimed that Craig Ludwig was her most rewarding accomplishment as a skating instructor. But you are correct, even the best skaters improved their skills and had their skating weaknesses reduced with her help. Not sure what Berry is doing to improve individual skating weaknesses but it is part of the game that can not be overlooked.   

[Kevin G]

On 4/14/2023 at 2:32 PM, brianvf said:

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)

@brianvf, is this the most current projected roster?