2023-24 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[ChadR]

3 hours ago, SiouxForever said:

Zach Parise on line 1 would be a good option to start getting/attracting large recruits in the MSP & surrounding area. Mold Zpar into a future head coach. This would be a huge marketing boost for the program and school.

Zero chance.

[tnt]

5 hours ago, SiouxForever said:

Zach Parise on line 1 would be a good option to start getting/attracting large recruits in the MSP & surrounding area. Mold Zpar into a future head coach. This would be a huge marketing boost for the program and school.

Didn't work so great for Wisconsin and Tony Granato.   Not saying he wouldn't be, but sometimes star players don't make good coaches, and many times they have no passion to do so.   A lot of time away from home after you already did it for your whole NHL career isn't always attractive to some.   

[cberkas]

7 hours ago, tnt said:

Didn't work so great for Wisconsin and Tony Granato.   Not saying he wouldn't be, but sometimes star players don't make good coaches, and many times they have no passion to do so.   A lot of time away from home after you already did it for your whole NHL career isn't always attractive to some.   

Don Granato was the better coach. 

[brianvf]

Time to start memorizing the new numbers! 

Quote

Newcomers in bold
1 — Kaleb Johnson, goalie
2 — Bennett Zmolek, defenseman
4 — Jake Livanavage, defenseman
5 — Dane Montgomery, forward
6 — Logan Britt, defenseman
7 — Garrett Pyke, defenseman
8 — Jake Schmaltz, forward
9 — Jackson Blake, forward
10 — Tanner Komzak, defenseman
11 — Griffin Ness, forward
13 — Carson Albrecht, forward
14 — Cameron Berg, forward
15 — Nate Benoit, defenseman
17 — Riese Gaber, forward
18 — Jayden Perron, forward
20 — Keaton Pehrson, defenseman
21 — Ben Strinden, forward
22 — Owen McLaughlin, forward
24 — Michael Emerson, forward
25 — Abram Wiebe, defenseman
26 — Dylan James, forward
27 — Louis Jamernik V, forward
28 — Hunter Johannes, forward
29 — Jackson Kunz, forward
30 — Hobie Hedquist, goaltender
32 — Ludvig Persson, goaltender

 

[brianvf]

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/get-to-know-the-2023-24-und-hockey-players-numbers?fbclid=IwAR0TsurxyqjXroUlmpA5X-z7rnDLJqfGn6nfbqU-OX37wyP7F8U9RXFqXHM

A few tidbits of info on the numbers:

Quote

• Komzak will be the first defenseman to wear No. 10 since John Spolar in 1954-55. Only two defensemen have ever worn No. 10.
• The No. 2 has often been worn by big, tough defenders going back to Bill Steenson in the 1950s. That tradition has been passed through the decades with Craig Ludwig wearing it in the 1980s, Dave Hakstol in the 1990s, Matt Greene in the 2000s and Andrew MacWilliam in the 2010s. It now belongs to Bennett Zmolek, who fits the same mold.
• Michael Emerson is the first forward to wear No. 24 since captain Chris Porter from 2003-07. They play a similar game, too — speedy wingers with physicality.
• Half of the newcomers will wear the same number they did last year: Britt, Pyke, Benoit, Perron, Pehrson, Hedquist and Persson.
• No. 14 has been unused the last two seasons. Berg will be the first player to wear it since Jasper Weatherby in 2020-21.
• This season's unused numbers will be: 3, 16 and 19. This is the second-straight year that 16 will be unused. Ashton Calder was the last to wear it in 2021-22.

 

[Wilbur]

23 hours ago, brianvf said:

Time to start memorizing the new numbers! 

 

Ya know, lot of big/great hockey players wearing #2 for UND, but I think my favorite #2 of all time was a 5'10, 180 pound Canadian kid who plays with a ton of piss and vinegar and came out of every battle with the puck.

[Wilbur]

[The Sicatoka]

 

[The Sicatoka]

https://fightinghawks.com/news/2023/6/23/mens-hockey-north-dakota-announces-incoming-freshman-class-for-2023-24.aspx 

 

[SuhakiYeahYeah]

33 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

https://fightinghawks.com/news/2023/6/23/mens-hockey-north-dakota-announces-incoming-freshman-class-for-2023-24.aspx 

 

Big fan of kids in red and black jerseys this year

[brianvf]

https://fightinghawks.com/news/2023/6/23/mens-hockey-north-dakota-announces-incoming-freshman-class-for-2023-24.aspx

No new info here, but the freshmen group officially announced.

[brianvf]

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/unds-nhl-draft-class-headliner-jayden-perron-is-a-difference-maker-with-skill-creativity

Quote

"You start with his hockey intelligence," an NHL scout said. "The way he sees the rink is pretty special. He's a guy where, when you're watching, you can see a play being made, but then he'll make an even better play you didn't expect. He has that elite creativity and playmaking ability. He's more well-rounded than people give him credit for. He has a good shot. He's a good enough skater to create room and he has a competitive side to him that's very underrated."

Quote

"I think his hockey IQ is elite," Berry said. "He always makes a difference on the ice every shift when he has the puck. He knows the next play all the time, whether it's five-on-five or on the power play. He's a threat every time he's on the ice. He has great edges and ability. I think he's very dynamic when he has the puck."

"I believe he took a step in his second year in the USHL, becoming a dominant player," Berry said. "You look at a path like Jackson Blake's as well. You never know how it's going to translate to college in their first season, but coming in from the same program worked pretty well for Blake. They're different players, but they're both very high-end, offensive, gifted, smart players. Jayden is going to have to earn everything, but he has an opportunity as a freshman to do special things."

 

[stoneySIOUX]

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nhl/news/nhl-mock-draft-2023-post-lottery-blackhawks-connor-bedard/ahlnbsgeq8kvbzk8kt5ykwv5

Sporting News mock has Perron going No. 29 to STL

https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts

Never heard of these guys, but they did a full mock. Perron first pick of the third round (65), Strathmann (77) and Emerson (142) in the fifth round.

[fightingsioux4life]

I am really optimistic about a big bounce back year in 2023-24. 

[hockeytherapy13]

5 hours ago, fightingsioux4life said:

I am really optimistic about a big bounce back year in 2023-24. 

2018-2019 was really rough to watch at times and we bounced back in impressive fashion in 2019-2020. More of that please and thank you 

[SWSiouxMN]

Was looking at the incoming freshman and noticed the hometown of Hedquist.

Heron Lake, MN????

Did he play HS hockey anywhere?

[siouxforce19]

21 minutes ago, SWSiouxMN said:

Was looking at the incoming freshman and noticed the hometown of Hedquist.

Heron Lake, MN????

Did he play HS hockey anywhere?

I don’t think so. He committed out of the Sioux Falls Power program. 

[The Sicatoka]

25 minutes ago, SWSiouxMN said:

Heron Lake, MN????

So Dakota Dunes, SD, is better?

(Ferner) 

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Frozen Faceoff has a Wild v Blues game 2pm on championship night. No Wild games anytime near the Frozen Four.

[SWSiouxMN]

9 minutes ago, siouxforce19 said:

I don’t think so. He committed out of the Sioux Falls Power program. 

Ok. That makes sense.

4 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

So Dakota Dunes, SD, is better?

(Ferner) 

At least that is close enough to Sioux City.

Its a bit of a haul to get from Heron Lake to SF.

Darn, Windom or Worthington missed out on a stud goalie then.

[siouxforce19]

1 minute ago, SWSiouxMN said:

Ok. That makes sense.

At least that is close enough to Sioux City.

Its a bit of a haul to get from Heron Lake to SF.

Darn, Windom or Worthington missed out on a stud goalie then.

Right. I was trying to think of what high school programs near Heron Lake had hockey programs. They were in my high school’s section for track when I was in high school and were consolidated with Okabena and Lakefield and Brewster at the time. 

[SWSiouxMN]

5 minutes ago, siouxforce19 said:

Right. I was trying to think of what high school programs near Heron Lake had hockey programs. They were in my high school’s section for track when I was in high school and were consolidated with Okabena and Lakefield and Brewster at the time. 

Windom is typically middle of the road in the section.

Worthington.... well lets just say they focus their efforts on other sports (their demographics are a bit different).

Probably made the wise decision to go elsewhere.

Kato Schools and New Ulm rule the roost in 3A now, with the occasional spurt from Luverne. 

[Kevin G]

2 hours ago, SWSiouxMN said:

with the occasional spurt from Luverne. 

+1000

You could read Hemingway and Dickens for months and not come across a better phrase than this.

[Ice Arena Man]

Hobey

Skated in The Windom program until I think his freshman year in HS and then went with the power program in SF. Good family and good kid. Know the family well as that was the rink that I oversaw. until retiring. Excited to see him attending UND. My season tickets will be used alot the next four years.

[brianvf]

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/five-undrafted-und-players-accept-invites-to-nhl-development-camps

Quote

Five undrafted Fighting Hawks players have accepted invites to participate in NHL development camps this summer.

Fifth-year senior defenseman Garrett Pyke and rookie blue liner Tanner Komzak are currently in Las Vegas working out with the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights.

Goaltender Ludvig Persson is attending development camp with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Forward Louis Jamernik V will attend development camp with the Winnipeg Jets.

Forward Riese Gaber, who is expected to be one of college hockey's most coveted free agents next spring, will attend camp with the Florida Panthers.

Quote

A couple of UND's undrafted players who attended NHL development camps in the past have opted not to attend one this summer.

UND fifth-year senior defenseman Keaton Pehrson skated with the San Jose Sharks in 2021 and the Philadelphia Flyers in 2022, but passed this year in order to get settled in Grand Forks.

UND incoming freshman defenseman Jake Livanavage participated in development camp with his hometown Arizona Coyotes last summer, but also opted against doing a camp this summer.

Quote

Most Fighting Hawks players are expected to return to Grand Forks next weekend and begin voluntary training for the 2023-24 while attending summer school.