2024-25 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[tnt]

29 minutes ago, siouxweet said:

About 10 more spots to climb.

Hopefully finishing top 2 or 3 in the league and things will take care of themselves. 

[Blackheart]

1 hour ago, hockeytherapy13 said:

If you can believe it, I think Geno might even be getting worse…

That guy sucks so hard...

[cberkas]

2 minutes ago, Blackheart said:

That guy sucks so hard...

I don't mind him over others. 

[Blackheart]

Just now, cberkas said:

I don't mind him over others. 

Well he's better than the gofer bobos...

[Oxbow6]

Kunz was basically unnoticeable this series. He's too talented to be so inconsistent. OMac often looks frustrated. His frame and skill set aren't suited for where he's currently playing. Wilke was better this weekend but the bar to date was pretty low based off his play. Schmaltz has been really good game in and game out this season. Kudos to him. MacDonald has emerged as this team's physical leader. He gets it. Berg goes into Wilkie's spot when he returns. Wilkie Croal and Jamernik are your new 4th line then.  Not sure Mac is on the right line pairing but Sasha's line has to stay as is. This wagon is hooked to TJ. I'll start a portal goalie betting pool for '25-'26 when this season ends. So looking forward to hockey in the valley of the sun in 4 weeks.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

25 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

Kunz was basically unnoticeable this series. He's too talented to be so inconsistent. OMac often looks frustrated. His frame and skill set isn't suited for where he's currently playing. Wilke was better this weekend but the bar to date was pretty low based off his play. Schmaltz has been really good game in and game out this season. Kudos to him. MacDonald has emerged as this team's physical leader. He gets it. Berg goes into Wilkie's spot when he returns. Wilkie Croal and Jamernik are your new 4th line then.  Not sure Mac is on the right line pairing but Sasha's line has to stay as is. This wagon is hooked to TJ. I'll start a portal goalie betting pool for '25-'26 when this season ends. So looking forward to hockey in the valley of the sun in 4 weeks.

OMac has been a turnover machine this year, his flaws have really magnified without Blake taking 95% of defenders attention on his line. He has a ton of talent(See goal vs Bemidji) but doesn’t feel like he’s figured out how to play responsible 2 way hockey the way Berry would like him to. 

[Oxbow6]

4 minutes ago, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

OMac has been a turnover machine this year, his flaws have really magnified without Blake taking 95% of defenders attention on his line. He has a ton of talent(See goal vs Bemidji) but doesn’t feel like he’s figured out how to play responsible 2 way hockey the way Berry would like him to. 

He leads the team in assists playing a wing. Not his natural position. Wilke has been a top 6 center all season and has 5 points total. Just saying.

[Wilbur]

1 hour ago, Oxbow6 said:

Kunz was basically unnoticeable this series. He's too talented to be so inconsistent. OMac often looks frustrated. His frame and skill set aren't suited for where he's currently playing. Wilke was better this weekend but the bar to date was pretty low based off his play. Schmaltz has been really good game in and game out this season. Kudos to him. MacDonald has emerged as this team's physical leader. He gets it. Berg goes into Wilkie's spot when he returns. Wilkie Croal and Jamernik are your new 4th line then.  Not sure Mac is on the right line pairing but Sasha's line has to stay as is. This wagon is hooked to TJ. I'll start a portal goalie betting pool for '25-'26 when this season ends. So looking forward to hockey in the valley of the sun in 4 weeks.

They are going to have some decisions when Berg gets back.  I think it allows them to go with a heavy line of like Schmaltz-Jammer-Kunz, or maybe Littler instead of Kunz as at times Kunz forgets he's the biggest guy on the ice surface. 

Mac needs a line without Schmaltz and Kunz.  Maybe you replace Owen with Kunz and have Owen with Wilkie and Mac when Berg gets back.  Drawback being....is Kunz a top line forward????  IDK....

 

[Oxbow6]

12 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

They are going to have some decisions when Berg gets back.  I think it allows them to go with a heavy line of like Schmaltz-Jammer-Kunz, or maybe Littler instead of Kunz as at times Kunz forgets he's the biggest guy on the ice surface. 

Mac needs a line without Schmaltz and Kunz.  Maybe you replace Owen with Kunz and have Owen with Wilkie and Mac when Berg gets back.  Drawback being....is Kunz a top line forward????  IDK....

 

Wilkie's point totals at RIT 30, 40 and 41 points. 5 points to date this season. That's the elephant in the room lineup wise. Based on play he is not close to a top 6 guy on this team.  Schmaltz has been solid. Jammer and Kunz with Wilkie at center would work IMO. 

[The Sicatoka]

When Dalton Andrew figures it out, and cleans up his stride just a little, oh my. He’s not far from being flat scary to play against. 

[I Ranger]

57 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

They are going to have some decisions when Berg gets back.  I think it allows them to go with a heavy line of like Schmaltz-Jammer-Kunz, or maybe Littler instead of Kunz as at times Kunz forgets he's the biggest guy on the ice surface. 

Mac needs a line without Schmaltz and Kunz.  Maybe you replace Owen with Kunz and have Owen with Wilkie and Mac when Berg gets back.  Drawback being....is Kunz a top line forward????  IDK....

 

The only tough decisions to be made with Berg back is the line combinations. In my opinion, I think the 12 forwards are pretty set. Monty, Andrew and Littler sitting depending on if we suit an extra forward or D. 

[I Ranger]

49 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

Wilkie's point totals at RIT 30, 40 and 41 points. 5 points to date this season. That's the elephant in the room lineup wise. Based on play he is not close to a top 6 guy on this team.  Schmaltz has been solid. Jammer and Kunz with Wilkie at center would work IMO. 

I wish I could say I'm surprised. I said this in the Spring when he committed. Find me a player that played in a much lesser league and put up numbers that then hits the portal and goes to a bigger school/league and even remotely comes close to doing the same? It just never happens. 

[SiouxFan100]

Appears to be a lot of optimism heading into the break. Winning tends to do that. We appear to be closer

[SiouxFan100]

Gotta give the student athletes credit for playing hockey it seems full time and at the same time maintaining all the class work. Impressive 

[siouxweet]

10 minutes ago, SiouxFan100 said:

Appears to be a lot of optimism heading into the break. Winning tends to do that. We appear to be closer

Cautiously optimistic heading to 2nd half

[gfhockey]

Ahhh the good ole arm chair coaches

[SiouxForever]

Next year:

UND has to be careful on forwards that enter the transfer portal and what conference they’re coming from. 

Like Wilkie’s game. 5 pts. in the first half is about as low as you could have predicted…ouch! He did score this weekend. Hopefully, he can build off that for the 2nd half. 

Wts., UND loses a lot of sandpaper w/ Jammer, Kunz, Berg being gone. Why UND needs to do a better job on finding forwards (development wise) or portal.

Defense, UND should be fine  Imagine how good UND’s D-core could be this year w/ a healthy Zmolek? It’s a pretty young D-core.

Zellers should be good next year and the Fargo Force D-man from Moorhead. Not sure who else is coming in next year…

I highly doubt (never say never) UND sways any top Canadian Junior player to come to campus BUT hopefully they can find some overager forwards w/ skill and grit  Teams gonna need it next year. 

 

 

 

[hockeytherapy13]

6 hours ago, Oxbow6 said:

Wilkie's point totals at RIT 30, 40 and 41 points. 5 points to date this season. That's the elephant in the room lineup wise. Based on play he is not close to a top 6 guy on this team.  Schmaltz has been solid. Jammer and Kunz with Wilkie at center would work IMO. 

Yeah this would be a great line and would also ensure Swanson gets on a line better suited for his offensive needs. He has to be with at least one guy with higher skill who can finish. 
 

We still have yet to see “the line” who is going to take the game over and be the one who can always be relied on. We’ve seen flashes of it with 26-9-21 but it seems like the consistency just isn’t quite there yet.  The final go-to big line might need Perron somewhere in the mix.

[brianvf]

James was a one man machine last night.
With how he played in the 3rd and OT, you knew he was going to be involved in the GWG.

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/dylan-james-has-career-night-despite-playing-with-injury

Quote

But James played like he was in peak condition, tallying a career-high three assists — including setting up Jake Schmaltz for the overtime winner — in UND’s 4-3 win over the Huskies.

“It's just a mindset going into this game,” James said. “Last game before Christmas. You have to battle through it.”

James’ fingerprints were all over UND’s sweep of St. Cloud State, which earned UND five of six points in the NCHC. He set up multiple chances, and nearly scored the game-winner late in the third period.

His effort on the overtime winner stood out the most.

 

[petey23]

19 hours ago, cberkas said:

I don't mind him over others. 

I like Geno. Knew him a little bit back in the softball days. Good guy, self depreciating humor and sarcasm.

[cberkas]

13 minutes ago, petey23 said:

I like Geno. Knew him a little bit back in the softball days. Good guy, self depreciating humor and sarcasm.

I like him and the Jim that replaced Jim Rich (this made me think of the 3 Jims from Shorsey ). He's not a big homer like others out there and has a sense of humor while doing color

[90siouxfan]

20 minutes ago, petey23 said:

I like Geno. Knew him a little bit back in the softball days. Good guy, self depreciating humor and sarcasm.

I suspect his humor comes across  better in person than as a broadcaster.

[.357]

Moderators: Please add ASU to the NCHC standings on the front page. 

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

On 12/15/2024 at 7:10 AM, Oxbow6 said:

He leads the team in assists playing a wing. Not his natural position. Wilke has been a top 6 center all season and has 5 points total. Just saying.

And if I were comparing the 2 that would be a point well taken.  Wilkie isn't winning any awards either. 

[SIOUXELEVENS]

So what would hurt to switch them , face off % but he played center all of last year