2024-25 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[brianvf]

58 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

I thought Wilkie was brought in for offensive production?

I could see him as 2C with Berg as 1C.
The good problem is that our center depth is probably one of the best in the country...so we could slot someone like Wilkie anywhere in the lineup at center as either a scoring threat or to create matchup problems with other teams 3rd/4th lines.

[.357]

1 hour ago, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

I'd like to hear what that actually means though, follow up questions in pressers would be great.  What changes? Do you sit guys towards the end of the year to prevent injuries if an NCAA spot is locked up despite it costing you seeding and potentially better placement? Do you place more emphasis on the non-conference games? 

I interpreted that as simply meaning that the coaching staff put too much emphasis on winning the Penrose in recent years; which may have caused the team to peak too early. Perhaps he's implying that it's just a change in perspective for the team rather than sitting guys later in the year. But yes, follow-up questions would be nice.

[MafiaMan]

On 9/16/2024 at 11:23 AM, Blackheart said:

Don't mean to break up the DU lovefest here...tickets vs the Purple Cows of Mankato went on sale today and our group will be attending Saturday, October 19.  Hope to see a lot of green there!

Well shoot, I was hoping to avoid seeing you that weekend…

[SiouxForever]

This team better perform come April because they’ll lose a lot next year and the following recruiting class isn’t as talented or deep. 

Not being a debbie downer, just stating reality. 

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

1 hour ago, SiouxForever said:

This team better perform come April because they’ll lose a lot next year and the following recruiting class isn’t as talented or deep. 

Not being a debbie downer, just stating reality. 

Graduating:

Kunz

Wilkie

Jamernik

Schmaltz

Berg

TJ

Possible early:

James

Unlikely early:

OMac

Strinden

Livanavage

Perron

(And whoever isn't getting ice time)

With the portal and (potentially) CHL, it's not hard to turn around a recruiting class. Not to put anyone down, but this list feels more quantity than quality. We've never seen Wilkie or TJ in action, hopefully we miss them next fall.

[Blackheart]

5 hours ago, MafiaMan said:

Well shoot, I was hoping to avoid seeing you that weekend…

Bullshi+...you're buying me a drink at Metty's.  Anyone thinking about going, better buy your tickets now...they be going fast.

[Blackheart]

btw...puck drops in 10 days!  Let's go!

[brianvf]

1 hour ago, Blackheart said:

btw...puck drops in 10 days!  Let's go!

Damn!

Almost time! The best part of the year is nearly upon us. 

[Godsmack]

I got a hall pass from the boss and just got my tickets for the UND series at Lawson against the Broncos in Feb/Mar. Anyone here heading to Kalamazoo as well?

[cberkas]

2 hours ago, Blackheart said:

Bullshi+...you're buying me a drink at Metty's.  Anyone thinking about going, better buy your tickets now...they be going fast.

Someone might just get Pitlicks stick again 

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

Would be a lot of fun to watch if it was open to the public

 

[brianvf]

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-hockey-media-day-brad-berry-says-its-time-to-finish-the-job

Berry says it's time to finish the job.

Quote

"We've got to finish the job," UND head coach Brad Berry said at the team's annual media day Wednesday. "Those white banners hanging behind us, we've done a good job hanging those on a yearly basis. We've won four of the last five years of the NCHC. We're hungry. We've got a job to finish."
Berry said the staff and players have already discussed keeping a focus on the national tournament.

Quote

"We had a meeting with our forward group a couple days ago," Berry said. "We said, 'Hey, just realize who is in this room right now. Whether it's our 15 forwards, eight defensemen or three goaltenders, man oh man, it's going to be tough decisions for our coaching staff to put the guys in the right spots on the right lines and right pairings.

"They have to be patient, hard-working and earn everything they get. These guys are receptive to that. You can tell at practices how sharp they are and how hungry they are."

 

[Green Banner]

Just now, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

Would be a lot of fun to watch if it was open to the public

 

REA/UND should make an alumni game an annual event on the weekend of the Ex game. Embrace it and give the fans something fun to kickoff each season

[.357]

56 minutes ago, brianvf said:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-hockey-media-day-brad-berry-says-its-time-to-finish-the-job

Berry says it's time to finish the job.

 

Every new season brings promises of finishing unsettled business from the previous year. Pretty sure that the members on this site have been stuck in the hockey version of Groundhog Day for the past 8 years. I'll be more focused on the team's actions next March & April, not so much on the coach's words in September. There's a reason why Nike's marketing department chose Just do it over Just say it. Prove it to the fans that you mean business this year & will make a serious run at #9; enough of this 1 & out nonsense. Make North Dakota hockey great again. That being said, it does sound like the team has made a big mental adjustment with how they view the Penrose; which makes sense & is encouraging.

[hockeytherapy13]

22 hours ago, brianvf said:

I could see him as 2C with Berg as 1C.
The good problem is that our center depth is probably one of the best in the country...so we could slot someone like Wilkie anywhere in the lineup at center as either a scoring threat or to create matchup problems with other teams 3rd/4th lines.

Yeah I think this team is going to be setup as a top-9 to bring that constant matchup against teams. So I totally agree that Wilkie will be either 2C or 3C but some of those top 3 lines will be interchangeable for minutes depending on who is running hot. Guessing he or Berg will be the go-to guys that are needed for an important faceoff whether it's D zone late in the game or to win the faceoff on the power play to gain fast possession. Really hope that depth carries over early so that we can get through the gauntlet of non-conference opponents. 

[tnt]

24 minutes ago, .357 said:

Every new season brings promises of finishing unsettled business from the previous year. Pretty sure that the members on this site have been stuck in the hockey version of Groundhog Day for the past 8 years. I'll be more focused on the team's actions next March & April, not so much on the coach's words in September. There's a reason why Nike's marketing department chose Just do it over Just say it. Prove it to the fans that you mean business this year & will make a serious run at #9; enough of this 1 & out nonsense. Make North Dakota hockey great again. That being said, it does sound like the team has made a big mental adjustment with how they view the Penrose; which makes sense & is encouraging.

For recruiting purposes, we at least need to get our name back in the mix with the other schools from the exposure in the national tournament, and the Frozen Four to be more specific.  If a league title and playoff title come in the process, that is an added bonus.  We have seen too many one and dones in the Frozen Faceoff, which doesn't give us much momentum heading into the national tournament. 

[brianvf]

2 hours ago, Green Banner said:

REA/UND should make an alumni game an annual event on the weekend of the Ex game. Embrace it and give the fans something fun to kickoff each season

That would be a really fun idea and cool to open up to the public. I bet the old players would enjoy that too. 

[siouxczech29]

So, Schlossman seems to think we’ll put together 3 solid scoring lines. My head spins thinking of the possible line combos for those top 3 lines. My question is; who is on the shut down line? Schmaltz-Jammer-Croal? 

[ChadR]

What are the early lines so far? Has anyone heard?

[Oldguy]

13 hours ago, siouxczech29 said:

So, Schlossman seems to think we’ll put together 3 solid scoring lines. My head spins thinking of the possible line combos for those top 3 lines. My question is; who is on the shut down line? Schmaltz-Jammer-Croal? 

I could see Schmaltz & Croal on the 4th, making it a super solid line.  But Jammer is too good a player for that role, IMO.  Maybe Littler can get acclimated by playing down there?

[fightingsioux4life]

13 hours ago, siouxczech29 said:

So, Schlossman seems to think we’ll put together 3 solid scoring lines. My head spins thinking of the possible line combos for those top 3 lines. My question is; who is on the shut down line? Schmaltz-Jammer-Croal? 

Having a shut down line that can score would be awesome.

[skateshattrick]

18 minutes ago, Oldguy said:

I could see Schmaltz & Croal on the 4th, making it a super solid line.  But Jammer is too good a player for that role, IMO.  Maybe Littler can get acclimated by playing down there?

You may be underrating Cody Croal. He is a proven scorer in the USHL and wore a "C" for Muskegon

[siouxforce19]

30 minutes ago, Oldguy said:

I could see Schmaltz & Croal on the 4th, making it a super solid line.  But Jammer is too good a player for that role, IMO.  Maybe Littler can get acclimated by playing down there?

Reality is someone too good for the 4th line is going to be on the 4th line. 

[SiouxFanSince1990]

10 hours ago, siouxforce19 said:

Reality is someone too good for the 4th line is going to be on the 4th line. 

Lines don’t matter necessarily. Chemistry and matchups do. I expect Berry to roll four lines out the gate. He wants this team to be unbearable to play against. Forecheck forecheck forecheck. Hang 9.

[brianvf]

30 minutes ago, SiouxFanSince1990 said:

Lines don’t matter necessarily. Chemistry and matchups do. I expect Berry to roll four lines out the gate. He wants this team to be unbearable to play against. Forecheck forecheck forecheck. Hang 9.

I would agree.  I bet we see quite a few different lines at first until a few lines start to click over the first few games.
Some of the guys on the line chart as 3rd or 4th lines might normally be 1st/2nd line but with this team, they can hopefully be contributing on those "lower" lines.