Exhibition games, should there be a change or the status quo

[cberkas]

With some talk about exhibition games, should there be a change in who gets scheduled each year. With a few NCAA teams a few years ago talking about how they didn't like playing USport (Canadian) teams because they were playing to injure players. After the COVID season teams were allowed to play exhibition games against NCAA D1 teams. Looking at this season 2024-25 there were 28 NCAA D1 teams scheduled (14 games), 17 USport games, 4 NCAA D2 teams (these actually count to the record), 1 NCAA D3, 6 ACHA games (2 teams), 13 U18, 12 Simon Fraser, and 10 teams didn't play an exhibition game. The 2019-20 season had 38 USport games and 2 Simon Fraser. The 2022-23 season had 20 NCAA D1 teams (10 games), 18 USport games, 5 ACHA, and 2 Simon Fraser. I didn't check U18 or D2/D3 in 2019-20 and 2022-23 seasons also didn't look in-depth at Simon Fraser games either. 

Should UND keep scheduling Manitoba every year, play a NCAA team (play Bemidji in an exhibition and play the other old WCHA teams during the season), or play a ACHA team? I'm fine with playing Manitoba but they like to play dirty late in games since they always get blown out by NCAA teams they play. So, lately I've been thinking maybe playing Manitoba isn't really for the best of the team. If there was a NCAA team to play in an exhibition, make it Bemidji or an AHA team that but a game against an AHA team you'd want to count for the PWR later in the season since UND should beat them easy (we've all seen how that hasn't always worked out). If there was a way to start the season a weekend early to play an up-and-coming ACHA team I'd be for it and UND, did it with NAU before. 

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

13 minutes ago, cberkas said:

With some talk about exhibition games, should there be a change in who gets scheduled each year. With a few NCAA teams a few years ago talking about how they didn't like playing USport (Canadian) teams because they were playing to injure players. After the COVID season teams were allowed to play exhibition games against NCAA D1 teams. Looking at this season 2024-25 there were 28 NCAA D1 teams scheduled (14 games), 17 USport games, 4 NCAA D2 teams (these actually count to the record), 1 NCAA D3, 6 ACHA games (2 teams), 13 U18, 12 Simon Fraser, and 10 teams didn't play an exhibition game. The 2019-20 season had 38 USport games and 2 Simon Fraser. The 2022-23 season had 20 NCAA D1 teams (10 games), 18 USport games, 5 ACHA, and 2 Simon Fraser. I didn't check U18 or D2/D3 in 2019-20 and 2022-23 seasons also didn't look in-depth at Simon Fraser games either. 

Should UND keep scheduling Manitoba every year, play a NCAA team (play Bemidji in an exhibition and play the other old WCHA teams during the season), or play a ACHA team? I'm fine with playing Manitoba but they like to play dirty late in games since they always get blown out by NCAA teams they play. So, lately I've been thinking maybe playing Manitoba isn't really for the best of the team. If there was a NCAA team to play in an exhibition, make it Bemidji or an AHA team that but a game against an AHA team you'd want to count for the PWR later in the season since UND should beat them easy (we've all seen how that hasn't always worked out). If there was a way to start the season a weekend early to play an up-and-coming ACHA team I'd be for it and UND, did it with NAU before. 

No need for Manitoba now that the USports is going to get worse with CHL players having more options to use their scholarship money. 

[burd]

Any stats (or anecdotal evidence) of injury from Man. games?   

I'm not questioning your cred, cberkas.   I've wondered about that issue myself.

[siouxkid12]

7 hours ago, cberkas said:

With some talk about exhibition games, should there be a change in who gets scheduled each year. With a few NCAA teams a few years ago talking about how they didn't like playing USport (Canadian) teams because they were playing to injure players. After the COVID season teams were allowed to play exhibition games against NCAA D1 teams. Looking at this season 2024-25 there were 28 NCAA D1 teams scheduled (14 games), 17 USport games, 4 NCAA D2 teams (these actually count to the record), 1 NCAA D3, 6 ACHA games (2 teams), 13 U18, 12 Simon Fraser, and 10 teams didn't play an exhibition game. The 2019-20 season had 38 USport games and 2 Simon Fraser. The 2022-23 season had 20 NCAA D1 teams (10 games), 18 USport games, 5 ACHA, and 2 Simon Fraser. I didn't check U18 or D2/D3 in 2019-20 and 2022-23 seasons also didn't look in-depth at Simon Fraser games either. 

Should UND keep scheduling Manitoba every year, play a NCAA team (play Bemidji in an exhibition and play the other old WCHA teams during the season), or play a ACHA team? I'm fine with playing Manitoba but they like to play dirty late in games since they always get blown out by NCAA teams they play. So, lately I've been thinking maybe playing Manitoba isn't really for the best of the team. If there was a NCAA team to play in an exhibition, make it Bemidji or an AHA team that but a game against an AHA team you'd want to count for the PWR later in the season since UND should beat them easy (we've all seen how that hasn't always worked out). If there was a way to start the season a weekend early to play an up-and-coming ACHA team I'd be for it and UND, did it with NAU before. 

Pretty sure exhibition games do not count towards the PWR.

[cberkas]

3 hours ago, siouxkid12 said:

Pretty sure exhibition games do not count towards the PWR.

They don’t, but what I was getting at that I don’t see UND paying two AHA teams to come to Grand Forks. If they are going to pay a team to come to Grand Forks might as well make it count.

[cberkas]

3 hours ago, burd said:

Any stats (or anecdotal evidence) of injury from Man. games?   

I'm not questioning your cred, cberkas.   I've wondered about that issue myself.

Not that I know of but there was some concern that Sasha got hurt against Manitoba at the end of the game. I think this is the latest UND has played Manitoba in the season. I just remember coaches (mainly back East) bring it up as a reason to not play the USport teams anymore. 
 

I also have wondered if a player gets hurt playing Manitoba would UND still play them.