2025-26 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[beastandco]

Rankings definitely do not matter this time of year but I would not be surprised if UND climbs a few spots. Especially with most of the top teams splitting this weekend.

Bucci has them at 3 which is a bit high. I would be surprised if they are not in the 5-7 range.

[SiouxForever]

Nice to see multiple lines scoring and the defense scoring too. In addition, rookies getting points + Homer playing solid. 

Not a one-dimensional team. I like it. Our D-core + goalie will only get better and more comfortable with time. 

[nascar99]

This team is deeper, more talented, and feels much more connected on a nightly basis than the 2024-25 team did. Last year felt like a solid assortment of talent, but rarely did they click together consistently. The portal additions have been solid and the freshmen have a lot of talent that we're already seeing.

[farce poobah]

Anyone have Zakreski leading the team in plus/minus after week 1?

No more doubts about whether our CHLers are ready.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

6 minutes ago, farce poobah said:

Anyone have Zakreski leading the team in plus/minus after week 1?

No more doubts about whether our CHLers are ready.

Underrated play was his pass out to liver at the point who dished it to Reschny for his bomb. 

[brianvf]

As some of us were talking about (and hoping for) during the off-season...this team passes the eye-test.
Last year, they had flashes of skill and good play, but they never passed the eye-test for the entire game.

I know it is early.  And I know that there will be some rough stretches with how young our forward group is.
But this team looks the part.  Faster, no question.  Better passing already after two games.  Relentless on the puck.  I've seen more takeaways in the offensive and neutral zones than I remember from half the season last year (led directly to one goal each game).

How fun is that 4th line?  Dang.  Might be the best 4th line in the country with how they're playing.

[brianvf]

Geez.

Been way too long for both of these:

Quote

UND improves to 2-0-0 to begin the season and captures its first home-and-home sweep since Jan. 2-3, 2009 against Bemidji State while also recording the program's first win inside Grand Casino Arena, formerly Xcel Energy Center, since March 17, 2018 vs. Minnesota Duluth.

 

[ND_Texan]

Guessing we come in at #3 in the polls this week behind BU and Michigan. 
 

Anyone think Miami will be top 10?

[burd]

Jax has them in arrack mode offensively (while, at the same time, preaching grit and responsibility).   IMO, top talent wants to attack; it’s in their blood.   BB did a lot of things well, but I THINK (don’t know) his teams sometimes chafed at the speed governor that was careful play.

[tnt]

13 hours ago, ND_Texan said:

Guessing we come in at #3 in the polls this week behind BU and Michigan. 
 

Anyone think Miami will be top 10?

Doubt Miami cracks top 10.  Wouldn’t care if we would have to prove a little more ourselves to get top 5, but probably will be there.  For current recruiting it might mean something, but early there is a big discrepancy in play depending on returners and extra summer work.  Thankfully, we should be a team that has plenty of room to grow.

 

[brianvf]

New PP personnel doing well so far:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/sunday-rewind-und-is-taking-a-different-approach-on-the-power-play

Quote

Despite all the new pieces, UND went 4-for-6 on the power play in the two-game series against St. Thomas, helping the Fighting Hawks win 6-2 and 5-2.

Add in the 3-for-7 performance in an exhibition against Manitoba and the new-look Fighting Hawks power play has been incredibly efficient early this season under assistant coach Dillon Simpson.

Quote

The Fighting Hawks have balanced their units.

Jake Livanavage, Cole Reschny, Keaton Verhoeff, Will Zellers and Ellis Rickwood make up one unit. Wiebe, Mac Swanson, Jack Kernan, Ben Strinden and Dylan James are on the other.

 

[mygarske]

26 minutes ago, brianvf said:

New PP personnel doing well so far:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/sunday-rewind-und-is-taking-a-different-approach-on-the-power-play

 

We look at those 2 PP units now, admittedly after a very small sample size, and holy crap!! Other teams are going to watch tape on both & have a serious pucker effect. Which unit do opposing teams put their top PK unit up against?? 🙏 that production continues, which it should as the boys get more familiar with each others tendencies, passing, etc. 

[SIOUXFAN97]

i've obviously seen a bunch of mac playing over the last while.....i just don't really see anything that warrants the hype?  if he super fast?  quick shot? strong in the corners?

what is that makes/made him a blue chippa?

 

[atxsioux]

Are we talking Mac Swanson?

[SIOUXFAN97]

12 minutes ago, atxsioux said:

Are we talking Mac Swanson?

yes.

[brianvf]

23 minutes ago, SIOUXFAN97 said:

i've obviously seen a bunch of mac playing over the last while.....i just don't really see anything that warrants the hype?  if he super fast?  quick shot? strong in the corners?

what is that makes/made him a blue chippa?

His vision and passing are elite.
You don't get to be the USHL Forward of the Year and USHL Player of the Year without being elite.

He obviously had some adjustment time last year coming from the USHL to NCAA speed, but I am guessing he will have a big leap this year.  And even bigger leap next year.
He's gonna be a really fun collegiate player to watch progress...I'm glad we get to watch it in a UND uni.

[scpa0305]

1 hour ago, SIOUXFAN97 said:

i've obviously seen a bunch of mac playing over the last while.....i just don't really see anything that warrants the hype?  if he super fast?  quick shot? strong in the corners?

what is that makes/made him a blue chippa?

 

He’s not a blue chip. He was drafted in the 7th.

Just a really solid offensive mind that works hard. His skating is dicey for a smaller guy and he doesn’t have an elite shot. His passing is really good. He’ll be a load his junior and senior seasons.

[Sioux90]

1 hour ago, SIOUXFAN97 said:

i've obviously seen a bunch of mac playing over the last while.....i just don't really see anything that warrants the hype?  if he super fast?  quick shot? strong in the corners?

what is that makes/made him a blue chippa?

 

You need to see more. He’s smaller, had to adapt to a faster and heavier game. He looks every bit of the part, this year. Just watch and see.

[SIOUXFAN97]

5 minutes ago, Sioux90 said:

You need to see more. He’s smaller, had to adapt to a faster and heavier game. He looks every bit of the part, this year. Just watch and see.

i want to see more...i really kept an eye on him on friday...just didn't really really do anything special imo...hope for an absolute breakout year with the new coaches maybe pushing his buttons more and using his skillz better?

who do you think he reminds you of from previous smaller/ish sioux players in the past years?

[Oxbow6]

Having Mac here vs a guy like Perron is a big win for this squad. You can tell Mac fits the Jax scheme and pace.

Perron struggled to succeed in the marshmallow fluff scheme and pace the past couple seasons.

Now to be fair Sasha would have been a beast under Jax.

[brianvf]

38 minutes ago, SIOUXFAN97 said:

who do you think he reminds you of from previous smaller/ish sioux players in the past years?

to me, he reminds me of a Jordan Kawaguchi type player.  Except Guch had a slightly better shot and Mac is a slightly better passer.
But I imagine that their progression will be similar.

They had very similar stat lines their FR years at UND (Guch had 5-14--19 and Mac 2-16--18).
Guch had a good SO season (26pts) and then exploded his JR/SR years.

[brianvf]

33 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

Perron struggled to succeed in the marshmallow fluff scheme and pace the past couple seasons.

Now to be fair Sasha would have been a beast under Jax.

Crazy to see that Michigan has scored 26 goals this season in only 4 games, but somehow Perron only has one assist so far (and even that was a secondary assist).
I'm sure he'll get his points, but with very similar TOI to the other forwards on that team, he's falling behind quickly.

Agreed on Sacha...that one is still annoying.  He would've had a monster year.  Top 3 centers of Boisvert/Reschny/Rickwood?  Damn.
Not sure who on the team wouldn't have come in though if he would have stayed. 

Either way...still hoping that we take out both Michigan and BU in the NCAA's this year. 

[.357]

5 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Agreed on Sacha...that one is still annoying. 

He said during the NCHC Award Ceremony last spring that he wanted to have his name on the wall with other UND greats. One week later *poof* into the transfer portal. 

[Sioux90]

1 hour ago, SIOUXFAN97 said:

i want to see more...i really kept an eye on him on friday...just didn't really really do anything special imo...hope for an absolute breakout year with the new coaches maybe pushing his buttons more and using his skillz better?

who do you think he reminds you of from previous smaller/ish sioux players in the past years?

Hard to say. He’s unique in his ability to do everything. Mac is a team player, for sure.

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

36 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Crazy to see that Michigan has scored 26 goals this season in only 4 games, but somehow Perron only has one assist so far (and even that was a secondary assist).
I'm sure he'll get his points, but with very similar TOI to the other forwards on that team, he's falling behind quickly.

Agreed on Sacha...that one is still annoying.  He would've had a monster year.  Top 3 centers of Boisvert/Reschny/Rickwood?  Damn.
Not sure who on the team wouldn't have come in though if he would have stayed. 

Either way...still hoping that we take out both Michigan and BU in the NCAA's this year. 

Perron's production for us was mostly on the power play, he's honestly better suited for the Big Ten.

Boisvert staying would probably mean no Josephson. Could turn into a Miller for Gaarder swap in a few years. Fingers crossed.