2025-26 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[SpudsSioux]

It's funny but that game seems SO long ago. It was one, if not the worst, games of his career. Many on here wanted him in a suit the next game and I think many of us watched to see how Jax would handle it. Would Ben get a free pass being a senior and captain? Or would a tone be set. He didn't sit him, but he did bump him down to the fourth line the next game and Ben responded by scoring his first shift. He hasn't looked back since.

I think it shows two things. One, that Jax wasn't all talk. He showed very early that there weren't going to be free passes this year. It also shows that Ben is the type of leader we want and need. He didn't pout; he found another level. When Jax talks about there being a clear delineation between the type of guys that chose to stay and the type that chose to leave, this example sticks out to me.

[SuhakiYeahYeah]

 

 

[RedFrog]

5 hours ago, SpudsSioux said:

It's funny but that game seems SO long ago. It was one, if not the worst, games of his career. Many on here wanted him in a suit the next game and I think many of us watched to see how Jax would handle it. Would Ben get a free pass being a senior and captain? Or would a tone be set. He didn't sit him, but he did bump him down to the fourth line the next game and Ben responded by scoring his first shift. He hasn't looked back since.

I think it shows two things. One, that Jax wasn't all talk. He showed very early that there weren't going to be free passes this year. It also shows that Ben is the type of leader we want and need. He didn't pout; he found another level. When Jax talks about there being a clear delineation between the type of guys that chose to stay and the type that chose to leave, this example sticks out to me.

I was one of the ones who thought he should have watched a game from the stands, but was willing to trust Jax with the right way to handle the situation, which appears to have been managed masterfully.  In retrospect, I also think it was beneficial that the disaster was on a Saturday night where there was a week of practice to work through it ... had it been a Friday night game, I think there is a high probability it would have been handled differently.

Speaking of this, it turned out it was Menghini who sat the Friday game at Clarkson.  Menghini who has 1 goal for 1 point on the year.  I can't say he is playing poorly as I felt he was noticeable for the right reasons this past weekend (speed and hustle), but somehow we need to get this guy contributing more offensively.

[The Sicatoka]

How Menghini clanged iron Saturday night on an open cage ...

Snake.
Bit.

[nascar99]

I know this team is young at many spots, but with how well balanced the roster is assuming good health, they might as well make a deep run this year. No guarantees that all of the key underclassmen are back for 2026-27. Josephson being this good, this important already was not on my radar, he's transitioned from the Dub to North Dakota extremely well.

[jk]

32 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

I know this team is young at many spots, but with how well balanced the roster is assuming good health, they might as well make a deep run this year. No guarantees that all of the key underclassmen are back for 2026-27. Josephson being this good, this important already was not on my radar, he's transitioned from the Dub to North Dakota extremely well.

Plenty of teams have won it off-schedule.  Just in UND's history, 1997 was arguably early and 2000 was late.  By contrast, 2016 was right on time.  

[brianvf]

3 minutes ago, jk said:

Plenty of teams have won it off-schedule.  Just in UND's history, 1997 was arguably early and 2000 was late.  By contrast, 2016 was right on time.  

Due for another early then. 

[Blackheart]

1 hour ago, nascar99 said:

I know this team is young at many spots, but with how well balanced the roster is assuming good health, they might as well make a deep run this year. No guarantees that all of the key underclassmen are back for 2026-27. Josephson being this good, this important already was not on my radar, he's transitioned from the Dub to North Dakota extremely well.

Would like to see Zakreski get back in the mix soon...he was another one of those hustle/energy/hair on fire guys that make life miserable for our opponents.

[brianvf]

2 hours ago, nascar99 said:

I know this team is young at many spots, but with how well balanced the roster is assuming good health, they might as well make a deep run this year. No guarantees that all of the key underclassmen are back for 2026-27. Josephson being this good, this important already was not on my radar, he's transitioned from the Dub to North Dakota extremely well.

The whole freshmen class is outstanding IMO.
Not a "miss" in the group from what I can see.  A few studs and a few guys that are going to be fantastic college players in their JR/SR seasons.
Guys like Ollie and Zakreski are going to be really fun to watch as upperclassmen.

Speaking of upperclassmen...agreed about the earlier take that would love to see Menghini get rolling a bit.  That wide open net post shot on Saturday is how his season has gone so far...hopefully he can turn it around and start getting some goals/points.

[siouxfaninseattle]

1 hour ago, brianvf said:

Due for another early then. 

The next two weekends will tell if this team has "it". They will be playing short but still have plenty of firepower. A 3-1 finish to the first half would tell me this team has "it".

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

6 hours ago, brianvf said:

The whole freshmen class is outstanding IMO.
Not a "miss" in the group from what I can see.  A few studs and a few guys that are going to be fantastic college players in their JR/SR seasons.
Guys like Ollie and Zakreski are going to be really fun to watch as upperclassmen.

Speaking of upperclassmen...agreed about the earlier take that would love to see Menghini get rolling a bit.  That wide open net post shot on Saturday is how his season has gone so far...hopefully he can turn it around and start getting some goals/points.

Thats the wild part is that there isn’t a miss or a guy that’s looked lost. Every guy has looked at minimum capable but more often, outstanding, when judging by what we’ve expected freshmen to produce in the past.  And we haven’t even hit Christmas break, exciting stuff 

[beastandco]

10 hours ago, nascar99 said:

I know this team is young at many spots, but with how well balanced the roster is assuming good health, they might as well make a deep run this year. No guarantees that all of the key underclassmen are back for 2026-27. Josephson being this good, this important already was not on my radar, he's transitioned from the Dub to North Dakota extremely well.

If they are able to keep all of their underclassman around, watch out. This team could be fun to watch next season. Losing Verhoeff and maybe Reschny for next season is a worry of mine. I really hope those two stick around for another year.