2025-26 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[thUNDer]

No worries, guys excited, keep winning & that will make for an electric atmosphere & guys will be dialed in as playoff locks.

[Goon]

21 hours ago, hockeytherapy13 said:

You can't be serious. Do you really not see a change or are you just upset that we've had some mental lapses here and there? There is a remarkable difference in the way this team plays compared to the past 4ish years. They find a way to score first almost every game and even most of the games they don't score first, they get the goal back in short order. When they are up by 1 they look like a team that is down by 2. Even when they are up by 2-3 They don't sit back and hold the line, they keep forechecking hard and often build their lead. The identity of this team is light years away from what we saw the last few seasons

I think UND with all of the young players that they have, has done a good job closing out game that they would've found a way to lose last season. If you listen to the UND Podcast, Schloss brought up a point that I thought was really good. UND is wearing teams down, with their depth. I agree. I saw it again last weekend against Mercyhurst. They've lost one game in 13, that's not too bad. I don't think that UND has reached its full potential, yet. 

[brianvf]

Looking at scheduling moving forward with the Spengler and WJC:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-may-re-examine-how-it-schedules-games-over-christmas-break

Quote

With a high probability of the Selects returning to the Spengler Cup in the future and the likelihood of UND recruiting more World Junior Championship players in the coming years, the Fighting Hawks may have to re-examine how they schedule games over Christmas break.

"We've been discussing that actually," UND coach Dane Jackson said. "I've always liked our Christmas schedule, how we give the guys a good break. They can go home and enjoy their families and not be stressed about getting back and getting ready for important games. We've usually scheduled that USA (exhibition) game."

Quote

UND has already locked in a series against Clarkson University on Jan. 1-2, 2027. It will occur during the World Junior Championship, which is scheduled to be played in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta. If college hockey sends a team to the Spengler Cup again, it will be even more difficult to get players back in time, because the event ends Dec. 31.

"Some of our schedule is locked in two years ahead," Jackson said, "but it's something we'll definitely bake into our schedule and planning."

 

[nascar99]

Gotta give Jackson/staff, the players, etc a ton of credit for what we've seen lately. Winning 12 of 13 in any season is extremely impressive.

 

After the coaching change, players lost to graduation/portal, & clear roster holes, not many would have been able to fathom a winning stretch like this one.

[RhettRingers]

4 hours ago, nascar99 said:

Gotta give Jackson/staff, the players, etc a ton of credit for what we've seen lately. Winning 12 of 13 in any season is extremely impressive.

 

After the coaching change, players lost to graduation/portal, & clear roster holes, not many would have been able to fathom a winning stretch like this one.

In Dane We Trust

[RhettRingers]

I remember there were lots of doubters after the hire. Chyz has been hitting home run after home run finding the right guys for the program. Guy has been pounding the pavement since day 1. You can't rely on the history and tradition of the program to run itself.

[RhettRingers]

Also have been hearing some big names giving their silent commitment. Not wanting to stir the pot with their current CHL teams.

[Sweethockey]

2 hours ago, RhettRingers said:

I remember there were lots of doubters after the hire. Chyz has been hitting home run after home run finding the right guys for the program. Guy has been pounding the pavement since day 1. You can't rely on the history and tradition of the program to run itself.

I seem to remember a bit of opposition to hiring Smaby too. I like where the program is today and looking forward to the future.

[rochsioux]

While I am encouraged by the overall play by the team so far, I have to temper my enthusiasm a bit when I look at our strength of schedule (30th). Our record against top 20 ranked teams is 1-1 (#5 Duluth), it is 3-1 against the top 20 in NPI (1-1 #4 Duluth, 2-0  #19 St.Thomas). Can’t complain about their record, just a bit concerned about the quality of the teams they’ve played so far. They have a few good tests with high ranked teams the rest of the way (Denver, at Duluth, at WMU).

[Godsmack]

3 minutes ago, rochsioux said:

While I am encouraged by the overall play by the team so far, I have to temper my enthusiasm a bit when I look at our strength of schedule (30th). Our record against top 20 ranked teams is 1-1 (#5 Duluth), it is 3-1 against the top 20 in NPI (1-1 #4 Duluth, 2-0  #19 St.Thomas). Can’t complain about their record, just a bit concerned about the quality of the teams they’ve played so far. They have a few good tests with high ranked teams the rest of the way (Denver, at Duluth, at WMU).

I was thinking something similar along those lines with regards to our league play coming up. Definitely gets more challenging in the second half.

[burd]

4 minutes ago, Godsmack said:

I was thinking something similar along those lines with regards to our league play coming up. Definitely gets more challenging in the second half.

Yup.   We’ll know a lot more even a month from now.   

[fightingsioux4life]

1 hour ago, rochsioux said:

While I am encouraged by the overall play by the team so far, I have to temper my enthusiasm a bit when I look at our strength of schedule (30th). Our record against top 20 ranked teams is 1-1 (#5 Duluth), it is 3-1 against the top 20 in NPI (1-1 #4 Duluth, 2-0  #19 St.Thomas). Can’t complain about their record, just a bit concerned about the quality of the teams they’ve played so far. They have a few good tests with high ranked teams the rest of the way (Denver, at Duluth, at WMU).

However this season ends, we have seen this program improve by leaps and bounds in a very short period of time. The future looks bright. It's a big improvement from the abyss we were staring into after the Frozen Faceoff semifinal loss back in March.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

2 hours ago, rochsioux said:

While I am encouraged by the overall play by the team so far, I have to temper my enthusiasm a bit when I look at our strength of schedule (30th). Our record against top 20 ranked teams is 1-1 (#5 Duluth), it is 3-1 against the top 20 in NPI (1-1 #4 Duluth, 2-0  #19 St.Thomas). Can’t complain about their record, just a bit concerned about the quality of the teams they’ve played so far. They have a few good tests with high ranked teams the rest of the way (Denver, at Duluth, at WMU).

To be fair we lost in OT to UMD and beat the piss outta them the following night 5-1 outshooting them nearly 2-1

[brianvf]

Dane had a brief update on Zakreski during the weekly press conference.
Essentially said that he's walking around more normal now but hasn't gotten back out on the ice yet...but that he is close to starting on-the-ice training.
Would be great to have him back for the Feb/Mar push, but we'll see how quickly he progresses once he's back on the ice.

[Snake]

15 hours ago, rochsioux said:

While I am encouraged by the overall play by the team so far, I have to temper my enthusiasm a bit when I look at our strength of schedule (30th). Our record against top 20 ranked teams is 1-1 (#5 Duluth), it is 3-1 against the top 20 in NPI (1-1 #4 Duluth, 2-0  #19 St.Thomas). Can’t complain about their record, just a bit concerned about the quality of the teams they’ve played so far. They have a few good tests with high ranked teams the rest of the way (Denver, at Duluth, at WMU).

I agree we have some true tests coming up, but I’m very impressed how this team has navigated the first half given all of the turnover and youth on the roster. They’ve displayed a calmness and consistency you don’t usually see from teams in this situation.  I give credit to the coaching staff for a consistent message and game plan, and establishing a #1 guy between the pipes sure helps too!

[burd]

6 minutes ago, Snake said:

I agree we have some true tests coming up, but I’m very impressed how this team has navigated the first half given all of the turnover and youth on the roster. They’ve displayed a calmness and consistency you don’t usually see from teams in this situation.  I give credit to the coaching staff for a consistent message and game plan, and establishing a #1 guy between the pipes sure helps too!

SOS to this point ranked 30, so they’re about to face some tough sledding.   

[Dustin]

Right now, the difference between the #1 overall seed and the #2 overall seed is a first round game against #27 Holy Cross or #15 UConn.  Only conference to have their top team outside of the #1-16 NPI is Atlantic Hockey.  At #15, UConn is ahead of all Beanpot schools (BC, BU, H, NE), Hockey East's "second tier" (UNH, Maine, Providence), and the Minnesota "saints" (St. Thomas, St. Cloud), so all of the those are currently on the outside looking in.  I know there's a lot to be determined in the next two months, but it's possible that HEA may only get one team, but the ECAC could get four, and CCHA two.

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

17 minutes ago, Dustin said:

Right now, the difference between the #1 overall seed and the #2 overall seed is a first round game against #27 Holy Cross or #15 UConn.  Only conference to have their top team outside of the #1-16 NPI is Atlantic Hockey.  At #15, UConn is ahead of all Beanpot schools (BC, BU, H, NE), Hockey East's "second tier" (UNH, Maine, Providence), and the Minnesota "saints" (St. Thomas, St. Cloud), so all of the those are currently on the outside looking in.  I know there's a lot to be determined in the next two months, but it's possible that HEA may only get one team, but the ECAC could get four, and CCHA two.

Those CCHA schools have a lot of landmines to dodge with little upside for their wins; if they are still there in 2 months they'll have earned it.

[burd]

Seems like a strong second half will help keep major junior players currently on the roster and help convince others to come based on what current players share about UND.  It’s fun to win, even when it takes a lot of hard work.   Money counts, but these kids are still impressionable.   
 

How do I know that?  I don’t, but it sounds pretty good.  

[siouxfaninseattle]

56 minutes ago, burd said:

Seems like a strong second half will help keep major junior players currently on the roster and help convince others to come based on what current players share about UND.  It’s fun to win, even when it takes a lot of hard work.   Money counts, but these kids are still impressionable.   
 

How do I know that?  I don’t, but it sounds pretty good.  

I would hope that winning trumps money at the age the players are. But maybe not. Sigh...

[Big Green]

18 minutes ago, siouxfaninseattle said:

I would hope that winning trumps money at the age the players are. But maybe not. Sigh...

Winning becomes more important as you get older. When young you take the money and bet on yourself you will win also 

[burd]

5 minutes ago, Big Green said:

Winning becomes more important as you get older. When young you take the money and bet on yourself you will win also 

I would say that winning such things as hockey games means a whole lot less as you grow older.  You’re probably right, though, that a lot of these guys think they can and will get both.