2025-26 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[Und Princess]

1 minute ago, 90siouxfan said:

The bye week is the most dangerous if last year has not been erased.

We will find out! We're in a different position this year compared to last year.  I wonder if there will be a sled hockey event this year like last year during bye week. 

[90siouxfan]

2 minutes ago, Und Princess said:

We will find out! We're in a different position this year compared to last year.  I wonder if there will be a sled hockey event this year like last year during bye week. 

Hopefully the party is well organized and all behavior acceptable. Fingers crossed.

[gfhockey]

1 hour ago, Dustin said:

Current NPI would have a regional (presumably Sioux Falls) look like this:

(3) UND vs. (14) BC

(6) UMD vs (11) Dartmouth

Augie is the host so they would be here

[nodakgirl93]

3 minutes ago, gfhockey said:

Augie is the host so they would be here

Omaha is.

[.357]

26 minutes ago, Scratch said:

It looks to me like the npi is more volatile than pairwise was this time of year and that there is nothing we can do to prevent penn state from jumping us given their upcoming schedule and the huge bonus points they’ll get for just going 2-2 the next two weekends. Gotta hold off western for the last 1 seed

Even though UND swept ASU, their NPI  percentage barely moved over the weekend:

Before Friday: 58.145

Before Saturday: 58.449

Currently: 58.476

Clarkson, Mercyhurst and MN all lost yesterday; & per usual like clockwork, Bemidji St. also lost & is tanking the second half of their season. None of these are helping UND's NPI. Only bright spot yesterday was STT.

--------------------------

Michigan (idle over the weekend):

Before Friday: 60.117

Before Saturday: 60.448

Currently: 60.386

[brianvf]

49 minutes ago, Scratch said:

It looks to me like the npi is more volatile than pairwise was this time of year and that there is nothing we can do to prevent penn state from jumping us given their upcoming schedule and the huge bonus points they’ll get for just going 2-2 the next two weekends. Gotta hold off western for the last 1 seed

NPI is crazy tight for 3-5 right now. If it holds this close toward the end of the season, that series against WMU will be huge for both NCHC standings and NPI. 

[thUNDer]

No worries, it’s not even Valentines Day These guys believe & the sweet roll this year has been a great treat sugar high 😁

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

There's a lot of schadenfreude for Bwahvare and OMac here but little for Perron; my recollection is JP checked out in early 2nd half and it was an open secret he was going to Michigan. He deserves as much disdain as the others, if not more. It's easier to point and laugh because BU is underachieving, but no need to punch down. Focus that energy on the kid who said he stayed close to home for his sister and then quit for an NIL package that will barely cover the additional travel costs for his family.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

4 hours ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

There's a lot of schadenfreude for Bwahvare and OMac here but little for Perron; my recollection is JP checked out in early 2nd half and it was an open secret he was going to Michigan. He deserves as much disdain as the others, if not more. It's easier to point and laugh because BU is underachieving, but no need to punch down. Focus that energy on the kid who said he stayed close to home for his sister and then quit for an NIL package that will barely cover the additional travel costs for his family.

Would be the ultimate if we could end his season in April 

[burd]

17 hours ago, thUNDer said:

No worries, it’s not even Valentines Day These guys believe & the sweet roll this year has been a great treat sugar high 😁

Not just that.   A season full of great hockey and surprising success doesn’t just disappear if the team doesn’t get to the FF.   There’s pleasure in this game beyond bragging rights. 

[Sweethockey]

19 hours ago, Und Princess said:

We will find out! We're in a different position this year compared to last year.  I wonder if there will be a sled hockey event this year like last year during bye week. 

[RhettRingers]

4 hours ago, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

Would be the ultimate if we could end his season in April 

Might need to find two different opponents.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

28 minutes ago, RhettRingers said:

Might need to find two different opponents.

I'm ok with BU and the Gophers not even having a chance.

[burd]

22 hours ago, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

I'm ok with BU and the Gophers not even having a chance.

Me too.  Still, BU and BC may be down in the rankings, but they are both still venomous snakes.   Gophs are a garter snake.  

[Blackheart]

3 hours ago, burd said:

Me too.  Still, BU and BC may be down in the rankings, but they are both still venomous snakes.   Gophs are a garter snake.  

Or a trouser snake.

[brianvf]

Nice.

 

[nodakgirl93]

Verhoeff could have been rookie of the week too. 

[.357]

In a single shift last weekend, Verhoeff made a couple of big blunders (2nd period of Saturday's game): 1) unable to hold the puck in the o-zone with only moderate pressure from an ASU player; 2) while behind his own net & with no ASU player on him, made a drop-pass along the boards that was intercepted & almost led to an ASU scoring chance. All in a span of about 55 seconds. Still very raw, but understandable considering his age. His pace though seems to be improving, but his decision-making isn't quite there yet. He definitely would benefit from another year of NCAA hockey before being thrown to the wolves.

Fair to say that it's very difficult to win a title without solid senior leadership & production. And it goes without saying that UND would be nowhere near as good this year without Strinden, James & Rickwood, who will all be gone next year. Will be interesting to see who the senior leaders will be next year as Menghini will be the only one, unless they can get a senior transfer or two. Seniors provide not only experience & maturity, but they bring a sense of urgency as they know this is their last chance to win a title. 

[I Ranger]

6 minutes ago, .357 said:

In a single shift last weekend, Verhoeff made a couple of big blunders (2nd period of Saturday's game): 1) unable to hold the puck in the o-zone with only moderate pressure from an ASU player; 2) while behind his own net & with no ASU player on him, made a drop-pass along the boards that was intercepted & almost led to an ASU scoring chance. All in a span of about 55 seconds. Still very raw, but understandable considering his age. His pace though seems to be improving, but his decision-making isn't quite there yet. He definitely would benefit from another year of NCAA hockey before being thrown to the wolves.

Fair to say that it's very difficult to win a title without solid senior leadership & production. And it goes without saying that UND would be nowhere near as good this year without Strinden, James & Rickwood, who will all be gone next year. Will be interesting to see who the senior leaders will be next year as Menghini will be the only one, unless they can get a senior transfer or two. Seniors provide not only experience & maturity, but they bring a sense of urgency as they know this is their last chance to win a title. 

This is something I've thought about recently as well. Next year's leadership crew will be quite interesting as like you said very few upperclassmen. I could see Reschny wearing the "C" next year (obviously with the assumption Liv and Weibe are gone). Swanson and Emery as other possibilities. But in the meantime, let's hopefully enjoy a long postseason run this year! 

[Dustin]

2 minutes ago, I Ranger said:

This is something I've thought about recently as well. Next year's leadership crew will be quite interesting as like you said very few upperclassmen. I could see Reschny wearing the "C" next year (obviously with the assumption Liv and Weibe are gone). Swanson and Emery as other possibilities. But in the meantime, let's hopefully enjoy a long postseason run this year! 

This year's team definitely seems to have that sought-after mix of upper-class defensemen, dynamic scoring youth, and rock solid goaltending.  I can't think of a game situation where I wouldn't trust the players to either win a big faceoff, make a big save, or provide relentless sustained pressure.