2025-26 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[dustnyou]

2 hours ago, SiouxForever said:

He’s an important piece towards a National Title. Makes the team better/more depth. Play him. 

Greatly improves the PK 

[tnt]

7 hours ago, cberkas said:

I almost rather have Zakreski take a red shirt

He is already 20 years old, will he stay around that long if he already has his degree.  I would imagine he could have a career playing overseas he might want to start.

[tnt]

2 hours ago, SiouxForever said:

He’s an important piece towards a National Title. Makes the team better/more depth. Play him. 

 

26 minutes ago, dustnyou said:

Greatly improves the PK 

Would like to see him and Croal together again and another option on the penalty kill.  Don’t need extra wear and tear on Swanson with his dual play on the power play.  More chance of Swanson to get outmuscled as well. If we can get Zakreski up to speed, could definitely use another dog on bone penalty killer, and player in general.

[Blackheart]

Just now, tnt said:

Would like to see him and Croal together again on the penalty kill.  

Dude, you just got my hopes up...here's to him getting up to speed quickly!

[stoneySIOUX]

Awesome story about Chyz on USCHO.

https://www.uscho.com/2026/02/05/from-on-ice-leader-to-war-room-presence-north-dakota-gm-chyzyk-key-to-alma-maters-efforts

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2026/02/05_Rickwood-The-Rock.php

 

[brianvf]

Nice Schloss piece on Menghini and his transfer from UMD to UND:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/only-a-childhood-dream-could-pull-anthony-menghini-away-from-minnesota-duluth

Quote

Menghini watched UND go through a tumultuous offseason. UND fired head coach Brad Berry and hired former associate head coach Dane Jackson. UND lost six forwards to graduation and three more transferred out. The Fighting Hawks had significant holes to fill at forward. Menghini knew this was his best chance.

He called his grandparents and told them he was going to enter the transfer portal. He told them he hoped he'd end up at UND. Menghini had a swarm of suitors, but it ended quickly after Jackson called and said, "We missed on you the first time. We're not going to let this slip again."

"It was my dream to come here to start," Menghini said. "That didn't happen. So when I got the opportunity to come play for North Dakota, I had to take it."

 

[Sodbuster]

11 hours ago, brianvf said:

Nice Schloss piece on Menghini and his transfer from UMD to UND:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/only-a-childhood-dream-could-pull-anthony-menghini-away-from-minnesota-duluth

 

Talk about bleeding green!

[brianvf]

DU looking like they'll win, which will pull them back within 2 points of us in the standings.
They have an "easy" remaining schedule with series against 9th place UNO and 8th place ASU.
But we do still have two games in hand on them.

So if we can take care of business against Miami and SCSU at home...and either UNO or ASU can steal some points from DU...hopefully things are wrapped up prior to our last WMU series on the road.

[tnt]

2 minutes ago, brianvf said:

DU looking like they'll win, which will pull them back within 2 points of us in the standings.
They have an "easy" remaining schedule with series against 9th place UNO and 8th place ASU.
But we do still have two games in hand on them.

So if we can take care of business against Miami and SCSU at home...and either UNO or ASU can steal some points from DU...hopefully things are wrapped up prior to our last WMU series on the road.

Don’t need any help as long as we sweep Miami and St. Cloud.

[Blackheart]

1 hour ago, tnt said:

Don’t need any help as long as we sweep Miami and St. Cloud.

Miami looking tough; sweep gonna take some work.

[cberkas]

5 minutes ago, Blackheart said:

Miami looking tough; sweep gonna take some work.

I think Miami keeps one game close, not going to be easy like they have been the last few years. 

[Blackheart]

5 minutes ago, cberkas said:

I think Miami keeps one game close, not going to be easy like they have been the last few years. 

agreed

[cberkas]

3 minutes ago, Blackheart said:

agreed

The two at Western and two at Denver were their worst losses. ASU got two goals under a minute to win 4-1. Two empty net goals against Michigan Tech to lose 5-2. An empty net goal against St. Cloud under a minute lost 4-2. All their losses outside Western and Denver are close. 

[jk]

St Cloud and Miami have both been good down the stretch.  The league is tough.

[fightingsioux4life]

1 hour ago, jk said:

St Cloud and Miami have both been good down the stretch.  The league is tough.

We'll have to show up all four games. That being said, these are all home games this team can, should and must win.

[siouxfaninseattle]

1 hour ago, fightingsioux4life said:

We'll have to show up all four games. That being said, these are all home games this team can, should and must win.

They will have to play better than they did this weekend. Very fortunate to get 4 points.

[tnt]

2 hours ago, siouxfaninseattle said:

They will have to play better than they did this weekend. Very fortunate to get 4 points.

Let’s give Duluth some credit, they are no slouch.  They have the top line in the country as far as I’m concerned, and as Jackson said they play very well defensively.

[fightingsioux4life]

24 minutes ago, tnt said:

Let’s give Duluth some credit, they are no slouch.  They have the top line in the country as far as I’m concerned, and as Jackson said they play very well defensively.

Duluth is much better than last year, although that doesn't take much.

[Dustin]

NCAA Hockey National Rankings

Why would this NPI chart show the cut line after 14?  There are 5 conferences represented in the top 15, so only Atlantic Hockey would be left for the 16th team.

[BigGreyAnt41]

1 hour ago, Dustin said:

NCAA Hockey National Rankings

Why would this NPI chart show the cut line after 14?  There are 5 conferences represented in the top 15, so only Atlantic Hockey would be left for the 16th team.

Is it computing "NCAA Independent" as though it's another conference with an auto-bid?

[Dustin]

4 hours ago, BigGreyAnt41 said:

Is it computing "NCAA Independent" as though it's another conference with an auto-bid?

That's a thought, however, I believe there have been past charts with the cut line after 15.

[Blackheart]

Obviously a good season for the boys.  I think the next 3 weeks will be challenging with a resurgent Miami team next week followed by Clown College (at home) and Western (on the road).  UND's strength of schedule is currently at 27; SOS should get a little better after these next three series.  Should we take any pause that the Sioux haven't been tested enough or is it just a lot of math right now?  Just not understanding how NPI works exactly and how important all the different inputs are.

[Blackheart]

Miami seems to be back as they have won 5 of their last 6 with sweeps against Omaha and St Cloud, plus a split with Western Michigan.  They have a very good first line so North Dakota cannot sleep on the Redhawks.  I'm thinking Friday game close with Sioux eeking out the win and then Saturday UND takes them to the woodshed.  Would not be surprised to see them come out of the Forks with points though.  This is assuming UND has their full complement of players; including Reschny and Zmolek.

[cberkas]

8 minutes ago, Blackheart said:

Miami seems to be back as they have won 5 of their last 6 with sweeps against Omaha and St Cloud, plus a split with Western Michigan.  They have a very good first line so North Dakota cannot sleep on the Redhawks.  I'm thinking Friday game close with Sioux eeking out the win and then Saturday UND takes them to the woodshed.  Would not be surprised to see them come out of the Forks with points though.  This is assuming UND has their full complement of players; including Reschny and Zmolek.

They also have balanced scoring.