2025-26 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[jk]

14 minutes ago, SJHovey said:

I would guess that 5 of those 10 seasons we were a lock to make the tournament in February.

It's popular now to disparage everything to do with BB, but the facts don't always agree.  I was ready for a change, and for me it was getting dominated by CC and Omaha that did it.  But the NCHC titles didn't happen by accident.  Good players had to be coached well and play hard to win the league.  I haven't looked, but I'm guessing nearly all teams had a worse season than UND's worst season during his tenure.  

Again, I was ready for the change, but I wish people were kinder to someone who gave a lot to the program.

[beastandco]

I ran into Keaton Verhoeff the other day. He talked to me longer than he needed to. Super respectful kid. He said his main focus is winning a natty and loves it here.

[cberkas]

 

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

2 hours ago, jk said:

It's popular now to disparage everything to do with BB, but the facts don't always agree.  I was ready for a change, and for me it was getting dominated by CC and Omaha that did it.  But the NCHC titles didn't happen by accident.  Good players had to be coached well and play hard to win the league.  I haven't looked, but I'm guessing nearly all teams had a worse season than UND's worst season during his tenure.  

Again, I was ready for the change, but I wish people were kinder to someone who gave a lot to the program.

100%, it’s wild to me the crap people say about a proud alumni that did a lot for this program including ending a 16 year national title drought.  Agree a change was needed but no need to kick dirt on an awesome Sioux alum that hung a lot of those banners in the Ralph.

[burd]

For some people, demonizing is a way to strap on the armor and do the difficult thing, like firing an employee or competing in something serious with someone you know.   

[fightingsioux4life]

40 minutes ago, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

100%, it’s wild to me the crap people say about a proud alumni that did a lot for this program including ending a 16 year national title drought.  Agree a change was needed but no need to kick dirt on an awesome Sioux alum that hung a lot of those banners in the Ralph.

Berry is what he is. A solid assistant coach and an even better human being who just couldn't handle the rigors and pressure of running a program of this caliber, especially in March. I harbor no malice towards the man, but the coaching change has worked out better than anyone expected.

[SiouxFanatic]

Berry did what Hakstol could not achieve. He took UND over the finish line in winning #8. Many here like to minimize his impact on it but I’ll forever be grateful. I hope he will return to the REA one day to be honored/celebrated.

The change at HC has been discussed ad nauseam but I think it was/is clear that a different approach to reinvigorate the program was needed. I’ll leave it at that.

[nascar99]

3 hours ago, beastandco said:

I ran into Keaton Verhoeff the other day. He talked to me longer than he needed to. Super respectful kid. He said his main focus is winning a natty and loves it here.

Hope he's back for a sophomore season. Could do wonders for his development as it did for Werenski, McAvoy, Fox, Makar, Hughes, Sanderson, Faber, etc.

[jk]

24 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Hope he's back for a sophomore season. Could do wonders for his development as it did for Werenski, McAvoy, Fox, Makar, Hughes, Sanderson, Faber, etc.

Your list is basically the US Olympic team plus two Norris winners.  Good company.

[beastandco]

13 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Hope he's back for a sophomore season. Could do wonders for his development as it did for Werenski, McAvoy, Fox, Makar, Hughes, Sanderson, Faber, etc.

As of now, he said he’s planning on coming back for another year. He also noted that things could change depending on who drafts him.

[nascar99]

Just watching all of the Through These Doors episodes, it's clear that Jackson is an elite motivator. Had a lot of doubts when the hire was made, if he would be able to bring fresh energy instead of the staleness throughout the program, but I'm glad to have been wrong.

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

34 minutes ago, beastandco said:

As of now, he said he’s planning on coming back for another year. He also noted that things could change depending on who drafts him.

Give him a letter. No idea who gets the C next year though. Definitely need a veteran from the portal.

[hockeytherapy13]

2 hours ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

Give him a letter. No idea who gets the C next year though. Definitely need a veteran from the portal.

Croal should get the C

[Fratt Mattin]

3 hours ago, nascar99 said:

Just watching all of the Through These Doors episodes, it's clear that Jackson is an elite motivator. Had a lot of doubts when the hire was made, if he would be able to bring fresh energy instead of the staleness throughout the program, but I'm glad to have been wrong.

Worth bringing up again how much better Through These Doors has been this year. It had become basically unwatchable the last few seasons. Just a highlight package and 90 seconds of awkward player interviews. Now it's back to real "behind the scenes" content, which is what it was supposed to be.

[SuhakiYeahYeah]

10 hours ago, Fratt Mattin said:

Worth bringing up again how much better Through These Doors has been this year. It had become basically unwatchable the last few seasons. Just a highlight package and 90 seconds of awkward player interviews. Now it's back to real "behind the scenes" content, which is what it was supposed to be.

I anticipate Saturdays 2nd intermission speech

[fargosioux]

11 hours ago, hockeytherapy13 said:

Croal should get the C

Does Wiebe come back next year? Gotta believe he would have a good chance to wear the C if he does.

[dustnyou]

I doubt Weibe is back. He almost signed last year and Calgary traded for him about a month ago. Plus, it’s easier to leave after you win the Natty  

[dden3]

18 hours ago, nascar99 said:

Hope he's back for a sophomore season. Could do wonders for his development as it did for Werenski, McAvoy, Fox, Makar, Hughes, Sanderson, Faber, etc.

He isn't even close to being NHL ready.  His development will progress just fine at UND. See Parises comments about wishing he would have stayed another year. 

[Goon]

I was bored today, so I decided to write this. 

Is UND the Best Team in College Hockey?

 

[siouxfan512]

2 hours ago, dustnyou said:

I doubt Weibe is back. He almost signed last year and Calgary traded for him about a month ago. Plus, it’s easier to leave after you win the Natty  

I'm sure there is a case to make for him staying depending on NIL money, pair that with development and what should be another solid team next season ... who knows? It's also a fine line for what Brynn wants too. You obviously want to keep high end talent but have to make room for the top end guys sitting in the pipeline.

These are all fun questions to discuss and a great place to be. Far better than sitting 4th or 5th in the NCHC and missing out on the tourney again. Not taking a shot at any specific coaches here, but it would be amazing to get back to Hak-era type of success (spare me on the National Championship conversation), I like the idea of being in the NCAA tourney every season and I like the idea of being in the Frozen Four regularly. My son is 11 and loves watching UND hockey (so fun screaming on the couch with him for the tying and winning goals against Miami), he hasn't even experienced it at its peak. Getting to watch your team compete in that tourney year in and year out was always a blast. Being at UN from '03-'08, I had the privilege to watch some of the best to ever put on the Sioux sweater and that was before everyone and their cousin could stream the tourney games from home. I remember having to go cram into Dagwoods to get to watch UND beat Wisconsin (I think to go the Frozen Four, off of I believe an Andrew Kozek goal) .... man, those were good times!

Side note: really awesome to see Jackson showing such a strong start to his head coaching career. There were a lot questions surrounding that decision a year ago and whether or not this was UND going through the same stale routine ... well one season doesn't define a career and the one season isn't even over yet, but for a guy who stuck out being an assistant for that many years under two different head coaches, he earned his shot and seems to be making the most of it. Hiring Brynn was extremely smart, but the guy just bleeds green and is doing some great things. Hope it continues!

[The Sicatoka]

Magic number to a Penrose: 

DU 6
WMU 7

Any combo of points earned by UND or lost by (DU/WMU) totaling that number gets UND an outright Penrose. 

[Goon]

19 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Magic number to a Penrose: 

DU 6
WMU 7

Any combo of points earned by UND or lost by (DU/WMU) totaling that number gets UND an outright Penrose. 

IRC, wasn’t it a UND sweep of SCSU and DU not getting six points in their last series? I thought someone posted that. 

Edited 7 hours ago by Goon

[beastandco]

42 minutes ago, siouxfan512 said:

I'm sure there is a case to make for him staying depending on NIL money, pair that with development and what should be another solid team next season ... who knows? It's also a fine line for what Brynn wants too. You obviously want to keep high end talent but have to make room for the top end guys sitting in the pipeline.

The football team spent a pretty penny to retain a couple of their players recently. It wouldn’t surprise me if the hockey team did the same to retain Livanavage or Wiebe. The hockey team definitely has deeper pockets as well.

[The Sicatoka]

18 minutes ago, Goon said:

IRC, wasn’t it a UND sweep of SCSU and DU not getting six points in their last series? I thought someone posted that. 

The outright title magic numbers going into the weekend were 11 and 12. 

UND got 5; the others did not lose points, hence 6 and 7.

[ND_Texan]

1 hour ago, Goon said:

I was bored today, so I decided to write this. 

Is UND the Best Team in College Hockey?

 

Great analysis. Another thing that impresses me about this team over many in the past years is their ability to shoot the puck. I'd like to know how many goals have grazed the pipes, roofed bar down, or cornered up top blocker side. These guys can fire the puck, and do it with accuracy.