UMD @ UND - NCHC Opener

[brianvf]

This will be a tough series. 
UMD comes in at 7-1, fresh off a sweep of UMN.
They've been scoring goals in bunches, especially the Plante line.  They managed to score 12 goals against BSU in their series earlier this season...pretty impressive against that group of trappers.
They thrive on the PP, so UND will need to be disciplined and keep the defensive lapses to a minimum.

Hoping we see Spunar get another chance after his performance against Clarkson.
Last line change will be big to try to matchup against Plante line.  We should have better depth.

Maybe Menghini can get his first goal in a UND sweater against his old club.

Go UND!

[ND_Texan]

Passing was really off this weekend. Need to work on pucks on sticks in shooting and tip-in positions this week. So many missed opportunities this weekend. Gonna need those to click against Duluth. 

[Oxbow6]

Sandy's Dogs off to best start in 15 years. 

[Und Princess]

Let's Go North Dakota!!! My pregame and score Prediction will come out Friday as it does every game day Friday on https://ftstspotlight.blogspot.com/?m=1 !!!! 

 

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

2 hours ago, Oxbow6 said:

Sandy's Dogs off to best start in 15 years. 

However, they lost to Augustana 4-0 so their season is over 😏

Edited Sunday at 02:33 PM by InHeavenThereIsNoBeer

[hawksfan12]

is UMD #3 for UND rivals now?

1. Denver / Minnesota

2. Minnesota / Denver

3. UMD

 

[Big A HG]

10 minutes ago, hawksfan12 said:

is UMD #3 for UND rivals now?

1. Denver / Minnesota

2. Minnesota / Denver

3. UMD

 

 

It's still Minnesota at #1 for the majority of the fan base.  The bitterness seen is similar to how Vikings fans (which most UND fans are) have Packer Derangement Syndrome...though in this case it's Gopher Derangement Syndrome.

[sioux rube]

Be there Saturday. Hoping for a better result than their last home Saturday game 

[Blackheart]

47 minutes ago, hawksfan12 said:

is UMD #3 for UND rivals now?

1. Denver / Minnesota

2. Minnesota / Denver

3. UMD

 

UMD hasn't been much of a rival lately although it looks like they are much improved this year.

[siouxweet]

49 minutes ago, Big A HG said:

 

It's still Minnesota at #1 for the majority of the fan base.  The bitterness seen is similar to how Vikings fans (which most UND fans are) have Packer Derangement Syndrome...though in this case it's Gopher Derangement Syndrome.

Don't play them often but BC would be 3 for me and Michigan 4.

[SiouxFanatic]

Considering Duluth has more than one fan, I find it to be a more entertaining rivalry than Denver. Denver rivalry changed once Gwozdecky left. That guy was awesome.

[hawksfan12]

13 minutes ago, SiouxFanatic said:

Considering Duluth has more than one fan, I find it to be a more entertaining rivalry than Denver. Denver rivalry changed once Gwozdecky left. That guy was awesome.

no kidding. what the hell is wrong with the Denver fanbase? All that winning and they got no one cheering them on.

[Big Green]

1 hour ago, hawksfan12 said:

is UMD #3 for UND rivals now?

1. Denver / Minnesota

2. Minnesota / Denver

3. UMD

 

Denver

UMD 

st clould

w mich

minn

 

[fightingsioux4life]

2 hours ago, Big A HG said:

It's still Minnesota at #1 for the majority of the fan base.  The bitterness seen is similar to how Vikings fans (which most UND fans are) have Packer Derangement Syndrome...though in this case it's Gopher Derangement Syndrome.

And I am proud to have GDS! 

[TwamleyShuffle]

3 hours ago, hawksfan12 said:

is UMD #3 for UND rivals now?

1. Denver / Minnesota

2. Minnesota / Denver

3. UMD

 

After being in attendance at the 5OT game, yes. 

[Wilbur]

I think the weekend comes down to our d core.  Duluth has some good young players, especially their top line of Plante-Plante-Shaugabay.  Max Plante is currently +11 on the year through 8 games. 

I like our d core when they play with a d first mentality and don't cheat defense for offense.  They were pretty solid in front of Jan on Saturday, and if they hold Duluth to 25 shots or less I like our chances. 

We had our success against Gajan last year, but to his credit he's had a nice start to the year.  Probably a Czech vs. Slovakian goaltending matchup on Friday night.  Should be fun. 

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Shutdown line for the Plantabay trio: Croal, Zakreski, and whoever earns it in practice this week. Last change will help negate them, just have to stay out of the box and have the D know their role.

[brianvf]

25 minutes ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

Shutdown line for the Plantabay trio: Croal, Zakreski, and whoever earns it in practice this week. Last change will help negate them, just have to stay out of the box and have the D know their role.

That's what I was thinking too.  Put Croal/Zak/Littler on them and hope that those boys can keep the puck away from them as much as possible.
If they can do that, we should be able to "out-depth" their other lines hopefully.

[nascar99]

19 hours ago, hawksfan12 said:

no kidding. what the hell is wrong with the Denver fanbase? All that winning and they got no one cheering them on.

It's a small fanbase because University of Denver is a small private university, undergraduate enrollment & thus alumni base is tiny compared to Colorado and Colorado State. If those state universities had successful D1 hockey, their fanbase sizes would be at least close to on par with Michigan State.

Denver Metro is also very transplant heavy, thus tons of people in their mid 20s through 50s with no generational ties & thus less loyalty compared to those in the Upper Midwest who've been North Dakota, Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, Wisconsin, etc fans for generations. 

Hockey is popular but still niche in Colorado from what I understand, and NCAA Hockey is extremely niche as we know.

[Goon]

1 hour ago, nascar99 said:

It's a small fanbase because University of Denver is a small private university, undergraduate enrollment & thus alumni base is tiny compared to Colorado and Colorado State. If those state universities had successful D1 hockey, their fanbase sizes would be at least close to on par with Michigan State.

Denver Metro is also very transplant heavy, thus tons of people in their mid 20s through 50s with no generational ties & thus less loyalty compared to those in the Upper Midwest who've been North Dakota, Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, Wisconsin, etc fans for generations. 

Hockey is popular but still niche in Colorado from what I understand, and NCAA Hockey is extremely niche as we know.

The DU fanbase also comes off as being a bunch of snobbish bores. Unfortunately, my nephew played there. I think it's a good thing to hate the Pioneers. 

[cberkas]

1 hour ago, Goon said:

The DU fanbase also comes off as being a bunch of snobbish bores. Unfortunately, my nephew played there. I think it's a good thing to hate the Pioneers. 

I met some parents of players that play(ed) there. They were really nice and had a good conversation with them.

[fightingsioux4life]

6 minutes ago, cberkas said:

I met some parents of players that play(ed) there. They were really nice and had a good conversation with them.

I think @Goon was talking about the rubes that follow the DU program.

[ND_Texan]

3 hours ago, nascar99 said:

It's a small fanbase because University of Denver is a small private university, undergraduate enrollment & thus alumni base is tiny compared to Colorado and Colorado State. If those state universities had successful D1 hockey, their fanbase sizes would be at least close to on par with Michigan State.

Denver Metro is also very transplant heavy, thus tons of people in their mid 20s through 50s with no generational ties & thus less loyalty compared to those in the Upper Midwest who've been North Dakota, Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, Wisconsin, etc fans for generations. 

Hockey is popular but still niche in Colorado from what I understand, and NCAA Hockey is extremely niche as we know.

I lived in Denver for many years. The town is hockey nuts for the Avalanche and really don’t care much about the small private College team. Also, the place is full of California/west coast types who care very little for the sport. 

[Goon]

2 hours ago, cberkas said:

I met some parents of players that play(ed) there. They were really nice and had a good conversation with them.

I am talking about the five fans that are in the bleachers at their arena.  

[burd]

5 hours ago, Goon said:

Unfortunately, my nephew played there. I think it's a good thing to hate the Pioneers. 

Must have been proud, though, Goon.    He was, and is, a hell of a hockey player.