10 things to know about this weekend's UND-Minnesota rivalry series

Oct. 21—MINNEAPOLIS — Here are 10 things to know ahead of this weekend's UND-Minnesota rivalry series.

The early season meeting between the teams means that both are fairly healthy.

Minnesota is expected to have every player on its roster available for the series.

UND is expected to be without two — forward Dane Montgomery and defenseman Luke Bast. Both have been bothered by nagging injuries during the summer and fall. There's no timeline for their returns.

UND has split starts evenly between goaltenders Drew DeRidder and Jakob Hellsten through the first two weeks of the season.

DeRidder, a fifth-year senior transfer from Michigan State, has started both Friday-night games. Hellsten, a sophomore from Sweden, has started both Saturday-night games.

UND coach Brad Berry didn't tip his hand on his Friday night starter, but when it comes to experience, DeRidder has the big edge.

DeRidder has started more games in 3M Arena at Mariucci (four) than Hellsten has made road starts in his college career (three).

In all, DeRidder played in five games in Mariucci during his four years at Michigan State. He won his first start in the building on Nov. 24, 2018, stopping 28 of 30 shots in a 4-2 Spartans victory. He lost his next three starts — two as a junior and one as a senior. He also came in relief once as a rookie.

Hellsten's three road starts last season were at Colorado College (4-1 win), at Western Michigan (2-0 loss) and at Omaha (4-1 loss). Although Hellsten has not played on an Olympic-sized ice sheet at the college level, he routinely did it growing up in Sweden.

"Drew has played in the Big Ten at Michigan State and played a ton of games in there," Berry said. "Jakob Hellsten played on the Olympic-sized rinks in Europe, too. But to me, it's about staying current all the time. For us, having the availability of the Olympic rink (in The Ralph), is a huge, huge deal of staying current and practicing."

On Minnesota's side, Justen Close is the probable starter in net. Close, who helped the Gophers to the Frozen Four last season, has started three of four games this season for the Gophers. Sophomore Owen Bartoszkiewicz made one start against Lindenwood, a 6-4 Gophers victory.

Close has some experience — albeit brief — in the North Dakota-Minnesota rivalry. He came in relief during UND's 9-3 Thanksgiving Day thrashing of Minnesota in 2019. Gophers starter Jack LaFontaine and backup Jared Moe both were pulled in that contest. Close played 6:13, stopping all three shots he faced.

It is now three seasons since that 9-3 drubbing in 3M Arena at Mariucci, the highest number of goals the Gophers have ever allowed in the nearly 30-year-old building.

Considering the time that has passed, it's quite surprising that a majority of Gophers who suited up in that game are still in college hockey — 12 of 22. It also may be a surprise that only half of those players are still at Minnesota.

Nathan Burke transferred to Bowling Green, Jonny Sorenson is at Alaska (Fairbanks), Ben Brinkman is at Notre Dame, Robbie Stucker is at Vermont, Jack Perbix is at Western Michigan and Moe is at Wisconsin.

The six who remain are Matt Staudacher, Jaxon Nelson, Ryan Johnson, Jackson LaCombe, Bryce Brodzinski and Close.

Only four current UND players were part of that game — Gavin Hain, Mark Senden, Ethan Frisch and Judd Caulfield.

DeRidder isn't the only UND player who has experience against Minnesota while playing for a different school.

Farmer, who played four years at UMass, ran into Minnesota in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season. Minnesota won in overtime.

Minnesota currently has the highest-drafted player in college hockey in Logan Cooley, who went No. 3 overall to the Arizona Coyotes.

Cooley is the second-highest draft pick ever to play for the Gophers, trailing only defenseman Erik Johnson, who went No. 1 overall in 2006.

Minnesota freshman Jimmy Snuggerud (No. 23, St. Louis) and senior Ryan Johnson (No. 31, Buffalo) also are first-rounders.

UND's highest pick is Dylan James, who went No. 40 overall to the Detroit Red Wings this summer. Tyler Kleven went No. 44 to the Ottawa Senators.

UND opened with four home games this season.

This weekend will be its first on the road.

UND's last road game was in March at Omaha. The Fighting Hawks split that series, winning the opener in overtime.

"It's always exciting getting on the road," Frisch said. "It's great being at The Ralph. Obviously we have great facilities and it's a major advantage being (in Grand Forks), but getting on the road is a great time for team bonding and getting to know each other more. It's a good experience."

This month begins a one-month stretch away from The Ralph. UND played Quinnipiac at home on Oct. 15 and won't be at home again until Nov. 11 against Denver.

Minnesota enters the weekend with the nation's No. 1 ranking.

The last time UND played a No. 1-ranked team was Nov. 15-16, 2019, when it traveled to Denver. The Fighting Hawks tied the series opener and won the series finale behind the first-career goal from Josh Rieger. Yes,

it was chicken wing

night.

The Fighting Hawks enter with the No. 7 ranking. It's the first time UND and Minnesota have played as top-10 teams since 2017.

"It's early in the season," Frisch said. "There's been like four games. So, it's not something we focus too much on. The rankings at the end of the year are what matter more. But obviously they're a very skilled group and obviously deserve that No. 1 spot as of right now. We're excited to take them on. It will be a huge challenge for us. It's no better time than coming off a not-so-great weekend to go try and prove ourselves again."

The fortunes of this series have gone back-and-forth in the last decade.

UND enters with the upper hand as of late, winning five of the last six. Prior to that, Minnesota had won five of seven.

"Looking at rankings, obviously, they are No. 1," Senden said. "But we try not to look at that too much. We know, ourselves, we're a great team as well. We're just looking to bring our best for each game."

Teams traditionally roll out two power-play units.

At times this season, the Gophers have used three.

Minnesota loads up the first unit with its high NHL draft picks — LaCombe, Cooley, Snuggerud, Matthew Knies and Nelson. But its second unit has had a lot of success. That unit is run by Mike Koster from the top. Roseau's Aaron Huglen also plays on that unit.

Minnesota is expecting a capacity crowd for both games at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

That did not happen last time the teams played in Minneapolis.

During the 2019 Thanksgiving weekend series, attendance was 8,567 on Thanksgiving Day and 9,823 on Black Friday. Mariucci seats about 10,000.

The Fighting Hawks are hoping some of their fans make their way into the building like last time.

"It's going to be a great weekend," Senden said. "Our fans at The Ralph are the best in college hockey. We know they travel very well down to Mariucci as well. A couple years ago, there was a lot of green in the building. I'm expecting the same thing this weekend. I'm excited to see how our fans travel. We know they're going to be there and they're going to be loud, so we're looking for it."

When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Where: 3M Arena at Mariucci.

Records: UND 2-1-1, Minnesota 3-1.

TV: Bally Sports Extra (GF Ch. 339, 639 HD) on Friday, Bally Sports North (GF Ch. 28/623 HD) on Saturday.

Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM) on Friday, Cat Country (100.3 FM) on Saturday.

Stream: Big Ten Plus.