An entertaining trio is set to lead UND this hockey season

Oct. 7—GRAND FORKS — Not many UND hockey players have returned to school after scoring 20 goals.

Only two players have done it in the last decade — Shane Gersich and Brock Boeser.

Five players did it in the previous decade — Jason Gregoire, Ryan Duncan, Jonathan Toews, T.J. Oshie and Travis Zajac.

So, when Riese Gaber passed on NHL offers in the spring to come back for a fourth season, he immediately entered rare company and gave UND one of the most accomplished players in the country.

Entering the season, no player in the country has scored more collegiate goals than Gaber's 46. Only one player has more career points than his 95.

"I think he wants to get to another level," UND coach Brad Berry said. "I know he can. You can see his motivation and the fire in his eyes. I firmly believe that he's going to be a dominant player, which is something he wants to prove before he leaves here."

Gaber won't be riding solo.

He'll have two of college hockey's most dynamic and creative players joining him up front — reigning National Collegiate Hockey Conference rookie of the year Jackson Blake and incoming freshman Jayden Perron.

"The amount of firepower we have is exciting," Gaber said. "The fans are going to be very excited to watch this team this year. I've been waiting since the last game ended last year."

The strength of the 2023-24 UND hockey team will be the forwards.

The Fighting Hawks are deep.

They won't just expect their top two lines to score. Their third and fourth lines also should produce and create mismatches with opponents.

Nine of their forwards are NHL Draft picks, and it's no guarantee they'll all make the lineup every night.

But the highlight will be a trio of sub 6-foot forwards, who can create offense at any time.

"It's nice having those guys on your team," defenseman Keaton Pehrson said, "because they're always dangerous."

Forward Jake Schmaltz added: "They're really skilled players and create a lot, sometimes out of nothing."

Gaber introduced himself to college hockey in the NCHC Pod in Omaha in December 2020, scoring a goal in his first game against Miami.

He had 37 points in back-to-back seasons as a sophomore and junior and has tallied at least 10 goals in every collegiate season.

Gaber has a chance to be the first UND player since Duncan to score double-digit goals in four-straight seasons.

"Obviously, he has one heck of a shot," said forward Cameron Berg, who transferred from Omaha to UND in the summer. "When he gets in open space, there's a good chance it's going in. Away from the game, the leadership aspect he brings is really good for us. He helps the new guys coming in. You learn what the expectations are here and what the tradition is."

Gaber has been particularly effective on the power play, where he scored 18 of his 35 goals during the last two seasons.

He's primarily played on the right flank and scored goals by snapping shots on a downhill attack.

Berry believes Gaber can increase his production at five-on-five, though.

"I think that was part of the reason for him to come back," Berry said. "We knew what he could do on the power play. I think he felt he left something on the table a little bit five-on-five."

Blake introduced himself to college hockey last season. Like Gaber, he also scored in his first collegiate game. Blake's came against Holy Cross in The Ralph.

Blake followed that up by scoring the next weekend against eventual national champion Quinnipiac and the following weekend at national runner-up Minnesota.

His 42-point freshman season has only been outdone once in the last 19 years. Boeser had 60 in 2015-16.

"The first word that comes to mind is fun. . . he's very fun to watch," Gaber said of Blake. "I think he's even taken it up a notch this summer. I'm a big fan of him and the way he carries himself and how he's such a competitor. He cares so much and obviously he's such a special talent. Being able to witness that on a day-to-day basis is very special."

Berry said he expects Blake to be a target of opponents because of his big freshman season.

"I think there are a lot of layers to Jackson Blake and his game," Berry said. "The first layer is his competitiveness. He's got ultra high compete. He wants the puck on his tape. When he doesn't have it, he'll go and get it. And when he does have the puck on his tape, he's making high-level plays.

"Some of the plays he makes when he does have time and space is one thing. But when he doesn't have time and space, and he's in tight situations with a lot of pressure, he seems to always have the puck on his tape. He has a knack for that. And he's a great team guy, too."

Perron's introduction to college hockey will come this month at the Ice Breaker Tournament.

The third-round draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes has a lot of similarities to Blake — he's undersized at 5-foot-9, shoots right-handed, possesses an elite skill level, sees the ice like Nick Schmaltz and has Evan Trupp-like creativity.

He's been making big impressions on his UND teammates during fall practices.

"That kid is going to be something special," Berg said. "He's one of the best kids I've ever played with — as a person and as a player. Sometimes, he makes you go, 'Wow, did he really do that?' He's going to be fun to watch this year."

Gaber agreed.

"The fans are going to love him," Gaber said, "absolutely love him. There's stuff every day I see where I'm like, 'I need to learn that.' He's so fun to watch. His scoring is elite. His shot is elite. He's strong on his edges and he's just so fun to watch. I'm really excited for the fans to get to experience him."

Perron tallied 72 points in 61 games last season for Chicago in the United States Hockey League. In the last 20 years, only two UND recruits have tallied more points in a USHL season — Mike Cichy (76) and Blake (74).

"His ability to play at high speed with the puck is amazing," Berry said. "All I have to tell you and the fans is every time he's on the ice, keep an eye on No. 18, because there's always something positive happening when he's out there."

It's unlikely the trio will ever play on the same line. None of them are centers.

Berg, Owen McLaughlin and Schmaltz are the top candidates to be in the middle of the top two lines.

Gaber and Blake played together at times last season.

Perron and Blake were teammates together in junior hockey with Chicago, but usually did not play on the same line.

"There are a lot of different combinations we can throw together this year," Gaber said. "Any one we throw together has a chance to be successful."

UND freshman defenseman Jake Livanavage has advice for whoever ends up on a line with Blake and Perron. Livanavage played with both for two seasons in the USHL.

"You always have to be ready with those guys," Livanavage said. "You never really know when that puck is going to go on your stick.

"They're two pretty similar players, for sure. But they both bring their own type of game. It's going to be exciting to watch them this year."