From a Gilbert Plains farm, Riese Gaber has become one of college hockey's elite

Mar. 1—GRAND FORKS — Riese Gaber will open FaceTime on his phone at 3:45 p.m. today and begin a game day routine that started when he was playing junior hockey for the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

The first FaceTime call is always to his grandparents, Gwen and Peter Dubek.

They usually give an update on what's happening on their farm just outside of Gilbert Plains, Man. Riese will ask about the animals. They might talk about the weather. His grandpa will encourage him to get in a scrap in the game. His grandma will disagree.

At 3:50, he'll call his mother, Krista, and younger sister, Paige.

Krista always asks about Riese's pregame nap. She might show him what the family cat, Marv, and hamster, Sammy, are up to. She'll fire off a few game-related questions, too. Does he feel ready for the game? How are his teammates doing? What's the expected lineup?

At 3:55, he'll call his father, Mike.

Mike will have positive words of encouragement. He'll finish the call the same way, reminding Riese to "do RG17 things."

Then, Riese Gaber, No. 17, will head to Ralph Engelstad Arena and do his thing.

The UND senior winger has been one of the nation's best players since he stepped onto campus four years ago.

No active player in the country has scored as many college hockey goals as Gaber's 62.

He's climbing UND's career point chart, too.

Gaber has 125. With his next point, he'll match Jordan Kawaguchi's career total. With two points, he'll match Drake Caggiula. With three points, he'll be the highest-scoring UND player in the last decade.

"I can't say enough about Riese Gaber and what he's done," UND coach Brad Berry said.

His time in Grand Forks is dwindling.

Although Gaber could use his free COVID-impacted season to come back, he will likely turn pro at the end of this season.

"Anything can happen, but I've been saying this is my last year," Gaber said. "It's something I've been set on now. It's time for me to move on and I'm ready for the next level. I think I'm at peace with that decision now."

A year ago, he was not.

Gaber wrestled with the idea of signing — he had NHL contract offers — but he ultimately decided to return to school for his senior year.

He said there were two reasons. No. 1: He was unhappy with how last season ended. UND missed the NCAA tournament for the first time in his college career. No. 2: He didn't want to give up what he had in Grand Forks.

"I've really fallen in love with this place," Gaber said. "I wasn't ready to say goodbye to it yet, just knowing I can get one more year in Grand Forks at UND. It's really special to me. I couldn't pass it up."

There was a time Gaber wasn't sure whether he wanted to be a professional hockey player or a professional bull rider.

He grew up hanging out at his grandparents' farm.

On his bus ride home from school in Gilbert Plains, he'd often skip the stop closest to his house and head straight out to the farm, where he'd begin doing tasks. Sometimes, it was feeding and bedding the animals. Other times, it was baling hay or mowing the lawn.

"Doing chores with grandpa was my favorite thing to do," said Gaber, who knew how to drive in elementary school. "I was always his right-hand man."

Riese was so attached to his grandfather that people began referring to them as 'Pete' and 'Re-Pete.'

Gaber loved the animals in particular.

Among his favorite was a bottle-fed calf named Lucky, who became attached to the family. Lucky even joined them at picnics, devouring sour cream and onion potato chips and hot dogs.

They also have a wild turkey named Stan, who loves to hang out with the family on the patio and will pounce at any sign of bread.

"I had the kids out at the farm all the time," Krista said. "They grew up on the farm. It was school, work and hockey. They just loved it and their animals."

Gaber still spends parts of his summers back at the farm.

He's brought some of his UND hockey teammates with him, too.

Griffin Ness, Ethan Frisch, Dane Montgomery and Cooper Moore are among those who have joined him.

"He'll come back here one day," Krista said, "and he'll take over the farm."

Gaber started playing hockey at age 5.

Although he had success, his future was always questioned because of his size.

He was undrafted in the Western Hockey League. When the Dauphin Kings selected him in the fifth round of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League Draft, the 14-year-old Gaber was 4-foot-11 and 95 pounds.

"The GM who drafted me, Marlin Murray, said there were a few chuckles and weird looks in the draft room when he called my name," Gaber said.

But Gaber began producing in the MJHL.

The first college team interested in Gaber was Western Michigan, whose head coach was Manitoban Andy Murray.

The Broncos offered him and gave him 24 hours to make a decision. Gaber took the offer and later signed a National Letter of Intent.

But as Gaber began his United States Hockey League career in Dubuque, he began having second thoughts, wanting to play college hockey closer to home. He asked to get out of his NLI, and the Broncos granted it.

UND immediately called to express interest. Gaber was up front with other teams that showed interest.

"I never thought UND would be an option," Gaber said. "But the coaches called me right after I got out of my NLI. They were all on the call — Bubs (Brad Berry), Dane (Jackson) and Matt Shaw at the time. When I got calls from other teams, I told them my goal was to come to UND, but if things didn't work out, I'd be interested."

It did work out.

Gaber went on a visit to UND before Christmas 2018. Berry offered him on the visit.

"Bubs asked me if I needed time to decide," Gaber said. "I laughed, looked at my dad and said, 'Not a chance.' It was the easiest decision of my life."

Gaber has been a key player from the start at UND.

In his first game, he played second line wing. His center was Shane Pinto. Gaber had a game-high six shots on goal and scored one of them in a 2-0 victory over Miami University in the NCHC Pod.

Gaber finished that season with 21 points in 29 games.

He tallied 37 points as a sophomore and reached the 20-goal mark as a junior.

Before his senior season, Gaber was voted team captain.

"I'm out-out-of-this world proud that he is wearing the 'C,'" his father, Mike, said. "I went to high school with Bob Joyce. Bob came here and was captain. Players like that were captains of UND. Now, my own son is a captain. It's pretty surreal."

Gaber is quick to point out he's not the first UND captain from Gilbert Plains, though.

That distinction belongs to longtime family friend Ashley (Lynch) Shaw, who wore the 'C' for the UND women in 2007-08. She attended a game in January and they took a photo in their UND jerseys.

Gaber's parents say senior weekend and Saturday's postgame tribute will be as emotional for them as it will be for Riese.

Mike spent all week in Grand Forks.

"I'm choking up as we speak here," he said after practice Thursday. "My side of the family, Riese's mother's side, will all be there. We're extremely proud of what he's done in his hockey career. I've spent a little bit more time down here to soak it all in. It's amazing. If I can keep it together (Saturday night), I'll be very fortunate."

Krista said: "I'm still completely lost for words. When people told me what UND fans were like, I did not expect the craziness and the support they give. There are no words to describe that building. The student section absolutely blows my mind. When that place is rocking, there are no words."

Gaber's likely to get one more weekend in The Ralph after this one. UND can clinch home ice for the first round of the NCHC playoffs with a point against the Broncos.

"I just love the community," Gaber said. "It's the sense of community. It's the passion of the people. I think that's what makes any place or culture great. The support we receive — everything from people talking to you at the grocery store, when you're out to eat — that feeling of love and appreciation is so awesome. I've met so many great people. I just love the area. I really have fallen in love with it through the years. It's my favorite place to be now."

While Gaber's grandparents and parents will all be in Grand Forks for this weekend's series, the FaceTime calls will go out as usual.

They'll go in order: grandma and grandpa, mom, dad. They'll each last about five minutes.

Then, he'll go do RG17 things.

When: 7:07 p.m. Friday, 6:07 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Ralph Engelstad Arena.

TV: CBS Sports on Friday; Midco Sports on Saturday.

Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM).

Stream: NCHChockey on Saturday only.