Hunter Johannes returns to his old home arena for regional

Mar. 28—MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — UND made it no secret during the second half of the season that it wanted to play in the Sioux Falls Regional.

There's one guy on the roster who is OK with the assignment in suburban St. Louis, though.

UND fifth-year senior Hunter Johannes is back in the building where he played last year as a member of the Lindenwood Lions.

"It's amazing," Johannes said after Thursday's practice. "It's a happy time. Obviously, it's regionals and we're all happy to just be playing. To be at this rink, where I was playing last year, brings even more excitement for me. Hopefully, I can help bring that throughout the rest of the team and we can get a win here."

UND will take on Michigan at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Centene Community Ice Center, which serves as the practice facility for the St. Louis Blues and the home rink for Lindenwood.

As a first-year Division-I program last season, Lindenwood had just four home games. Johannes scored two goals and tallied six points in those games at Centene Community Ice Center.

Johannes, a 6-foot-3, 217-pound winger from Eden Prairie, Minn., said he learned a lot in his year at Lindenwood.

"A lot of growth, I would say," Johannes said. "A lot of development in my game. Obviously, I played against North Dakota and Michigan and these bigger teams. It was a good learning lesson for me and lots of traveling. I definitely grew a lot."

Johannes credited Lindenwood coach Rick Zombo with helping his development.

Zombo played college hockey at UND in the 1980s and took Lindenwood from a club program to a Division-I team. Lindenwood fired Zombo earlier this month.

"He took a lot of time to do one-on-one coaching with me and help me get here," Johannes said. "I wouldn't be here on this North Dakota team without him."

Johannes went into the NCAA transfer portal last spring after his year at Lindenwood. It was his second time transferring. Johannes spent his first three years at American International.

"Obviously, my goal as a kid has always been to play in the NHL," Johannes said. "You do what you have to do to try to keep moving up the ranks. Fortunately, I had a good season. I wanted to take another step. When I went into the portal, I got a call from my dream school and I couldn't pass it up."

Johannes has been used up-and-down the lineup this season for UND.

He has 11 goals and 18 points in 30 games, despite missing a month-and-a-half with a lower-body injury.

This will be Johannes' second NCAA tournament game.

His first one, ironically, came against UND. Johannes played for American International, which lost to the Fighting Hawks in the first round of the 2021 tournament.

Now, he's on UND's squad.

"I just keep having cool things happen in my life over my hockey career," Johannes said. "God just keeps giving me good blessings. I'm just really thankful to be here. I'm thankful for the coach here, Brad Berry, and all my new teammates. It's been an amazing year."

Although he's back in the St. Louis area, Johannes doesn't plan on spending much time at his old favorite places.

"I don't think we're going across the river back to the St. Charles area," he said. "We're just trying to stick to our schedule and do what we have to do to win these games. Obviously, I'm very, very happy to be here. But we have a job to do."

Where: Centene Community Ice Center, Maryland Heights, Mo.

Friday's semifinals: Michigan State vs. Western Michigan, 4 p.m., UND vs. Michigan, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday's final: Semifinal winners, 5:30 p.m.

TV: ESPNU.

Stream: ESPN Plus.

Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM), UND games only.