Keaton Pehrson expected to be available for Minnesota Duluth series
Nov. 8—GRAND FORKS — UND is expecting to get another defenseman back in the lineup this weekend.
Fifth-year senior Keaton Pehrson, who has missed the last five games with a lower-body injury, will be available to play against Minnesota Duluth this weekend in AmsOil Arena.
"He's in," UND coach Brad Berry said. "He's all in."
Pehrson has only suited up in three games for UND this season.
He played 19:56 against Army and 13:17 against Wisconsin in helping the Fighting Hawks win the Ice Breaker Tournament to open the season. He registered an assist against the Badgers.
The following weekend, Pehrson played 13:12 in the series opener against Minnesota — a game he left due to injury with eight minutes to go in the third. He has not played since.
Pehrson traveled to Boston University last weekend for the two-game set against the Terriers but did not play.
"He makes a good first pass," Berry said. "He's a guy who defends extremely well. He's a guy that's a leader who has been in a lot of big games at Michigan for a number of years. And I think there's the leadership side. He's wearing a letter for a reason. Our guys appointed him to be one of our captains. He's a guy, through the good and not-so-good things in a game, he can calm things down — and inspire, too, to get to another level."
The No. 4 Fighting Hawks have had to navigate several injuries on the back end early in the season.
Pehrson has missed five games. Bennett Zmolek missed two after sustaining an injury blocking a shot. Garrett Pyke missed a period and played through an injury he sustained while blocking a shot. Tanner Komzak and Jake Livanavage navigated dings earlier this season, too.
UND has, at times, used forward Dane Montgomery at defense to fill in. Montgomery is back to skating at forward now.
For the first time this season, Berry will have to make a decision on a travel roster.
While everyone made the trip to Boston last weekend, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference has a travel limit of 23 players. UND has 26 on its roster.
The Fighting Hawks will likely leave one player at each position home — a forward, defenseman and goaltender.
Berry said at his Wednesday press conference he has not yet decided the travel roster. The team leaves for Duluth on Thursday morning.
"It's nice to have everybody available," Berry said. "(Athletic trainer) Mark Poolman and his group have done a great job of trying to help speed that along as far as those injuries and getting guys back to full health."
UND went 5-2-1 in its first eight games — all of which were nonconference. The Fighting Hawks begin their NCHC schedule with the two-game set against the No. 18 Bulldogs (7:07 p.m. Friday, 6:07 p.m. Saturday).
Both games will be televised by Midco Sports, which is picking up a feed from Duluth's broadcast. They also will be available on NCHC TV.
Minnesota Duluth is dealing with two longterm health issues.
First-line center Dominic James suffered an injury Week 2 that will keep him out for the rest of the season.
Grand Forks native Cole Spicer, a sophomore, has slotted in at top-line center in his absence. Spicer ranks second on the Bulldogs in goals (four) and fourth in points (seven).
Bulldog defenseman Will Francis is taking the first semester off to undergo cancer treatments.
When: 7:07 p.m. Friday, 6:07 p.m. Saturday.
Where: AmsOil Arena.
TV: Midco Sports (GF Ch. 27/622 HD).
Stream: NCHChockey.com.
Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM).
