Preview: Bemidji State at No. 1 UND
Nov. 24—GRAND FORKS — UND is entering this weekend with the nation's No. 1 ranking.
But the Fighting Hawks haven't been too fixated on that recognition this week.
"We're kind of happy with where we are, but we still have a lot to improve on," UND forward Cameron Berg said. "The No. 1 is a huge honor, but for us, we don't care that we're No. 1 right now. We want to be No. 1 in the end."
UND will try to improve its nonconference record this weekend with a pair of games against Bemidji State (7:07 p.m. Friday, 6:07 p.m. Saturday).
The Fighting Hawks are 5-2-1 in nonconference and 4-0 in National Collegiate Hockey Conference play.
"It's definitely exciting to keep the train rolling, back out of conference," UND defenseman Keaton Pehrson said. "These points are always huge. They've got a good team and they're going to play hard, fast and physical."
After this weekend, there are only two nonconference games left — a home series against Alaska in January.
Although the UND-Bemidji State series often is one game at each place, this weekend, it's two in Grand Forks.
In the past, the teams used to play a two-game set in Grand Forks once every three years. They recently changed their scheduling agreement to make it once every four years.
So, the next three seasons, the teams will play one in Bemidji and one in Grand Forks.
By the end of that stretch, there will be no Zmoleks playing in this series anymore.
For the past four years, Will Zmolek has been an anchor on Bemidji State's defensive corps. This season,
UND is happy to have Bennett Zmolek on its side.
"They're all the same," Bemidji State coach Tom Serratore said about the three hockey-playing Zmolek brothers. "They have the same mindset. They're all coachable. They're all team-first guys. They're awesome."
UND Stat BSU
3.6 (7th) Off 2.9 (34th)
2.1 (3rd) Def 3.8 (59th)
17.4 (37th) PP 16.4 (42nd)
84.2 (20th) PK 65.8 (64th)
55.3 (3rd) FO 46.8 (53rd)
.914 (13th) SP .867 (63rd)
National rank in parenthesis. Categories are offense (goals per game), defense (goals against per game), power play percentage, penalty kill percentage, faceoff percentage and team save percentage.
UND — F Jake Schmaltz (upper body) doubtful
BSU — G Mattias Sholl (lower body) out
The most dangerous forward on Bemidji State's roster is sophomore Lleyton Roed of White Bear Lake, Minn. He was a standout in junior hockey for the Tri-City Storm, helping them to a United States Hockey League Anderson Cup as the best regular-season team in 2021-22. Roed parlayed that into a big freshman season with the Beavers, tallying 13 goals and 31 points. Now, he's off to a good start as a sophomore, leading the Beavers with eight goals.
On Wednesday, Jackson Kunz was on fire in practice. He beat two goaltenders on wrist shots from distance — the first of which drew a reaction from his teammates. That's one of Kunz's big strengths. Another is scoring around the top of the paint — which he's done against Bemidji State in the past. Sometimes, performances at practice can carry over to games. Kunz might be due for his first goal of the season this weekend.
UND has played some ugly nonconference games the day after Thanksgiving in the last decade. Losses to St. Lawrence (5-2), Michigan State (4-3) and Union (4-1) come to mind. UND has actually been much better on the road Thanksgiving weekend. But the Fighting Hawks are home this year and will have to try to find a way to avoid the post-Thanksgiving letdown.
Friday: UND 4, Bemidji State 3
Saturday: UND 5, Bemidji State 2
Herald:
This time, UND will have the Zmolek on its side
Herald:
Q&A with captain Riese Gaber
Herald:
Jake Schmaltz getting close to a return
Podcast:
After turning over all of its D-men, how did UND become No. 1 so fast?
Herald:
Jordan Kawaguchi turns the page from pro hockey career
Herald:
Bemidji State games have been wild rides this season
Herald:
Get to know UND backup goalie Hobie Hedquist
Herald:
UND takes over nation's No. 1 ranking
NCHC:
Under new coach Dillon Simpson, UND's 'D' is coming together
Bemidji Pioneer:
Alexander Lundman is sparking comebacks for the Beavers
Scoring
9 Jackson Blake (CAR), so, f, 8-7—15
17 Riese Gaber, sr, f, 7-5—12
22 Owen McLaughlin (PHI), so, f, 3-8—11
28 Hunter Johannes, 5th, f, 6-3—9
14 Cameron Berg (NYI), jr, f, 2-7—9
7 Garrett Pyke, 5th, d, 0-9—9
18 Jayden Perron (CAR), fr, f, 7-0—7
27 Louis Jamernik V, sr, f, 2-4—6
6 Logan Britt, 5th, d, 2-3—5
26 Dylan James (DET), so, f, 1-3—4
8 Jake Schmaltz (BOS), jr, f, 0-4—4
21 Ben Strinden (NSH), so, f, 2-1—3
4 Jake Livanavage, fr, d, 1-2—3
29 Jackson Kunz (VAN), jr, f, 0-3—3
20 Keaton Pehrson, 5th, d, 0-3—3
13 Carson Albrecht, sr, f, 1-1—2
11 Griffin Ness, sr, f, 1-1—2
2 Bennett Zmolek, so, d, 0-2—2
25 Abram Wiebe (VGK), fr, d, 0-1—1
5 Dane Montgomery, so, f-d, 0-1—1
15 Nate Benoit (MIN), fr, d, 0-0—0
24 Michael Emerson (CAR), fr, f, 0-0—0
10 Tanner Komzak, fr, d, 0-0—0
32 Ludvig Persson, sr, g, 0-0—0
30 Hobie Hedquist, f, g, dnp
1 Kaleb Johnson, so, g, dnp
Goaltending
32 Ludvig Persson, sr, 9-2-1, 2.00, .917
30 Hobie Hedquist, f, g, dnp
1 Kaleb Johnson, so, g, dnp
Scoring
7 Kyle Looft, 5th, d, 5-10—15
29 Lleyton Roed, so, f, 8-3—11
19 Jackson Jutting, sr, f, 5-4—9
23 Eric Pohlkamp (SJS), fr, d, 4-4—8
9 Carter Jones, 5th, f, 0-8—8
11 Eric Martin, sr, f, 0-7—7
20 Kirklan Irey, so, f, 2-3—5
22 Austin Jouppi, sr, f, 1-4—5
21 Alexander Lundman, jr, f, 1-3—4
27 Jake McLean, fr, f, 3-0—3
8 Adam Flammang, so, f, 2-1—3
14 Liam Engstrom, fr, f, 2-1—3
25 Vince Corcoran, so, d, 0-3—3
16 Jere Vaisanen, jr, f, 1-1—2
12 Patrik Satosaari, so, d, 0-2—2
28 Kasper Magnussen, fr, f, 1-0—1
6 Mitch Wolfe, so, d, 0-1—1
15 Logan Acheson, so, d, 0-1—1
2 Tony Follmer, jr, d, 0-0—0
5 Will Magnuson, jr, d, 0-0—0
17 Noah Quinn, fr, f, 0-0—0
26 Jakub Lewandowski, jr, f, 0-0—0
18 Rhys Chiddenton, fr, f, 0-0—0
13 Donte Lawson, jr, f, 0-0—0
3 Jack Powell, sr, d, 0-0—0
1 Gavin Enright, sr, g, 0-0—0
30 Mattias Sholl, jr, g, 0-0—0
35 Raythan Robbins, so, g, 0-0—0
Goaltending
1 Gavin Enright, sr, 4-5, 3.22, .871
30 Mattias Sholl, jr, 1-2, 3.30, .910
35 Raythan Robbins, so, 0-0, 6.48, .778
