Riese Gaber shows versatility with backhand goal in win over Wisconsin
Oct. 14—GRAND FORKS — Riese Gaber is one point closer to joining the Century Club.
Gaber went top shelf with the backhand for his second goal of the season in the second period of UND's 2-0 win over Wisconsin Saturday.
It was a different look than most, if not all, of Gaber's goals at UND.
He doesn't remember scoring on the backhand in his four years in Grand Forks.
The goal pushes Gaber's career points to 98. He needs two more to join former Hobey Baker Award finalist Jordan Kawaguchi and Drake Caggiula as the only UND players to hit 100 points in the last 10 seasons.
The Fighting Hawks hoisted the Ice Breaker Tournament championship trophy after beating Army and Wisconsin at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
"That's the most fun I've had playing hockey in a long time," Gaber said. "That feeling of winning in the Ralph, sweeping in the Ralph, the crowd's into it. It's my favorite thing in the world."
Coach Brad Berry is used to Gaber keeping the puck on his forehand, but his goal Saturday was an example of the Grade-A chances Berry discusses with his team.
"Trying to find that open area while a guy is on you, and then to try to get it above the goaltender on a backhand, that's high end skill," Berry said. "I was glad to see him get that goal. You could tell he was fired up after he scored that."
Consistency was a big piece of Gaber's game he improved this offseason. Maintaining the same energy level shift to shift and being harder on pucks were goals heading into the season.
"Gained some weight this summer, so that was big for my confidence to be harder and stronger and more physical," he said. "I think that's when I'm at my best, kind of being a pest out there."
But, beyond his play on the ice, Berry said Gaber's leadership has "really exponentially gotten better."
Gaber was named UND's captain ahead of the season.
"He was always a good leader, but, man, his talking on the bench. . . when things were going a little bit sideways, and (Wisconsin) got some opportunities, he calmed the bench down," Berry said. "He's talking to the guys and even to me, too. He's going, 'At the end of the day, let's move, move, move.' He's starting to talk like a coach a little bit. That's something that just keeps coming and growing. He's become a really good leader."
