UND hockey travel journal: Practices are in the books
Mar. 28—MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — This is a travel journal giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the Maryland Heights Regional. It will be updated throughout UND's stay in Missouri.
Update: 6:40 p.m. Thursday
The practices are all in the books.
The majority of our previews are, too. As always, check out our
UND Hockey Central
page for all of our content.
UND brought Keaton Pehrson and Hunter Johannes to the press conference. Those were two purposeful picks.
Pehrson played for Michigan for the last four years. Now, he'll be going against his old team.
Read that story here.
Johannes played in Centene Community Ice Center last season as a member of Lindenwood's squad. It was his home rink.
Read what he has to say about that here.
The other big news item was UND coach Brad Berry unequivocally stated that Ludvig Persson will be starting in net.
Read about that as well as a recap of practice
(as best I could, considering practices were closed).
UND departed Centene Community Ice Center after practice for its regular Thursday team meal. As usual, it will be a steak dinner.
It will be a quiet night at the team hotel as the players prepare for their biggest game of the season.
Update: 2:18 p.m. Thursday
It's a beautiful day in the St. Louis area. The sun is out. Temperatures are into the 60s.
UND players are staying on the ground floor of their team hotel, which is about 15 minutes from the rink. Because of the beautiful weather, many of them left their doors open and lounged outside as they waited to make their way to the arena for an afternoon skate.
The arena is located in an interesting area.
It's surrounded by a field and adjacent to a Hollywood Casino and Hotel.
There are a few sheets of ice within the complex.
The main one — where the regional games will be played — seats 2,500 and has standing room on the concourse. One end has tables and high chairs behind the net.
There's a nice lobby area between the ice sheets with a restaurant on the end.
There are two boards that list every St. Louis product who has gone on to play in the NHL. There are a bunch of college hockey names on the list but none attended UND.
Michigan State practiced first and held a press conference featuring head coach Adam Nightingale, defenseman Matt Basgall and defenseman Nash Nienhaus.
Western Michigan practiced second and held a press conference featuring head coach Pat Ferschweiler, forward Luke Grainger and forward Dylan Wendt.
UND is currently on the ice.
The practices are closed to media and the public.
Update: 5:38 p.m. Wednesday
A couple of minutes after the UND hockey team's charter airplane took off from Grand Forks International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, the pilot turned on the intercom.
He said they have one thing to pass along from the control tower.
This is usually about the time the entire plane turns and looks at Louis Jamernik V, the commercial aviation major who tends to translate all flight or weather announcements to the team on the charter.
But this time, Jamernik wasn't needed.
"Nine would be fine," the pilot said.
Yes, the UND aviation grads and the team itself are hoping this trip to Missouri is the start of a journey that will end with the program winning its ninth NCAA national championship.
UND will play in the Maryland Heights Regional beginning on Friday night.
The Fighting Hawks take on Michigan at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU in Centene Community Ice Center, which is the St. Louis Blues practice facility and home arena for Lindenwood University.
Maryland Heights is a suburb of St. Louis.
It's not far from the suburb of O'Fallon, where former UND defenseman Ty Farmer grew up.
UND has a few other connections to the area. Former UND forward and alternate captain Michael Parks and 1997 NCAA national champion Aaron Vickar grew up in St. Louis.
Several UND players have gone on to play for the St. Louis Blues, including Jon Casey, Dave Christian, Tony Hrkac, Ryan Johnson, T.J. Oshie, Austin Poganski, Chris Porter, Jordan Schmaltz, Rick Wilson and Rick Zombo, who recently served as Lindenwood's head coach.
Fighting Hawks fifth-year senior forward Hunter Johannes played for Lindenwood for one season.
On the way in, players on the left side of the plane got a view of the St. Louis Arch.
Upon landing, the team went to drop their gear at the arena. They will then have a light evening, featuring a team dinner. UND skated in Ralph Engelstad Arena before departing.
Regional events crank up Thursday with all four teams practicing in Centene Community Ice Center, then holding press conferences.
