One of college hockey’s most storied rivalry is about to make a comeback. After a two-year hiatus, the University of North Dakota and the University of Minnesota will play a two-game non-conference series.
Rivalry is renewed this weekend. I remember the passion and hatred and I'm sure that won't… https://t.co/1Pca1kfi4l
— Zane McIntyre (@ZanoInsano_29) November 4, 2016
Only about three players from the Gophers have played in this rivalry, Justin Kloos, Vinni Lettieri, and Taylor Cammarata.
On the UND side of the ice, Senior captain Gage Ausmus was a member of the UND hockey team but was a healthy scratching during the 2014 Frozen Four semi-final game. Senior backup goalie Matt Hrynkiw made the trip to Philly, but he didn’t dressed.
Good luck to coach @BradBerry29, his staff and the @UNDmhockey boys tonight. Here is one of ny favorite pics pic.twitter.com/bLAp2gM0es
— Brian Canady (@briancanady) November 4, 2016
Anything can happen when the two teams faceoff on the ice. For those fans that aren’t familiar with the rivalry, records mean nothing. Not a thing. The players didn’t like each other all that much either. Just ask former goalie Alex Kangas. Feel free to share your favorite memories.
Non-Conference Play is Key
Non-conference play is very important for teams that have aspirations of making the national tourney. Also, a team’s loss in non-conference play can affect other teams in your conference. So, you want to have a good non-conference win-loss record. You don’t want to lose to teams at the bottom of the Pairwise record.
From the UND Sid’s game notes: With UND’s five non-conference wins to open the season, the Fighting Hawks have now lost just once in its last 27 non-conference games 23-1-3, (.907). The only lone loss during those 27 non-conference games was a 3-1 setback vs. Wisconsin Badgers on November 6, 2015, at the Ralph.
Last season, the Fighting Hawks went 9-1-2 (.833) during its non-conference schedule.
Power Play Struggles
So far this season, the Fighting Hawks have struggled mightily on the power-play. Last weekend, UND went 1-13 on the power-play against the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. They also allowed a pair of shorthanded goals. For the season, the Fighting Hawks are 5-37 (13.5 percent) on the power-play.
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