(Photo Credit: Russell Hons UNDSports.com)<\/p>\n
On Saturday night, the University of North Dakota hockey team made their 2017-18 debut. It was a successful evening as the UND hockey team blasted the Manitoba Bison 6-2.<\/p>\n
While there aren’t any\u00a0first-round draft choices in this season’s Fighting Hawks lineup, there’s still a lot of talent. \u00a0UND’s cupboard isn’t bare.<\/p>\n
While there’s not a lot of high-end talent that immediately jumps out at you, there are some very solid players that are sneaky good. In other words, Denver and the other teams in the NCHC shouldn’t overlook this UND hockey team.<\/p>\n
This 2017-18 version of the UND hockey team is going to wear down their opponents by rolling four lines. I am not kidding, this team kind of reminds me of the 2011 Boston Bruins that won the Stanley Cup. And here’s why, the Bruins didn’t have a lot of bluechip talent, but they had a lot of second and third line players that gelled together and bought into a system. \u00a0I think the 2017-18 Hawks are going to be that team.<\/p>\n
Like Brad Schlossman mentioned last week, the strength of this year’s team is going to be their third and fourth lines. On Saturday night, I thought that Trevor Olson, Johnny Simonson, and Dixon Bowen were relentless. Their forecheck was tenacious and they gave the Bisons very little time and space.<\/p>\n
\nFinally!#UNDproud<\/a> #PledgeYourLoyalty<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/zYlAVJCzPv<\/a><\/p>\n
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) September 30, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n