UND Hockey Preview

Thursday, September 29, 2011

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

2011-12 http://undhockey.areavoices.com/

Photo by John Stennes, staff photographer

Monique Lamoureux-Kolls (left), Mario Lamoureux and Jocelyne Lamoureux.

No place like home Four-and-a-half years ago, Mario, Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux were set to go elsewhere, however, now they are back home and being counted on to pass down the traditions of Sioux hockey to their teammates

FOLLOW THE SIOUX The Herald will have full coverage of every game — home and road — including game stories, live in-game chats and postgame blog entries.

You can get your coverage in a variety of places:

In the newspaper: Previews, features, profiles, game stories, photos and a breakdown of each weekend series will be available in the sports section of the Grand Forks Herald.

On the blog: Get in-depth commentary as well as updates on recruits and former players at undhockey. areavoices.com.

Natural-born leaders

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On Facebook: Get Sioux hockey updates in your news feed by “liking” the North Dakota hockey page at www.facebook.com/ northdakotahockey.

2011-12 SCHEDULE Oct. 1: REGINA (exh.) 7:07 Oct. 7: AIR FORCE 7:37 Oct. 8: BC or MICH. ST. 7:37 Oct. 14: MAINE 7:37 Oct. 15: MAINE 7:07 Oct. 21: at Wisconsin 7:07 Oct. 22: at Wisconsin 7:07 Oct. 28: ST. CLOUD ST. 7:37 Oct. 29: ST. CLOUD ST. 7:07 Nov. 4: at Minnesota Nov. 5: at Minnesota Nov. 19: at Bemidji 7:07 Nov. 20: at Bemidji 5:07 Nov. 25: COLO. COLL. 7:37 Nov. 26: COLO. COLL. 7:07 Dec. 2: at Anchorage 10:07 Dec. 3: at Anchorage 10:07 Dec. 9: OMAHA 7:37 Dec. 10: OMAHA 7:07 Dec. 17: RUSSIAN STARS (exh.) 7:07 Dec. 30: HARVARD 7:37 Dec. 31: HARVARD 7:07 Jan. 7: Clarkson in Winnipeg 7:07 Jan. 13: MINNESOTA 7:37 Jan. 14: MINNESOTA 7:07 Jan. 20: at St. Cloud 7:37 Jan. 21: at St. Cloud 7:07 Jan. 27: WISCONSIN 7:37 Jan. 28: WISCONSIN 7:07 Feb. 10: at Duluth 7:07 Feb. 11: at Duluth 7:07 Feb. 17: MICH. TECH 7:37 Feb. 18: MICH. TECH 7:07 Feb. 24: at Denver 8:37 Feb. 25: at Denver 8:07 Mar. 2: MSU-MANKATO 7:37 Mar. 3: MSU-MANKATO 7:37 Mar. 9-11: WCHA first rd Mar. 15-17: WCHA Final Five Mar. 23-25: NCAA regionals (Worcester, Bridgeport, St. Paul, Green Bay) Apr. 5-7: NCAA Frozen Four (Tampa)

2011-12

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On Twitter: Get 140-character updates and links to stories via beat writer Brad Elliott Schlossman at www.twitter. com/schlossmangf.

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John Stennes, staff photographer

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The Lamoureuxs Mario,SIOUX Jocelyne UND — FIGHTING HOCKEYand Monique — 2011-12 http://undhockey.areavoices.com/ appropriately will lead Fighting Sioux hockey teams this season Page 10

By Brad Elliott Schlossman

2011-12 Herald Staff Writer

www.GrandForksHerald.com his wasn’t their original plan.

Mario Lamoureux was supposed to go to Northern Michigan to play alongside his older brother, Jacques.

Twin sisters Jocelyne Lamoureux and Monique LamoureuxKolls were supposed to be in Minnesota, developing their skills with a perennial powerhouse program.

But different circumstances led the Grand Forks natives back home to play college hockey for UND, and all three are being counted on to teach their teammates the culture and expectations that go along with playing for the Fighting Sioux.

The Lamoureux siblings will be the faces of their teams. Jocelyne has already been named captain of the women’s squad, Monique an alternate captain. The men haven’t announced captains yet, but there’s no question that Mario will be in that group. Their jobs are different, though.

The men’s team already has a rich history. It will be Mario’s task to help pass that torch during a year where more than a third of the roster is made up of freshmen.

“Couldn’t think of anybody better to do that,” men’s head coach Dave Hakstol said.

It is Jocelyne and Monique’s job to help recreate the culture of the men’s team on the women’s side, where success hasn’t been as common. Until the twins arrived last year, the Sioux never finished in the top half of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

“I was always hopeful that we would gain some of their tradition, their work ethic, their culture,” UND women’s coach Brian Idalski said of the men’s team. “We want to create the same thing on the women’s side. I think you’re starting to see it more and more. Obviously, having the twins has helped expedite a lot of that.”

The Lamoureuxs have a unique perspective. It’s not only that they grew up in Grand Forks, watching the men’s team play as children.

Their father, Pierre, played goalie for the Sioux in the 1980s. He was

T

Thursday, September 29, 2011 part of two national title teams. he said. “The Sioux mentality has Their older brother, Jean-Philippe, to continue every day you come to played goalie for the Sioux from the rink, whether it is preseason or 2004-08, leading the team to four the end of the year. It’s an all-year Frozen Four tournaments. thing, an all-year mentality.”

“I grew up watching the Sioux,” Page 11 Thursday, 29, 2011 Optimism Mario said. “You notice the way September Jocelyne and Monique have they competed. You could tell there tried to set that tone on the was fear in the eyes of the other women’s side as well since trans- http://undhockey.areavoices.com/ teams. That’s something I really ferring from Minnesota. admired. I try to play as hard as They committed to the Gophers every other team here has.” in January 2007 — one month Ben Blood, D after UND fired coach Shantel Coming home Plymouth, Minn.

Rivard in the midst of a 3-31-2 Despite their strong ties to season. But they watched Idalski UND, the Lamoureuxs nearly take the reins of the program durended up elsewhere. ing their freshman year at MinMario originally committed to Northern Michigan, where Jacques nesota and decided to return home after the Olympics. was a freshman forward. But the Their influence on the program following year, Jacques was admitis already rubbing off. The twins, ted to his dream school, Air Force who are known for their frequent Academy, and put in for a transfer. and sometimes unscheduled workMario decided to re-open his outs in the offseason, led a large recruiting and found out that UND Brad Eidsness, G group of players who stayed in was still interested.

Chestermere, Alta.

Grand Forks to lift weights this “Best decision of my life to summer. come here,” Mario said. “I wouldBecause of that, and a strong n’t trade it for anything. I look freshman class, expectations are at back and see how things could an all-time high on the women’s have been different if I ended up side. going (to Northern Michigan). I’m “Their work ethic is extraordiextremely proud to be part of the nary,” Idalski said. “Any time your Fighting Sioux. I’m proud to be part of a handful of championships top players and best athletes are your hardest workers, that makes it here, and I wouldn’t trade that for easy on the coaches. They are anything.”

Mario Lamoureux, F proven winners. They’ve won at Hakstol admitted it would be Grand Forks weird picturing Mario in a different every level.”

Maybe that explains their feeljersey. ings on last season — one in which “He might be one of the most the Sioux set records in pretty loyal guys in terms of his feelings much every category and made it for the program,” Hakstol said.

“His family ties to the program are further than any previous team in program history. so strong that, to me, it wouldn’t “As good as last year was, it seem right to see him wearing any still wasn’t good enough,” Joceother jersey. I’m happy he’s with lyne said. “It is not fun when us. He’s had a great first three you’re not winning the last game. years.”

You want to be throwing off your Hakstol thinks Year No. 4 will gloves and celebrating. Our goal is be Mario’s best. to be hanging banners.”

The 5-foot-9, 185-pound forMonique added: “I don’t want ward had a good offseason and has been strong in fall skates. His point to play just to have fun and play games. I want to win. production has increased from six “We don’t want the banners just as a freshman to 12 as a sophoto be from the men’s side.” more to 17 as a junior. Not only will he look to build on that, Mario will look to continue his leadership Reach Schlossman at (701) 780in the locker room.

1129; (800) 477-6572, ext. 129; or “I think it’s huge that the older send e-mail to bschlossman@gfherald.com. guys set the tone from Day One,”

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

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THE SENIORS

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Opportunity exists for Kristo

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John Stennes, staff photographer

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

2011-12

Danny Kristo scores UND’s third goal past RPI goalie Allen York in UND’s 6-0 win in the first round of the NCAA Midwest Regional last season in Green Bay.

http://undhockey.areavoices.com/

[24]

THE [14] Taylor Dickin, F

SOPHOMORES

Ben Blood, D Plymouth, Minn.

Winnipeg

Points per game

Sioux junior has chance to become an elite WCHA player

By Brad Elliott Schlossman Herald Staff Writer

anny Kristo was challenged in all sorts of ways last year.

First Brad Eidsness, G it was the scoring slump to startAlta. the season — he tallied one goal Chestermere, and five points in the opening 17 games. Then, in the second half, he sustained severe frostbite on his right foot and had a brief scare that not all of his toes would make it.

But the forward from Eden Prairie, Minn., persevered through it all and showed flashes of what’s possible this season.

In contrast to the first 17 games of 2010-11, FKristo finished that campaign Mario Lamoureux, with 23 points in the final 17 games — Grand Forks a 1.35 point per game average. Only Hobey Baker Award finalist Matt Frattin and Jason Gregoire did more damage after Dec. 4 (and Kristo wasn’t able to rack up points against hapless Michigan Tech because he missed those four games).

“I don’t think I was playing all that much better at the start of the year,” Kristo said. “The points weren’t coming. I was a little stressed out because I had a bunch my first year. Around December, I just said ‘Whatever, screw it, I don’t care. I’m just going to go out

D[31]

[9]

THE JUNIORS

[32] Aaron Dell, G Airdrie, Alta.

24 Hour Service

[20] Joe Gleason, D

Edina, Minn.

game out of two on a weekend, not and play.’ The goals and the points just every second weekend — you started coming.” have to bring that consistency every With six of the top seven scorers night. moving to the pro ranks, spots on the “I think he’s ready to step into that top two lines are wide open this season Derekplayers Forbort, D Brock Nelson, F role. His challenge is having a comand Kristo will be one of those Warroad, Minn. plete season.” eating up more ice time. Duluth Kristo went through the lows and His dynamic speed and quick hands cause trouble for defenders. Mix in his highs of 2010-11, but couldn’t erase last year’s most sour memory — a 2-0 tenacity and he’s a difficult player to loss to the University of Michigan in defend. Kristo also has the ability to the NCAA Frozen Four. He said it play the point on the power play — a stuck with him throughout the offseajob he held down the past two seasons son. and will again this year.

“I think whenever you are that close “I think I’m going to get a lot more to winning it,” he said, “and you work opportunities on the ice with all of the so hard and you are with all your closguys we lost,” he said. “I’m going to F Dillon D friends. . . Simpson, it’s going to stick with be on the penalty kill and Derek playingRodwell, est Taber, Alta.

Edmonton, Alta. you for a while. It’s tough when you important minutes. I want to be on the think you are the best team and it’s a ice at the end of games with a minute one-game shot and you lose. It’s going or two minutes left. That’s something that comes with trust with coach to stick with you. It was in the back of (Dave) Hakstol. He gets his older guys guys’ minds. out there. I want to be one of those “I can speak for all of us who were here last year. We haven’t forgot about guys.” it. But we’re moving forward, looking Hakstol said he thinks Kristo has a forward to this season and we’re going chance to be one of the league’s top to try to get back where we were last players. year at the Frozen Four.”

“He’s a high-end player at this level,” Hakstol said. “In order to truly be regarded as elite, you have to bring Reach Schlossman at (701) 780-1129; it; you have to play at that high level (800) 477-6572, ext. 129; or send e-mail to on a consistent basis — not just one bschlossman@gfherald.com.

[4]

[11]

[10] Corban Knight, F High River, Alta.

after Dec. 4

[29]

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[7] Danny Kristo, F

Eden Prairie, Minn.

Jason Gregoire 1.58 Matt Frattin 1.52

Danny Kristo 1.35

Chay Genoway 1.21 Brad Malone 1.07 Evan Trupp 1.07

Corban Knight 1.04 Brett Hextall 1.00

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THE [14] Taylor Dickin, F

SOPHOMORES

Winnipeg

[4]

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[29]

Derek Forbort, D

Brock Nelson, F

Duluth

[11]

Warroad, Minn.

‘Beyond his years’ [18]

Derek Rodwell, F

Dillon Simpson, D

Taber, Alta.

Edmonton, Alta.

John Stennes, staff photographer Dillon Simpson skates up the ice during a game against the University of Minnesota last season.

Simpson, the team’s youngest player again, has great maturity on and off the ice Sioux coach Dave Hakstol believes Simpson will be able to do that.

“Dillon is the youngest on our team by ND welcomes 10 freshmen to campus birthdate but not the youngest by maturity,” this fall — none of whom are the youngest Hakstol said of Simpson, who registered a 4.0 player on the team. grade-point average last year. “He’s beyond That honor belongs to sophomore Dillon his years. He’s very well respected, even as Simpson, something he won’t soon forget. the youngest player on the team. As a sopho“Oh yeah, the guys like to tease me about more, he’s ready to play a real prominent role that one,” Simpson said. “It is kind of weird on this team.” with such a big freshman coming in.DI Tate Maris, Danny Kristo, F Andrewclass MacWilliam, G lost three regular Carterdefensemen Rowney, F The Sioux guessMinn.

I’m two daysCalgary, older than Rocco (Grimal- Denver Eden Prairie, Alta.

Sexsmith, Alta. from last year’s team, including power-play di).” quarterbacks Chay Genoway and Jake Marto.

The defenseman was the youngest player They also lost Matt Frattin, who was a regular in all of college hockey last season, coming to on the point, opening up spots for others campus at 17. He didn’t turn 18 until the tailthere. end of the season, though nobody could tell Simpson is a good option for that spot. He by the way he played. played quarterback on the power play with Simpson managed to crack a stacked Spruce Grove in the AJHL before coming to defensive corps to play in 30 of the team’s 44 UND, helping fuel Spruce Grove’s prolific games. He registered two goals, eight assists offense. and 10 points, while earning power-play time “Dillon is a different type of power-play during the second half of the season. person than Chay or Jake (Marto) were,” It was a baptism by fire for the former Hakstol said. “Those guys used their feet and Alberta Junior Hockey League standout. their speed. They are dynamic skaters. Dillon “I think I made strides in my game that I is such a headsy player. He’s got very strong wanted to,” said Simpson, who was selected hands, very good poise and tremendous vision early in the fourth round by his hometown on the offensive blue line. That’s going to Edmonton Oilers in June’s NHL Draft. “It bring a different look for us.” was tough watching the last game from the stands. This year, I want to work my way into Reach Schlossman at (701) 780-1129; (800) 477the lineup and have a bigger role and be more 6572, ext. 129; or send e-mail to bschlossof an impact player.” man@gfherald.com.

By Brad Elliott Schlossman Herald Staff Writer

U

[10]

[7]

night, F

r, Alta.

[2]

[35]

[27]

UND’s youngest players So. Dillon Simpson 18 years, 7 months, 19 days Fr. Rocco Grimaldi 18 years, 7 months, 21 days Fr. Colten St. Clair 18 years, 10 months, 7 days Fr. Brendan O’Donnell 19 years, 3 months, 4 days So. Derek Forbort 19 years, 6 months, 25 days Fr. Mike Parks 19 years, 7 months, 14 days Fr. Mark MacMillan 19 years, 8 months, 6 days Fr. Nick Mattson 19 years, 11 months, 4 days

Coaches

Dave Hakstol

Head coach Warburg, Alta.

Fast fact: The Sioux have won more games than any WCHA team since Hakstol took over.

Cary Eades

Dane Jackson

Fast fact: Eades has two national championship rings as a player and one as an assistant coach.

Fast fact: Jackson played in the NHL for Vancouver, Buffalo and New York Islanders.

Associate coach Burnaby, B.C.

Assistant coach Castlegar, B.C.

Karl Goehring

Volunteer assistant Apple Valley, Minn.

Fast fact: Goehring was in goal when the Sioux won the 2000 national championship.

Mark Poolman

Pat Swanson

Andy Rannells

Fast fact: Poolman played wide receiver and captained the Sioux football team.

Fast fact: Swanson started as a student manager from 1998 to 2002.

Fast fact: Rannells previously worked with the U.S. Under-17 and 18 teams.

Trainer/strength coach Warren, Minn.

Director of hockey operations Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Equipment manager St. Paul

Thursday, September 29, 2011

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Freshman 10 Page 6

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British Columbia

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Manitoba

{21} Brendan O’Donnell Winnipeg Skilled forward

Page {16} Mark MacMillan

Penticton 10

CANADA

2011-12

Penticton, B.C. Playmaking forward

http://undhockey.areavoices.com/ {28} Stephane Pattyn Ste. Anne, Thursday, September 29, Man. 2011 Winnipeg Character forward

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY Ste. Anne

www.GrandForksHerald.com

N.D.

Minn.

Page 500 miles

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Edina SIOUX HOCKEY UND FIGHTING

2011-12

Chanhassen

http://undhockey.areavoices.com/ {5} Nick Mattson

{13} Connor Gaarder

Chanhassen, Minn.

Edina, Minn.

Offensive defenseman Two-way forward

{8} Dan Senkbeil Fremont, Calif.

Offensive defenseman

Pacific Ocean

Columbia

Fremont

O’Fallon

Calif.

{22} Andrew Panzarella

Missouri

Arizona

Columbia, Md. Physical defenseman

{17} Colten St. Clair

Rossmoor

Gilbert, Ariz.

Two-way forward

Gilbert

Atlantic Ocean

{15} Mike Parks O’Fallon, Mo. Goal-scoring forward

{19} Rocco Grimaldi Rossmoor, Calif.

Game-breaking forward

MEXICO

By Brad Elliott Schlossman Herald Staff Writer

UND spans the map to find this year’s rookie class

UND’s recruiting class is unlike any other the program has brought in.

It has players from the suburban areas of Phoenix, Los Angeles, Oakland, Baltimore and St. Louis.

“That is the new world of hockey,” UND coach Dave Hakstol said. “There are so many kids growing up in nontraditional hockey areas that are starting to play the game. I think it’s a product of the NHL spreading out its footprint. It’s also a product and a statement of how great the game is. It’s a fun game for kids to play.

“Obviously, you’re seeing a lot of new areas become hockey hot beds.”

California is one of those areas.

UND’s freshman class includes two from the Golden State — defenseman Dan Senkbeil and forward Rocco Grimaldi.

They are only the second and third Sioux players ever to come from California. The first was Brett Hextall, who just signed a pro contract after three years at UND. UND has never before had a player from Arizona, Maryland or Missouri.

“It’s great to see guys from other places and guys from California as well like Rocco,” said Senkbeil, who is from Fremont. “It’s cool to see that’s expanding. I think the NHL expanding plays a big part in it. The Sharks are becoming really big in San Jose. Every game is packed and has a big following. That leads to other people wanting to play hockey.”

UND’s West Coast players all got their start by watching others.

Colten St. Clair, a native of Gilbert, Ariz., went to his sister’s birthday party,

11

Gulf of Mexico

which involved some skating. He fell in love right away.

Grimaldi, of Rossmoor, Calif., went to watch his older sister’s friend play, and he was immediately curious.

Senkbeil’s sister was a figure skater and he would always be at the rink Saturday mornings. He figured he would try it out.

“I liked it instantly and it started to grow on me,” he said.

Forward Mike Parks is from O’Fallon, Mo., and defenseman Andrew Panzarella is from Columbia, Md. All five nontradition hockey area recruits play near an NHL team. St. Clair is down the road from the Phoenix Coyotes, Grimaldi is close to the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks, Senkbeil is near the Sharks, Parks is near the St. Louis Blues and Panzarella has the Washington Capitals nearby.

“Hockey isn’t as big in California as other places in the U.S.,” Senkbeil said. “When I was playing juniors and stuff, you’d get the California surfer boy reputation. But it’s becoming a bigger sport out there.”

Reach Schlossman at (701) 7801129; (800) 477-6572, ext. 129; or send e-mail to bschlosman@ gfherald.com.

Photo

by JC Pinheiro, HHOF-IIHF Images

L Rocco Grimaldi looks across the ice for an outlet during semifinal round action at the 2011 IIHF World U18 Championship in Crimmitschau, Germany.

http://undhockey.areavoices.com/

TOP 10 ROOKIES

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[1] Rocco Grimaldi, UND

■ The 5-foot-6 forward is the top freshman in the country.

The season’s storylines

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[2] Joey LaLeggia, DU ■ The

small defenseman was the MVP of the BCHL last season.

[3] Jayson Megna, UNO ■ The

21-year-old finished fourth in USHL goals last year.

[4] Scott Mayfield, DU ■ The

stay-at-home defenseman will replace John Ryder.

[5] Kyle Rau, Minnesota ■ The

Eden Prairie product was Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey.

[6] Travis Boyd, Minnesota ■ The

small forward was dynamic for the U.S. Under-18 team.

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Thursday, September 29, 2011 year will begin with plenty 2011-12 UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY of question marks www.GrandForksHerald.com

By Brad Elliott Schlossman Herald Staff Writer

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association

has been defined by unpredictability in the past few years — on and off the ice.

Undoubtedly, more unique stories will pop up during the 2011-12 season. But as it is about to begin, there are plenty of built-in storylines to follow.

Murray has a career 9-7-1 record, .877 save percentage and 3.60 goals-against averThursday, September 29, 2011 age.

Brittain said he fully intends to be back with the Pioneers for the postseason.

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

1. Kinne returns from a stroke

Last summer, Bemidji State forward Ben Kinne — projected to be one of the team’s top players — suffered a stroke and had to sit out the entire season.

Kinne’s health has cleared and he’s back skating with the Beavers. One of the team’s most popular players, Kinne has already been voted the team’s captain for the season and he will likely be counted on to replace the production of departed seniors Matt Read and Ian Lowe.

Kinne is the second WCHA player to have a stroke and return to the team a year later. Michigan Tech’s Malcolm Gwilliam sat out most of the 2008-09 season after suffering a stroke. Like Kinne, he was named captain the following year and tallied 30 points in 35 games.

5. Gophers try to dig out

It has been more than 40 years since a senior class has left Minnesota without ever playing in the NCAA tournament.

That’s what this year’s group is facing.

After failing to reach expectations, the Gophers are hoping to get back to the NCAAs for the first time since 2008, when they lost to Boston College in the first round. Minnesota has one NCAA tournament victory in the past six years.

The Gophers have a talented group of forwards, led by Nick Bjugstad and Zach Budish, to show the way. A highly touted rookie class and a rock-solid goaltender in Kent Patterson could help the Gophers get back into the big tournament.

2. Badgers break in new goalies

For the first time since the 1964-65 season — the second year after Wisconsin restarted its program — the Badgers enter a season without a goaltender with collegiate playing experience.

Scott Gudmandson and Brett Bennett both graduated, meaning the reins will likely be handed over to freshman Joel Rumpel or freshman Landon Peterson.

The rookie goalies will be playing in front of a talented-but-young defensive corps. Junior Eric Springer, who was in-and-out of the lineup last season, is the only senior blue liner on the squad.

Mark MacMillan, UND ■ The

strong-skating forward was picked in fourth round by Montreal.

[8] Matt Leitner, Mankato ■ The

skilled forward had to sit out last season (academics).

[9] Nick Mattson, UND ■ Mattson

was the top defenseman in the USHL last season.

[10] Seth Ambroz, Minnesota ■ His

stock fell last year, but he still led a USHL team in scoring.

Michigan Tech let coach Jamie Russell go after a 4-30-4 season and made a splash by hiring longtime Michigan assistant Mel Pearson.

While Russell’s teams won just six, five and four games in his last three seasons at the helm, he didn’t leave the cupboard totally bare for Pearson.

Tech’s top three players last year were rookies — Milos Gordic, Ryan Furne and Jacob Johnstone.

The Huskies also will get the services of Jordan Baker, who sat out all of last year with an injury, and standout Brett Olson, who missed much of last season with an injury.

Incoming freshman David Johnstone, a Russell recruit, was one of the top players in the United States Hockey League last season and will provide an instant impact.

4. Denver’s big question mark Denver is the favorite to win the WCHA, but the Pioneers have one major question mark.

Sam Brittain, the team’s standout goalie, found out he tore his ACL in June and had surgery that will keep him out for at least half of the season —possibly more.

That means the team will turn the goaltending job over to junior Adam Murray, an Anchorage native who came to Denver with high expectations but has been average during his two years.

2011-12 http://undhockey.areavoices.com/

Photo courtesy of BSU Photo Services

Ben Kinne, Bemidji State

were led by a strong freshman class, which should be stronger as sophomores.

Terry Broadhurst is an elite player and Jayson Megna is one of the league’s top recruits.

But the Mavs will have to figure out how to show up every weekend. Omaha beat every team in the WCHA except for 10th-place Bemidji State — a team the Mavs had six cracks at.

Omaha beat three Frozen Four teams, but went 0-5-1 against the Beavers, got swept by Quinnipiac and lost to 4-26-2 Alabama-Huntsville.

Which team will show up this season?

7. No more platoon for Lee

St. Cloud State junior Mike Lee, a Roseau, Minn., product, spent his first two college years sharing time with Dan Dunn.

Dunn graduated, though, and the Huskies will hand over the full-time job to the highly touted Lee. Lee, the team’s go-to goalie at the end of last season, finished with 32 games played, a .910 save percentage and a 2.75 goals-against average. Those numbers may have been stronger if the defensive corps in front of him didn’t falter as badly as it did last season.

3. Mel Pearson debuts at Tech

[7]

Page 11

8. Ready to repeat?

Photo by Bruce Hemmelgarn

Mike Lee, St. Cloud State

6. Can Omaha repeat strong season?

Did Nebraska-Omaha sneak up on teams at the start of last season? The Mavericks went 8-11 in their first 10 games and finished the year 1315-1 in their final 29 games.

The Mavericks, who finished third in the WCHA last season, will have a chance to prove that the hot start was no fluke.

While they lost their top three scorers from last year’s team, and a top defenseman, the Mavs

Minnesota-Duluth turned a fourth-place finish and an early exit at the WCHA Final Five into a distant memory by running through the NCAA tournament and winning the title on Kyle Schmidt’s overtime goal.

With the new AmsOil Arena open and the program’s first national title fresh in everyone’s memory, the Bulldogs will have a large target on their back this season. How will the Bulldogs handle that?

Duluth said goodbye to prolific scorers Mike Connolly, Justin Fontaine and Justin Faulk, but kept hometown kid Jack Connolly, J.T. Brown and Travis Oleksuk.

9. Look out for Leitner

Perhaps no player is going under the radar this preseason like Minnesota State-Mankato rookie Matt Leitner.

The Los Alamitos, Calif., product had to sit out last season because of academic issues, but he’s in the clear to play this season and should be the top rookie on a Mavs team that lacked scorers last season.

Leitner piled up more than a point per game in each of his past two USHL seasons with the Fargo Force and was a dynamic force at the World Junior A Challenge.

10. Bad blood?

During the summer, six teams announced they would be pulling out of the WCHA in two years to enter the startup National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

Judging by some comments made in the wake of the announcement, there are some hard feelings from some of those schools left behind. Will that lead to fireworks on or off the ice this season? Time will tell.

Adam Murray, Denver

Photo courtesy of Denver athletics

Reach Schlossman at (701) 780-1129; (800) 477-6572, ext. 129; or send e-mail to bschlossman@gfherald.com.

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UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

2011-12

WCHA TOP 10

http://undhockey.areavoices.com/

Page 8

Thursday, September 29, 2011

2011-12

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

[1]

www.GrandForksHerald.com

Jaden Schwartz, CC ■ Schwartz

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Page 9

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

2011-12

is a legitimate candidate for the Hobey Baker Award.

http://undhockey.areavoices.com/

Page 10

Thursday, September 29, 2011

2011-12

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

[2] Jack Connolly, Duluth

■ Connolly will still produce without his outstanding linemates.

www.GrandForksHerald.com Thursday, September 29, 2011

Page 11

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

2011-12 http://undhockey.areavoices.com/

[3] Justin Schultz, UW

■ Schultz led the Badgers in scoring last year — as a defenseman.

[4] Jason Zucker, DU

■ Zucker scored 23 goals last year and only two on the power play.

Shutting it down John Stennes, staff photographer

L Ben Blood dumps Minnesota’s Nick Bjugstad to the ice in front of UND goalie Aaron Dell last season.

The picks The coaches

1. Denver 2. UND 3. Colorado Coll.

4. Omaha 5. UM-Duluth 6. Minnesota 7. St. Cloud St. 8. Wisconsin 9. Anchorage 10. Bemidji St. 11. MSU-Mankato 12. Mich. Tech

UND’s Blood is one of the nation’s top defensemen

By Brad Schlossman Herald Staff Writer

Ben Blood knows that when

players like Jaden Schwartz, Jack Connolly and Jason Zucker come to town, he will be assigned to play against them.

That doesn’t bother Blood.

“That’s what makes it fun,” he said. “It’s fun practicing and thinking about what guys we’ve got to shut down on the weekend and going out there and shutting them down. That’s why I play the game — to compete. I take a lot of pride in playing against the best guys in the country.”

Blood will get ample chances to do that again this season. The senior from Plymouth, Minn., is UND’s top returning blue liner. He had an opportunity to sign with the Ottawa Senators, the team that drafted him in the fourth round in 2007, but he decided to finish out his college career with the Sioux.

Expectations will be high for Blood and the defensive corps that he headlines.

“We’re expecting a lot out of Ben,” UND coach Dave Hakstol said. “We expect him to continue maturing as a leader, as a player and certainly expect him to be a real force. His strength levels, his conditioning levels are at a point where he can play some big minutes for our team if we need him to do that. There are a lot of challenges in front of Ben this year.”

At 6-foot-4, 226 pounds, he’s a big, intimidating defenseman who uses his size to deliver big hits and outmuscle players for loose pucks.

Blood finished with a plus-33 rating last season, which was the best

POY: Jaden Schwartz, CC ROY: Rocco Grimaldi, UND

The media

1. Denver 2. Colorado Coll.

3. UND 4. Omaha 5. UM-Duluth 6. Minnesota 7. Wisconsin 8. St. Cloud St. 9. Anchorage 10. Bemidji St. 11. MSU-Mankato 12. Mich. Tech

POY: Jason Zucker, Denver ROY: Rocco Grimaldi, UND

The Herald

1. Denver 2. Colorado Coll.

3. UND 4. Omaha 5. Minnesota 6. St. Cloud St. 7. UM-Duluth 8. Wisconsin 9. Anchorage 10. MSU-Mankato 11. Mich. Tech 12. Bemidji St.

POY: Jaden Schwartz, CC ROY: Rocco Grimaldi, UND

2011-12 top plus-minus players in the country

Ben Blood, UND, +33 Mat Bodie, Union, +30 Sean Lorenz, Notre Dame, +30 Drew Shore, Denver, +29 Matt Frattin, UND, +28 of any defenseman in the country.

Oftentimes, that part of his game hides the offensive skills he possesses. Blood is an abnormally good stick-handler for someone his size and can man the point on the power play — a task Hakstol may assign Blood this season.

“One of the things that gets lost in his game are his puck skills and the poise with the puck he has,” Hakstol said. “It’s one of the things that makes him such an effective player. We talk about forwards sometimes being one-dimensional.

Ben is not a one-dimensional defenseman. He can do a lot of things.”

Blood knows he may be asked to do more on the offensive end this season. He had two goals and eight assists for 10 points last season, but didn’t see much powerplay time with Chay Genoway, Matt Frattin and Jake Marto taking care of the point.

“We’ll kind of see what roles everyone fills as we get into our exhibition game,” Blood said.

“We’ll let guys know what they’ll need to do to help our team be successful. If my role calls to add

some more offense, I’ll do my best to help out there. I want to be the best at whatever I do.”

Blood played much of last season paired with Derek Forbort.

They became miserable to play against with their great reaches (Forbort is 6-foot-5) and gap control. They will likely start the year as the team’s top defensive pairing.

It is one of the few things that will carry over from last year’s team. Gone are Blood’s roommates, Jason Gregoire and Brett Hextall, who both signed NHL contracts after three years with the Sioux.

Among the departed seniors are Hobey Baker finalist Matt Frattin, two-time All-American Chay Genoway, Brad Malone, Evan Trupp and Jake Marto.

But despite all of the turnover, Blood and his teammates will be aiming high this season.

“I think the expectation has always been to win,” Blood said.

“It has every year I’ve been here.

It’s North Dakota. It’s the Fighting Sioux. We expect to win a championship every year. We always have the guys. I know we have the guys.

I know we have what it takes. It’s just a matter of having everyone on board.

“It goes without saying, but this is the last crack at it for me, Mario (Lamoureux) and Eids (Brad Eidsness). Maybe we’ll do things a little different here and there, but I don’t see any huge changes.

There’s always been a winning mentality here, so that will carry over.”

Reach Schlossman at (701) 7801129; (800) 477-6572, ext. 129; or send e-mail to bschlossman@gfherald.com.

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2011-12

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

CCHA

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www.GrandForksHerald.com

1. Boston University

2011-12 Herald forecast (Difference from last year’s finish in parenthesis) Page 10

2. Notre Dame

UND FIGHTING SIOUX2011-12 HOCKEY Herald forecast

Thursday, September 29, 2011 1. Boston University (+2) 2. Boston College (-1) 3. Maine (+2) 4. Merrimack 5. New Hampshire (-3) Page 11 6. Vermont (+1) Thursday, September 29, 2011 7. Northeastern (-1) 8. Massachusetts 9. UMass-Lowell (+1) http://undhockey.areavoices.com/ 10.Providence (-1) Photo

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

2. Miami (+1) www.GrandForksHerald.com 3. Michigan (-2) 4. Western Michigan 5. Northern Michigan (+1) 6. Michigan State (+4) 7. Alaska 8. Ohio State (+1) 9. Ferris State (-4) 10. Lake Superior St. (-2) 11. Bowling Green

4. Colorado College

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

T.J. Tynan, Notre Dame

T.J. Tynan, soph, f, Notre Dame The Illinois product led the Irish in scoring as a freshman with 54 points.

6. Miami

Blue-chip recruit

Tyler Biggs, f, Miami The big, power winger is the only 2011 first-round pick playing college hockey this season.

Merrill, soph, d, Michigan The Devils draft pick was the CCHA’s second-highest scoring defenseman as a rookie.

Jon

7. North Dakota

Gron, sr, f, Northern Michigan The former AJHL star had a breakout junior year, tallying 32 points for the Wildcats.

Don’t forget that . . .

Tyler

8. Nebraska-Omaha

Former CCHA commish Tom Anastos (Michigan State) will coach for the first time in 19 years.

Don’t be surprised if . . .

On the rise . . .

Miami has the best rookie class in the country with Biggs, Jimmy Mullin and Blake Coleman.

Michigan State. After finishing 10th and 11th in two of the past three years, there’s only one place to go.

9. Union

10. Michigan

ECAC

13. St. Cloud State

14. Yale

Red River graduate Eric Meland is a key player for Princeton.

Don’t be surprised if . . .

16. Maine

Ferlin, f, Cornell Ferlin was a part of a potent Indiana Ice offense in the USHL last season.

On the rise . . .

Princeton. Coach Guy Gadowsky may have bolted for Penn State, but he didn’t leave the cupboard empty.

20. Air Force

New Hampshire misses the NCAAs for the first time since 2001.

Kelly Zajac, Union

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Mathis, sr, d, Air Force The Illinois native had a big junior year and is poised for another one.

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Kyle

On the rise . . .

Don’t be surprised if . . .

UConn posts its first winning season in 11 years.

Zajac, sr, f, Union The younger brother of UND’s Travis and Darcy lit up the ECAC last season.

O’Neill, sr, f, Yale The best all-around player for the Bulldogs has 117 points in three seasons.

Cammeron Burt, RIT

Brian

Blue-chip recruit

Demers, f, Air Force The Grafton product blossomed during his third USHL season.

Chad

Bailen, jr, d, RPI Bailen is a point machine on the power play for the Engineers.

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Blue-chip recruit 18. Northern Michigan

Former Sioux Brett Bruneteau will play for Vermont this season.

Chris Kreider, jr, f, Boston College The first-round pick will fill the voids left by early signees Cam Atkinson and Jimmy Hayes.

RIT lost 26-goal scorer Tyler Brenner to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

One year after getting three teams in the NCAAs, ECAC only gets one.

17. Wisconsin

Don’t forget that . . .

1. RIT 2. Air Force 3. Holy Cross 4. Robert Morris (+1) 5. Niagara (-1) 6. Army (+3) 7. UConn (-1) 8. Mercyhurst (-1) 9. Canisius (-1) 10. Bentley 11. American International (+1) 12. Sacred Heart (-1)

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Maine. The Black Adam Clendening, Bears soph, d, Boston have Spencer Abbott, University enough Maine Clendening will be the back to be a contender for an NCAA star-puck mover on a team that will score a lot of goals. spot.

2011-12 Herald forecast (Difference from last year’s finish in parenthesis)

1. Union 2. Yale 3. Princeton (+3) 4. Cornell 5. Quinnipiac (+3) 6. Dartmouth (-3) 7. Clarkson 8. RPI (-3) 9. Harvard (+1) 10. Colgate (+2) 11. St. Lawrence 12. Brown (-3)

12. Minnesota

Three players to watch

On the rise . . .

Atlantic Hockey

2011-12 Herald forecast (Difference from last year’s finish in parenthesis)

11. Western Michigan

John Gaudreau, f, Boston College The USHL standout changed his commitment from Northeastern in the summer.

2011-12

Blue-chip recruit

by Dave Reginek

Three players to watch

5. Boston College

2011-12

(Difference from last year’shttp://undhockey.areavoices.com/ finish in parenthesis)

1. Notre Dame (+1) 2011-12

3. Denver

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UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

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Taking it to the next level

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Thursday, September 29, 2011 Former players

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2011-12

UND PLAYERS UNDER PRO CONTRACT FOR 2011-12

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

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NHL Thursday, September 29, 2011

Page 11

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

2011-12

Hunter Bishop

■

Montreal Canadiens

Jason Blake

■

Anaheim Ducks

http://undhockey.areavoices.com/

Taylor Chorney

■

Edmonton Oilers

Mike Commodore

■

Detroit Red Wings

Michael Forney

■

Winnipeg Jets

Matt Frattin

■

Toronto Maple Leafs

Chay Genoway

■

Minnesota Wild

Matt Greene

■

Linemates Frattin, Malone competing for opening-day NHL roster spots

Los Angeles Kings

Jason Gregoire

■

Winnipeg Jets

Brett Hextall

■

Phoenix Coyotes

Brian Lee

■

Photo courtesy of Toronto Maple Lakes Hockey Club

Ottawa Senators

Brad Malone

■

Colorado Avalanche

Matt Frattin

T.J. Oshie

■

St. Louis Blues

Zach Parise

■

New Jersey Devils

Chris Porter

■

St. Louis Blues

By Brad Elliott Schlossman Herald Staff Writer

hen Brian Burke flies in from Toronto just to have lunch on a Sunday afternoon, it is probably not for any ordinary prospect.

And that’s how the Maple Leafs feel about former UND standout Matt Frattin.

They sent scouts to watch him play throughout last season, including the general manager Burke himself a couple of times. When UND’s season ended, the Leafs were willing to burn a year of Frattin’s contract — moving him a step closer to free agency — just to make sure he signed on the dotted line.

The Leafs now have Frattin at training camp and so far he’s been everything they hoped. Burke said they may even accelerate his development.

“I believe that players benefit from spending time in the American Hockey League,” Burke said. “If you look at my track record, I had (all-star) Bobby Ryan, (NHL MVP) Corey Perry, (all-star) Ryan Getzlaf, Dustin Penner. . . I had all of those guys in the American.

“This might be one of the few guys who can skip that stage because I think coach (Dave) Hakstol did a great job

W

Top 5 impact players

with him at North Dakota. This kid is a big guy with ability. He played one game with us. He had seven shots on goal and he speed-bumped a guy — just totally pancaked a guy with a hit. This guy might be ready to play. He might be ready to skip that step. And that’s very rare for me to even talk about someone doing that.”

Frattin’s center last year, Brad Malone, also is making a strong push to make the Colorado Avalanche out of training camp.

“He’s getting every opportunity because he’s played pretty well through camp,” Avalanche coach Joe Sacco told the Denver Post. “I was impressed with him right from the start. I like his size, No. 1, and I like his style of play, No. 2.

“We’re looking to be a team that’s harder to play against, and he’s certainly a guy who can bring that element to our team. Whether he can do it consistently, time will tell. But certainly, he’s going to be a guy who’s going to get a good look.”

This does not surprise UND coach Dave Hakstol, who watched both players grow significantly throughout their four years with the Sioux.

Frattin had four goals and 15 points as

a freshman, 25 points as a sophomore, 19 in half of a season as a junior and 60 points as a senior.

Malone, meanwhile, only had one goal and three assists as a freshman, 17 points as a sophomore, 25 as a junior and 40 as a senior.

“I think our whole staff felt like they were ready to challenge for a spot on an opening-day NHL roster,” Hakstol said.

“It’s a real difficult task to accomplish, but they are well-prepared. They took the right steps in their development — the steps that were right for them. They both had outstanding and consistent senior years. They didn’t just have bits and pieces of the season, they were dominant players in their own right the entire season.

“That really speaks loudly that they were prepared and ready to take on the challenge of going to training camp and earning an NHL job. I don’t know if anybody understands how difficult that is, but they are right in the mix. They’ve got work to do, but they are right in the mix for one of those coveted spots.”

Matt Smaby

■

Anaheim Ducks

Drew Stafford

■

St. Louis Blues

Jonathan Toews

■

Chicago Blackhawks ■

Chris VandeVelde

Edmonton Oilers

Matt Watkins

■

Phoenix Coyotes

Travis Zajac

■

New Jersey Devils

North American pro Ryan Duncan

■

Portland (AHL)

Derrick LaPoint

■

Reading (ECHL)

Jake Marto

■

St. John’s (AHL)

Brad Miller

■

Gwinnett (ECHL)

Kyle Radke

■

Rio Grande Valley (CHL)

Reach Schlossman at (701) 780-1129; (800) 477-6572, ext. 129; or send e-mail to bschlossman@gfherald.com.

■

Aaron Schneekloth Colorado (ECHL)

Evan Trupp

■

Cincinnati (ECHL) ■

Darcy Zajac

Albany (AHL)

Overseas ■

Ryan Bayda

Nurnberg (Germany) ■

Robbie Bina

Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg (Germany) ■

Brandon Bochenski

Barys Astana (Russia)

Adam Calder

■

Slough (England)

Brent Davidson

■

Boras HC (Sweden)

Colby Genoway

■

Travis Zajac

Lausanne (Switzerland) ■

Lee Goren

Skelleftea (Sweden)

Anthony Grieco

■

Asiago (Italy)

Andrew Kozek

■

Nikko (Japan)

J.P. Lamoureux

■

Ljubliana (Slovenia) ■

David Lundbohm

Vasteras (Sweden)

Ryan Martens

■

Dortmund (Germany) Zach Parise

Jonathan Toews

Drew Stafford

MCT photos

T.J. Oshie

Zach Parise,

Jonathan Toews,

Drew Stafford,

Travis Zajac,

T.J. Oshie,

Parise was limited to 13 games last season because of a knee injury. But before that, he had tallied four straight 30-goal seasons and he will look to get back on track in 2011-12 with a Devils team that could be potent.

Toews tallied a careerhigh 76 points and received MVP consideration as he rallied the Blackhawks down the stretch. The Winnipeg native hit the 30-goal mark for the second time in his career last season.

It was hard to tell that Stafford battled injuries all year with his final goal tally. He hit 31, despite only playing 62 games. His goal-per game ratio ranked fifth in the NHL behind Sidney Crosby, Corey Perry, Steven Stamkos and Jarome Iginla.

Zajac’s iron man streak of five years will come to an end as he starts the season injured. But once the Devils get back the standout from Winnipeg, he will add a new dynamic to the team.

Oshie signed a oneyear contract in the offseason meaning it’s a make-or-break year for him. Expect him to make it after spending much of the summer working out in Brainerd, Minn. Look for him to break the 50-point mark for the first time.

New Jersey

Chicago

Buffalo

New Jersey

St. Louis

Darcy Mitani

■

High1 (South Korea) ■

Curtis Murphy

EHC Linz (Austria)

Brady Murray

■

Lugano (Switzerland) ■

Travis Roche

Bern (Switzerland) ■

Rastislav Spirko

Lev Poprad (Russia) ■

Bill Trew

Landshut (Germany) ■

Jason Ulmer

EHC Munchen (Germany) ■

Jeff Ulmer

DEG Metro Stars (Germany)

COMING SOON

A blue chip recruit awaits

Page 10

Thursday, September 29, 2011

2011-12

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

www.GrandForksHerald.com

■■■

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Page 11

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

2011-12

http://undhockey.areavoices.com/

Zane Gothberg, G ■ Hometown:

Thief River Falls.

■ Expected arrival: 2012.

■ 2011-12 team: Fargo Force (USHL).

■ Notable: Grandmother worked at UND for 30-plus years.

COMING SOON

▲

Jordan Schmaltz, D

■ Hometown:

Verona, Wis. arrival: 2012.

■ 2011-12 team: Sioux City (USHL).

■ Notable: Father played football for UND. ■ Expected

■■■ ■■■

Jordan Schmaltz will be under the microscope this season

Koules, ZaneMiles Gothberg, G F ■ Hometown: ■ Hometown:

Angeles.

ThiefLos River Falls.

■ Expected arrival: ■ Expected arrival: 2012.

2012. team: ■ 2011-12 ■ Force 2011-12 team: Fargo (USHL).

U.S. Under-18.

■ Notable: Grandmother ■ Notable: Father worked at UND for 30-plus produced Saw years. movies.

▲

Jordan Schmaltz, D

■ Hometown:

Verona, Wis. arrival: 2012.

■ 2011-12 team: Sioux City (USHL).

■ Notable: Father played football for UND. ■ Expected

■■■

Miles Koules, F ■ Hometown: Los Angeles.

■ Expected arrival: 2012.

■ 2011-12 team: U.S. Under-18.

■■■ ■ Notable: Father

By Brad Elliott Schlossman

Herald Staff Writer

J

produced Saw Stefan Matteau, F movies.

■ Hometown: Chicago.

■ Expected arrival: 2012.

■ 2011-12 team: U.S. Under-18.

■ Notable: Father won Cup with N.Y. Rangers.

■■■

Keaton Thompson, D ■■ ■ ■ Hometown:

Devils Lake. F Stefan Matteau,

■ Expected arrival: 2013.

■ Hometown: Chicago.

■ 2011-12 team:2012.

■ Expected arrival:

U.S. Under-17.

■ 2011-12 team: Notable: Will U.S. ■Under-18.

be first Lake player Father won at UND 1963.

Cup since with N.Y. Rangers.

Devils ■ Notable:

■■■ ■■■

Luke Johnson, DF Keaton Thompson,

■ Hometown: ■ Hometown: Grand Devils Lake.Forks.

■ Expected arrival: ■ Expected arrival: 2013.2013.

■ 2011-12 team: Lincoln ■ 2011-12 team: U.S. (USHL).

Under-17.

■ Notable: Father ■ Notable: Will be first was a Hobey Devils Lake Baker playerfinalist at UND UND. sinceat1963.

■■■ ■■■

Voltin, LukeLuke Johnson, F F ■ Hometown: ■ Hometown:

Blaine, Grand Forks.Minn.

■ Expected arrival: ■ Expected arrival: 2013.2013.

■ 2011-12 team: U.S. ■ 2011-12 team: Lincoln Under-17.

(USHL).

■ Notable: Voltin ■ Notable: Father was a previously played Hobey Baker finalist at Hill-Murray. at UND. ■■■ ■■■

Rowe, LukeJack Voltin, F F

■ Hometown: Cary, ■ Hometown: ■ Expected arrival: Blaine, Minn.

ordan Schmaltz has seen the ESPN story, the draft rankings and heard all of the hype.

“It’s kind of fun and exciting,” the UND defenseman recruit said. “But at the same time, I realize it’s just hype right now.

I’ve got to continue to play my game and get better, mature as a player. If I can do that Schmaltz and stay level-headed, as long as my team is playing well, then it will be interesting to see what happens next June.”

Schmaltz is an elite defenseman, projected to go anywhere between No. 2 and No. 25 in the first round of next June’s NHL Draft. No Sioux defenseman has been drafted higher than No. 8 overall, but with a big year in the United States Hockey League, Schmaltz could change that.

Despite being one of the younger players in the USHL last season, Schmaltz finished with 44 points in 53 games — eight more points than any other defenseman in the league. He finished the year on a 10-game point streak (three points in three of those games).

He’s been compared to Scott Niedermayer. He’s been featured on ESPN.com. And he’s hoping his best hockey is yet to come.

“Coming in from U18 AAA (midget major hockey) to the USHL, it was a big step in my development,” the Verona, Wis., native said. “The game is way faster. I was getting my feet wet the first few months, adjusting to the pace of the game. I really started to become pretty comfortable in December. After that, it kind of went downhill from there. The game slowed down for me. That was really a turning point in my season.”

Schmaltz said he likes to think of himself as a quarterback on the ice.

Ill.

Using football terminology is appropriate for him.

Schmaltz’s father, Mike, and uncles Monte and Mark played football for the Sioux in the 1980s and 1990s.

“I used to go up there every year until like three years ago when things started getting busier with hockey,” Schmaltz said. “We still go when the Sioux come to the Kohl Center in Madison.”

At one time, Schmaltz thought he would be a Badger. He gave a verbal commitment to attend Wisconsin when he was 14 years old. But when Wisconsin defensive guru Mark Osiecki left for Ohio State, Schmaltz re-opened his recruiting.

The second time around, he landed with the Sioux.

During the summer, the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League tried to woo Schmaltz to give up his college hockey commitment and play major junior hockey in Canada instead.

Schmaltz ultimately declined and opted to return to Sioux City for his senior year of high school.

He is expected to join the Sioux in fall 2012.

“I think the place I want to be is North Dakota,” Schmaltz said. “They develop NHL players as well as major juniors. It’s the place I want to be. North Dakota is a great program. It’s going to be huge for me there.”

But first, Schmaltz will try to lead Sioux City to a USHL title under the guidance of first-year coach Brett Larson, who was an assistant with Minnesota-Duluth last season.

“I talked to coach Larson a lot throughout the summer,” Schmaltz said.

“I checked in with him once a week. I’m really excited. He will do a great job. I think we’re going to play a little more up-tempo from last year. I’m really excited for that.”

D, UND recruit

[3]

F, Sweden

[4]

D, WHL

[5]

Jordan Schmaltz,

Filip Forsberg,

Morgan Rielly, Slater Koekkoek, F, OHL

[6]

Jacob Trouba,

[7]

Andrei Vasilevskii,

[8]

Alexander Galchenyuk, F, OHL

[9]

Andreas Athanasiou,

[10]

D, uncommitted

G, Russia

F, OHL

Mikhail Grigorenko, F, OHL

uke Johnson has led Grand Forks Red River and Grand Forks Central to state championships within the past three years.

Now, he has left his hometown — to go to his “other” hometown.

Johnson is a member of the United States Hockey League’s Lincoln Stars, the same team his father, Steve, coached for 11 years. He is playing in the town he called home for more than a decade and in an arena where he’s seen many games.

“It was a no-brainer to come here, for sure,” Johnson said. “Living here a majority of my life. . . it’s a great city for hockey. And I grew up there always wanting to play (for the Stars).”

Johnson, who will play under his uncle, Chad, in Lincoln, got his first taste of USHL competition last weekend at the Fall Classic. He played in two of the team’s three games (on a line with USHL veterans Dominik Shine and Brent Tate) and didn’t tally a point.

“Obviously, it is a lot faster than high school,” Johnson said. “I thought I played well in both games, but the pace is definitely faster for us.”

That’s why Johnson says footwork is one of his big focuses.

“Every level, the speed is faster,” he said. “For sure, my speed is something I can work on. Obviously, there is a lot of improvement to do.”

Johnson committed to UND during the summer and will play for the Sioux beginning in 2013 — the same year that UND moves to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

By going to Lincoln, Johnson had to give up a chance to play high school hockey for his final two years. But the decision wasn’t a difficult one, he said.

“If you look at all the guys who have been through this league, it is a no-brainer,” Johnson said.

L

■■■

Hometown: Cary, N.C. Jack■Rowe, F ■ Expected arrival: ■ Hometown: Cary, Ill.

2013 or arrival: 2014.

■ Expected 2013■or2011-12 2014. team: Shattuck-St. ■ 2011-12 team: Mary’s.

■ Notable: Will be first Cedar Rapids (USHL).

Carolina player at UND. ■ Notable: Grandparents live in Grand Forks.

■■■ ■■■

Nick Schmaltz, F ■ Hometown: Charlie Pelnik, D

■ Hometown:

[2]

Herald Staff Writer

Charlie Pelnik, D

Nick Schmaltz, F

F, OHL

By Brad Elliot Schlossman

live in played Grand Forks. previously at Hill-Murray.

■■■

■■■

Nail Yakupov,

Johnson heads to second home

Cedar Rapids (USHL).

Under-17.

Carolina player at UND.

Ut ter ba ck

[1]

Reach Schlossman at (701) 780-1129; (800) 477-6572, ext. 129; or send e-mail to bschlossman@gfherald.com.

■ Notable: ■ Notable: VoltinGrandparents

2013■or2011-12 2014. team: Chicago Mission (AAA).

■ 2011-12 team: ■ Notable: Father played Shattuck-St. Mary’s. footballWill for be UND. ■ Notable: first

im

ESPN’S TOP 2012 DRAFT PROSPECTS

Almost a Badger

2013 or arrival: 2014. 2013.

■ Expected ■ 2011-12 team: ■ 2011-12 team: U.S.

Verona, Wis. ■ Hometown: Cary, N.C. ■ Expected arrival: 2014.

■ Expected arrival:

Ph oto by J

pher staff photogra Eric Hylden, a game

in cus Abfalter Century’s Mar m fro ay aw ates ke Johnson sk rks Central’s Lu .

Grand Fo na re elstad A at Ralph Eng

Many happy returns

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Page 11

UND FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY

2011-12 http://undhockey.areavoices.com/

WOMEN’S ROSTER 1. Shelby Amsley-Benzie; G Fresh. Warroad, Minn.

2. Mary Loken; F Jr. Roseau, Minn.

3. Madison Kolls; D Soph.

Hudson, Wis. 5. Holly Perkins; F Jr. Soldotna, Alaska 6. Allison Parizek; F Jr. Minot 7. Jordan Slavin; D Jr. Erie, Colo.

8. Michelle Karvinen; F Fresh.

Rodovre, Denmark 9. Kayla Berg; D Soph. Fargo 10. Andrea Dalen; F Fresh.

Honefoss, Norway 11. Shannon Kaiser; F Fresh.

Crookston 12. Ashley Holmes; D Sr. Miltona, Minn.

13. Alyssa Wiebe; F Sr. Saskatoon, Sask.

15. Megan Gilbert; F Jr. Andover, Minn.

16. Tori Williams; D Fresh.

The Pas, Man. 17. Jocelyne Lamoureux; F Jr. Grand Forks 18. Monique LamoureuxKolls; F-D Jr. Grand Forks

Jordan Slavin

19. Margot Miller; F-D Sr. West Bloomfield, Mich.

21. Kelsey Ketcher; F Sr. Mound, Minn.

22. Sara Dagenais; F Sr. Montreal 25. Leah Jensen; F Fresh East Grand Forks 26. Monique Weber; F Sr. Elk River, Minn.

Keep an eye on. . .

Michelle Karvinen

The 2010 Olympic bronze medalist is one of the top European players in the game. She led Finland in scoring at the 2011 IIHF World Championships and has been penciled in to play with the Lamoureux twins on the top line.

Josefine Jakobsen

Jakobsen was named the top forward at the 2011 World Championship Division II tournament while playing for her native Denmark. She spent last year in Sweden, where she dominated the top league.

Andrea Dalen

Dalen flew under the radar playing in Norway, but coach Brian Idalski is convinced she will make a name for herself by the end of the season. Like Jakobsen, Dalen played in the top Swedish league.

Monique Weber

Weber comes to Grand Forks as a senior, already spending three years at UConn.

She tallied 29 points as a sophomore and should give the team depth and more experience up front.

With most everyone back and a heralded recruit class coming in, expectations are at an all-time high for UND

By Brad Elliott Schlossman Herald Staff Writer

rian Idalski was asked how different things are with UND’s women’s hockey program from when he took over as head coach four years ago.

He proceeded to laugh for the next 10 seconds until he realized the interviewer actually wanted an answer.

“I don’t even know how to give you a straight answer,” he said. “It’s not even night and day. It’s beyond that.”

The program, whose Slavin leading scorer finished the season — yes, the season — with eight points prior to Idalski’s arrival, is heading into the 2011-12 season with three Olympic medalwinning forwards on the top line.

The second line features two more national team players — Denmark’s Josefine Jakobsen and Norway’s Andrea Dalen — along with senior Alyssa Wiebe, who has quietly scored 92 points in her three years at UND. And the Sioux have depth to the tune of 29 players on the roster —10 more than Idalski’s first season.

“I think I’m going to feel claustrophobic on the bench playing with a full lineup,” Idalski said. “I don’t think we went out and had a full roster immediately because we didn’t want to take kids we didn’t think would help us long term. That’s a four-year commitment. Now, we have a collection of talented kids coming in and a collection of kids who developed over the last couple years.”

Indeed, expectations are at an all-time high for the Sioux, who broke nearly every program record with 20-13-3 a year ago. They lost just one senior from last year’s team (Idalski’s first recruit, Stephanie Roy) and brought in a talented freshman class.

The Sioux are deep enough that they will likely redshirt, among others, Warroad, Minn., product Layla Marvin and former East Grand Forks Senior High standout Leah Jensen.

B

Slavin will key the ‘D’

While much of the attention will focus on UND’s prolific forwards, one of the biggest pieces to the puzzle will be junior defenseman Jordan Slavin.

A year ago, Slavin broke UND’s singleseason scoring record for defensemen with 22 points in 26 games. But a leg injury and subsequent knee surgery sidelined Slavin for the stretch run and the playoffs.

While the Sioux did defeat top-five team Minnesota and work their way into the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Faceoff for the first time ever, they greatly missed Slavin on the back end.

“It was a huge blow,” Idalski said. “Not just because of what she was doing, but just with the lack of depth and the stress that put on other kids to pick up her minutes. We were going pretty good with five ‘D’ and rotating (Madison) Kolls as the sixth. That went out the window (with the injury). We had to accelerate Kolls’ development. “(Not having Slavin) hurt us quite a bit down the stretch.”

Idalski said that Slavin can control a game both offensively and defensively.

“She physically matches up against some of the bigger kids in our league and some power forwards on other teams,” he said. “I didn’t expect the offensive output from her last year, but she’s very good at jumping in the play and being aggressive. She’s set the bar high for herself for what she’s able to accomplish.”

Candace Molle, Ashley Holmes, Kayla Berg, Ashley Furia and Kolls are among other defensemen who could play every day. Sioux senior Margot Miller also is taking reps at defense.

Ney to start

Goaltenders Stephanie Ney and Jorid Dagfinrud split time in net last year for the Sioux. By the end of the season, Ney was the go-to goalie and she’ll start as the team’s No. 1 this season.

UND plans to redshirt Warroad star Shelby Amsley-Benzie.

“As of right now, Ney is our No. 1 goalie,” Idalski said. “That is her job to lose. She played very well for us last year. I think she has taken her strength and conditioning to heart. I look forward to her having a big year as a senior and kind of carrying our team. We will go as far as Ney will take us.”

Reach Schlossman at (701) 780-1129; (800) 477-6572, ext. 129; or send e-mail to bschlossman@gfherald.com.

27. Layla Marvin; F Fresh.

Warroad, Minn.

29. Steph Ney; G Sr. 100 Mile House, B.C. 30. Jorid Dagfinrud; G Jr. Sarpsborg, Norway 32. Candace Molle; D Jr. Anchorage 33. Michelle Bonapace-Potvin; G Fresh. Rouyn-Noranda, Que. 44. Josie Johnson; F-D Fresh.

Waunakee, Wis. 63. Josefine Jakobsen; F Fresh. Aalborg, Denmark 91. Ashley Furia; F-D Jr. Sedalia, Colo.

2011-12 SCHEDULE Sept. 23: MANITOBA (exh.) 7:07 Sept. 24: MANITOBA (exh.) 2:07 Sept. 30: at Boston University 6:00 Oct. 1: at Boston University 2:00 Oct. 8: at Wisconsin 2:07 Oct. 9: at Wisconsin 2:07 Oct. 15: VERMONT 2:07 Oct. 16: VERMONT 2:07 Oct. 21: OHIO STATE 7:07 Oct. 22: OHIO STATE 7:07 Oct. 29: at Duluth 3:07 Oct. 30: at Duluth 3:07

Nov. 4: at St. Cloud State 2:07 Nov. 5: at St. Cloud State 2:07 Nov. 18: MSU-MANKATO 7:07 Nov. 19: MSU-MANKATO 7:07

Nov. 25: at Bemidji State 7:07 Nov. 26: at Bemidji State 7:07 Dec. 2: MINNESOTA 7:07 Dec. 3: MINNESOTA 2:07 Dec. 10: DULUTH 2:07 Dec. 11: DULUTH 2:07 Jan. 4: LINDENWOOD 7:07 Jan. 14: WISCONSIN 2:07 Jan. 15: WISCONSIN 2:07 Jan. 20: ST. CLOUD STATE 7:07 Jan. 21: ST. CLOUD STATE 7:07 Jan. 27: at Ohio State 6:07 Jan. 28: at Ohio State 3:07 Feb. 3: BEMIDJI STATE 7:07 Feb. 4: BEMIDJI STATE 7:07 Feb. 10: at MSU-Mankato 7:07 Feb. 11: at MSU-Mankato 3:07 Feb. 17: at Minnesota 6:07 Feb. 18: at Minnesota 4:07 Feb. 24-26: WCHA first round Mar. 2-3: WCHA Final Faceoff (Duluth) Mar. 9: NCAA quarterfinals Mar. 16-18: NCAA Frozen Four (Duluth)