GRAND FORKS, N.D (KVRR/Nick Couzin) — North Dakota hockey’s season is right around the corner with their first exhibition coming on October 2nd against Bemidji State. The team hopes to iron out its kinks before that game.
UND had eight players depart for the NHL after the Fighting Hawks lost to Minnesota-Duluth in the Midwest Regional Final of the NCAA Tournament this spring. This fall the program welcomes 14 new players to Grand Forks: 10 freshman and four transfers.
The first time everyone came together was in July for summer workouts. In the lead up to that first face-off, senior captain Mark Senden and junior assistant Ethan Frisch say it’s been all about building those on-ice relationships.
“Building chemistry with these guys. The offseason becomes increasingly important,” Frisch said. “Getting on the ice with them and knowing the different tendencies of your line mates will be crucial for us. They’re excited to be part of our culture so that made it easy to grow together off the ice, which makes it even easier knowing that you’re dealing with a lot of great ones.”
“They played in juniors so they’re not your typical freshman,” Senden said. “We do have some 18 year olds. A lot of them are very strong, skilled, and fast. When you see them out there they’re not going to look like freshman.”
“Everyone has done a good job of getting acclimated to what we do here at North Dakota and our culture,” senior forward Gavin Hain said. “We’re going to have a little bit different identity than last year’s team. We’re a hard working group. We have everyone on the right page.”
“We have several captains that are juniors and sophomores so I think we can bring that leadership,” sophomore defenseman Tyler Kleven said. “Our experience too. We’ve all played 30-60 games over our freshmen and sophomore years.”
UND was picked to finish third in the NCHC’s preseason poll.
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