GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Saturday nights in Ralph Engelstad Arena typically feature a raucous capacity crowd.
But with the University of North Dakota and local schools on spring break, the student section at The Ralph was exceptionally quiet, evident as Minnesota-Duluth defeated North Dakota 5-1 in a single game NCHC semifinal matchup in front of just over 9,000 fans.
“This was a night that we were not our best,” Fighting Hawks head coach Dane Jackson said in his postgame press conference.
Staring at a 3-0 deficit heading into the final period, Cole Reschny connected with Dylan James, who found the back of the net to cut the lead to two at that point. But it was too little, too late, as the Fighting Hawks would surrender two more goals – one to Harper Bentz and another to Kyle Gaffney.
“We just weren’t our sharpest tonight,” North Dakota junior defenseman Abram Wiebe said. “I just thought we came out flat footed in the first 10 minutes. I thought we ended the first period with a good 10.”
It was a night for Section 8 alumni – Bentz, a Moorhead native, and Jayson Shaugabay, a Warroad native, each tallied points in the win.
After the Bulldogs’ Callum Arnott put them up 1-0 just two minutes into the game, it appeared as momentum was potentially shifting.
Luke Bibby went off the ice to serve a penalty after appearing to spear UND’s Keaton Verhoeff in the midsection. The officials reviewed the call, for more than three minutes, before concluding that they could not find evidence to issue a major penalty for spearing, instead assessing a slashing minor to the freshman Ontario native.
The loss ends North Dakota’s run at the NCHC Frozen Faceoff, but their postseason remains alive as they’re a lock for the NCAA tournament. Their opponent – and regional tournament site – will be determined at next Sunday’s NCAA Selection Show.
“We talked to the group about the kind of mindset going forward,” Jackson said. “About getting 12 days to be prepared for our biggest games of the year.”
