Augustana reveals areas UND needs to address in preseason exhibition – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS — Alarm lights flashed in the rafters of Ralph Engelstad Arena early in the third period Saturday, but play was never stopped.

The building authorities determined that there was neither a danger to spectators nor a fire.

It was a perfect metaphor for what was happening on the ice.

For years, UND has opened its hockey season by manhandling an overmatched University of Manitoba team. UND built confidence, freshmen got on the scoresheet and goaltenders started the season comfortably.

Not this year.

UND was playing an NCAA Division I team in its preseason exhibition — Augustana University’s second-year program — and the Vikings revealed everything the Fighting Hawks need to address before the real deal next weekend.

The Vikings scored just 2 minutes, 20 seconds into the game and beat UND 4-1, marking UND’s first preseason exhibition loss since 1996-97. That year, of course, ended with UND winning the NCAA national championship.

Of course, UND hopes to follow in that team’s footsteps, but March and April aren’t the problem right now.

The Fighting Hawks have seven days to correct problems before opening the regular season against Providence in the US Hockey Hall of Fame Game on Saturday night.

“Everyone says, ‘It’s an exhibition game,'” UND coach Brad Berry said. “Believe me, our attitude was that we were playing for real money. The bullets fly. Now you see what you need to work on. The nice thing about it is playing against good competition like Augustana – they’re good.” Team – it shows you as a group where you are and shows you as players individually where they are.

For some members of UND’s highly touted rookie class, the exhibition showed how much more demanding college hockey is than junior hockey.

For those returning, it was a reminder that summer-style hockey won’t work during the regular season.

“I didn’t think we were sharp,” Berry said. “It is even more important to do justice to our identity. We are a northern team. We are a fast team. We are a team that plays together as a unit of five. I didn’t think we would play as a team.” The five-man unit tried to go it alone tonight. We came through the neutral zone and had to support the puck. When a man walked, there was no other man around him. They were guys who weren’t immediately on the same page.

UND didn’t score until the final 11 minutes of the game. Senior center Cameron Berg scored a goal from the right circle on the power play.

The Vikings were leading 4-0 at that point with two goals from Brett Meerman and one each from Nace Langus and Quinn Rudrud. Tyler Hennen of Hallock, Minn., recorded an assist.

“I just thought we were soft,” UND defenseman Bennett Zmolek said. “We lost many battles. We didn’t make the jump. It was quiet on the bench. I felt like the energy should be higher.”

The evening began with UND raising the 2024 Penrose Cup Champions banner in front of an announced crowd of 11,667 spectators. Each player was introduced and everyone except Hobie Hedquist (unknown, daily) took part in the competition.

UND used five lines and four defensive pairings.

Senior goaltender TJ Semptimphelter, a transfer from Arizona State, played the first two periods of the game. He stopped 15 of 18 shots. Kaleb Johnson played the third and stopped four of five.

“It’s an execution,” said UND captain Louis Jamernik V. “It’s all between the ears. It’s about being mentally prepared, having some energy and juice, then your hands and feet will follow.”

UND beat Augustana 29-23, but didn’t create many good chances.

“If you can win puck races and puck battles, you have possession of the puck and you get opportunities to score,” Berry said. “I don’t think we won nearly enough puck races and puck battles.”

You have one week to fix the problem before it starts counting.

“Right now we’re kind of gloomy and stuff,” Jamernik said. “That’s completely natural after a defeat. Just show up to the rink on Monday, have a positive attitude and get right back to it. I know training will be a tough week. We have to do it and.” It starts with everyone bringing their energy and everyone doing something – not just a few people.”

Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the best beat writer for the Herald’s circulation department and once as North Dakota Sportswriter of the Year. He lives in Grand Forks. Reach him at [email protected].