A showdown is brewing in Grand Forks! Can the No. 6 UND Fighting Hawks complete a dominant sweep of Bemidji State, or will the Beavers claw their way back and spoil the party? After a thrilling 5-3 victory in Bemidji, the stage is set at Ralph Engelstad Arena for what promises to be an electrifying series finale.
Here's how you can follow the action:
- Time: 6:07 p.m. CT
- Location: Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, ND
- TV: Midco Sports Network (GF Ch. 27/622 HD)
- Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM) - Tune in online at https://961thefox.iheart.com/
- Stream: Catch every moment live at NCHChockey.com/tv
Live Game Updates:
First Period:
- The opening frame concludes with no goals scored. Both teams are feeling each other out, setting the stage for what should be an exciting middle stanza.
Second Period:
- UND 1, Bemidji State 0 — Ben Strinden 9 (Cole Reschny, Keaton Verhoeff) 6:57: Cole Reschny, showing incredible playmaking ability, orchestrates a series of scoring opportunities. After an initial shot from Abram Wiebe is blocked, Reschny regains possession and feeds the puck to the red-hot Ben Strinden. Strinden unleashes a blistering shot that finds the back of the net, sending the Ralph Engelstad Arena into a frenzy! This goal marks Strinden's 12th point in November, setting new career highs in both goals (9) and points (17). Reschny also continues his impressive run, notching his 11th point of the month.
- UND 1, Bemidji State 1 — Kasper Magnussen 7 (Adam Flammang) 12:31: Bemidji State responds with a goal of their own! On a 2-on-2 rush, Kasper Magnussen receives the puck on the left side and fires a shot through traffic, beating UND goaltender E.J. Emery. Oliver Peer's presence in front of the net created the necessary distraction, allowing Magnussen to tie the game. This goal demonstrates Bemidji's resilience and ability to capitalize on offensive chances.
Projected Lineups:
Remember, lineups can change before puck drop, so stay tuned for any last-minute adjustments.
UND Fighting Hawks:
- Forwards:
- 26 Dylan James—17 Cole Reschny—21 Ben Strinden
- 7 Mac Swanson—8 Ollie Josephson—9 Will Zellers
- 19 Cody Croal—20 Cade Littler—14 Tyler Young
- 27 Anthony Menghini—22 David Klee—15 Jack Kernan
- Defensemen:
- 13 Sam Laurila—25 Abram Wiebe
- 4 Jake Livanavage—18 Keaton Verhoeff
- 16 Andrew Strathmann—6 E.J. Emery
- 11 Ian Engel
- Goaltenders:
- 35 Jan Špunar
- 31 Gibson Homer
- 1 Zach Sandy
- Out of the Lineup: F Ellis Rickwood (injured), F Josh Zakreski (injured), D Bennett Zmolek (injured), D Jayden Jubenvill (injured), F Dalton Andrew
Bemidji State Beavers:
- Forwards:
- 28 Kasper Magnussen—22 Oliver Peer—11 Adam Flammang
- 18 Max Namestnikov—26 Reilly Funk—15 Connor McClennon
- 20 Kirklan Irey—8 Vincent Labelle—17 Noah Quinn
- 9 Jaksen Panzer—27 Jake McLean—25 Tory Lund
- Defensemen:
- 5 Hudson Thornton—6 Mitch Wolfe
- 2 Maxon Vig—7 Isa Parehk
- 23 Luke Roelofs—13 Ben Vigneault
- 4 Patrik Satosaari
- Goaltenders:
- 1 Max Hildebrand
- 35 Raythan Robbins
- 30 Trent Wiemken
- Out of the Lineup: F Oscar Karlsson, F Vann Yuhas, F Alexi Sylvestre, D Vince Corcoran, D A.J. Macaulay, D Ryan Henderson
Officials:
- Referees: Justin Hills and Rick Nelson
- Linesmen: Andrew Dokken and Tyler Landman
- Supervisor: Thor Nelson
Pre-Game Notes - What to Watch For:
The Fighting Hawks are dealing with a few key injuries, missing center Ellis Rickwood (third straight game), winger Josh Zakreski (eighth game), and defensemen Bennett Zmolek (second game) and Jayden Jubenvill (injured in Friday’s game). How will these absences affect their performance?
On a positive note, Jan Špunar gets the nod for his second consecutive start this weekend – a first in his college career! Will he be able to maintain his composure and deliver another strong performance in net?
UND is hungry for a sweep against Bemidji State, something they haven’t accomplished since 2023. A regulation sweep hasn’t happened since October 2016. The pressure is on to make history!
Interestingly, UND boasts a solid 5-2 record in nonconference play this season. Does this give them an edge, or will Bemidji State's conference experience prove to be the deciding factor? Some might argue that non-conference wins are less indicative of overall team strength, as the level of competition can vary greatly. What do you think?
About the Author: Brent Schlossman has been a fixture in college hockey coverage for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. His dedication and insightful reporting have earned him numerous accolades, including recognition from the Associated Press Sports Editors and being named North Dakota Sportswriter of the Year twice. You can reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.
Now it's your turn! Who do you think will win tonight's game, and why? Do you believe the injuries will significantly impact UND's chances? Let us know your predictions and opinions in the comments below! We want to hear from you!
