North Dakota vs. Michigan Tech: Notes & Links

• North Dakota: 8-5-3 Overall (5-2-3 WCHA)
• Michigan Tech: 4-8-3 Overall (3-6-3 WCHA)
• Gametime: Friday & Saturday 6:07 CST
• Both games will be broadcast across the UND Radio Network, and as always, here's the standard broadcast information. While there will be no TV coverage, both games will be available for viewing via Michigan Tech webcast. Cost is $12.00 per game.
• Series Notes (PDF): North Dakota and Michigan Tech
• For all of the GF Herald stories, check out Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading.
• The Daily Mining Gazette: Huskies, Genoe Doing Alright
• The Daily Mining Gazette: Last Minute of Hate in This Period
• The Tech Hockey Guide: Scouting the Huskies and North Dakota
• UND Sports: Men's Hockey Travel Blog
• Series Numbers: North Dakota leads the all-time series 145-93-10, including a 61-55-5 edge on the road, and in the last 24 meetings in Houghton, UND has a remarkable 21-1-2 record. The Huskies are winless in the last 14 meetings, with North Dakota holding a 12-0-2 advantage over that stretch. These two teams last met at Engelstad Arena in February of this year, with North Dakota winning on Friday and the two teams playing to a 1-1 tie Saturday. UND's 145 victories against the Huskies are the most in program history against any one team.
• Michigan Tech and North Dakota have each played five overtime games this season, and both teams sport 2-0-3 records in the extra session. Tech's five overtime contests have all come in their last seven games.
• North Dakota forward Corban Knight is riding an 11 game point streak, during which he has racked up 15 points (3G, 12A).
• Following their big weekend against Denver, linemates Carter Rowney and Rocco Grimaldi earned Weekly WCHA Honors. Rowney is starting to look very much like he did last year during his breakout junior season. Against Denver he was driving hard to the net and using his physical strength to out-muscle opponents, and his efforts were rewarded with a five point weekend. Grimaldi, who has produced eight points (2G, 6A) in his last five games, is constantly buzzing around the rink and is a threat to generate offensive chances anytime he is on the ice. The scary thing about him is he still seems a bit snakebitten in terms of burying his quality scoring chances. If he can maintain his current level of play, eventually he will start finding the back of the net and his production will really take off.
• Michigan Tech has killed off just 75.8% of short-handed situations, second-worst in the conference and fourth-worst in the nation, and the Huskies are last in the WCHA in scoring defense, allowing 3.53 GPG. UND's play on the man-advantage has been relatively ineffective this season, cashing in on just 15.6% of its power play opportunities, third worst in the WCHA. However, North Dakota has been killing off penalties at an 84.5% clip, good for third in the conference.
• Michigan Tech forward Dennis Rix is one of just eight players in the nation with more than one shorthanded goal this season.
• Expect Kevin Genoe to get the nod in net for Michigan Tech. For UND, don't be surprised to see Clarke Saunders and Zane Gothberg each get a start this weekend.  
• UND forward Michael Parks will not play this weekend. Michigan Tech defenseman Daniel Sova is out with a wrist injury, while forwards Tanner Kero, David Johnstone, Chad Pietila and defeseman Justin Fillion are all probable to 50/50 for this weekend's series.  
• Three Michigan Tech Huskies are NHL draft picks, while 14 North Dakota players have heard their names called by NHL clubs.
• USCHO's This Week in the WCHA
• USCHO's Three WCHA Observations
• USCHO's Weekend Picks
• CHN's Tale of the Tape
• CHN's WCHA Power Rankings
• CHN's Three Things
• WCHB Weekly WCHA Preview
• WCHA Weekly Press Release
• The Hockey Writer's Combine: UND vs. Michigan Tech Series Notes
• Sioux Sports Series Preview

North Dakota vs. Denver: Notes & Links

• North Dakota: 7-5-2 Overall (4-2-2 WCHA)
• Denver: 9-4-1 Overall (7-2-1 WCHA)
• Gametime: Friday 7:37 CST/Saturday 7:07 CST
• Both games will be broadcast across the region on a variety of media outlets and as always, here's the standard broadcast information. Fox College Sports Central will also be televising both games of the series (DirecTV channel 626).
• Series Notes: North Dakota and Denver
• For all of the GF Herald stories, check out Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading.
• College Hockey News: Saunders Finds a New Home in Grand Forks
• Series Numbers: North Dakota leads the all-time series 135-116-8, including an 80-42-5 record in Grand Forks. Denver has had relative success playing in the new Engelstad however, managing an 8-9-2 record in Grand Forks since North Dakota opened its current arena. Over the course of the previous two seasons, UND owns a 5-2 advantage over Denver, with three of those wins coming in the postseason (two at the WCHA Final Five, one in the NCAA tournament).
• The GF Herald's Brad Schlossman wrote a great article containing a number of impressive stats that detail the staying power both Denver and North Dakota have displayed over the course of the last decade. The sustained relevance of these two programs has created a very heated rivalry, and every time they meet the games seem to carry some measure of significance. One other number that displays the consistency of this weekend's combatants? Denver and North Dakota have hosted WCHA first round playoff series each of the past nine seasons. Every other program in the conference has had to travel for the first round at least twice over that same span.  
• North Dakota pivot Corban Knight is currently riding a nine game point streak (1G, 11A). The last time he failed to record a point was November 2nd against Boston University.
• UND freshman Drake Caggiula scored three goals last weekend against Colorado College. When was the last time a freshman scored three times in a weekend for North Dakota? Danny Kristo accomplished the feat November 27-28, 2009 in the Subway Holiday Classic against Ohio State and Miami University.
• At the beginning of the season, significant departures upfront led many to question where Denver would find its offensive production. During the first ten games of the season Pioneer defensemen racked up a very impressive 14 goals and were responsible for nearly a third of the team's offense as Denver jumped out to a 9-1-0 start. The last four games, however, their defensemen have produced just one goal and the team has gone winless (0-3-1). Denver head coach George Gwozdecky affords his defensive corps quite a bit of freedom to jump up into the offensive play, and the talented group will certainly warrant extra attention in the North Dakota zone this weekend.
• Denver has played 14 games thus far in 2012-13, with only three coming on the road. One of those games was against Colorado College, making this weekend's visit to Grand Forks just the second time this season the Pioneers have travelled outside of Colorado. They swept Minnesota State in Mankato a month ago.
• Over the course of the past five seasons, North Dakota has been swept at home just once. Denver was the evildoer, back in January of 2010.
• Denver Post writer Mike Chambers says Denver is expected to start Juho Olkinuora in goal Friday night, and that the Fin could be in net Saturday night as well.
• Earlier this week rumors swirled that highly-regarded freshman forward Quentin Shore was considering leaving Denver in order to join the WHL's Portland Winterhawks. Shore appears to be staying put, however, and he is excited to be making the trip to Grand Forks.
• North Dakota forward Michael Parks remains sidelined with a lower body injury. On the Denver injury front, defenseman Nolan Zajac is expected to return to the lineup while Josiah Didier is out. Also sitting for the Pioneers is Larkin Jacobson (team suspension).
• Seven members of this season's Pioneer squad are NHL draft picks, while 14 North Dakota players have heard their names called by NHL clubs.
• USCHO's This Week in the WCHA 
• USCHO's Weekend Picks
• CHN's Tale of the Tape
• CHN's WCHA Power Rankings
• CHN's WCHA 3 Up, 2 Down
• WCHB Weekly WCHA Preview
• WCHA Weekly Press Release
• The Hockey Writer's Combine: Series Notes
• Sioux Sports Series Preview

North Dakota vs. Colorado College: Notes & Links

• North Dakota: 6-4-2 Overall (3-1-2 WCHA)
• Colorado College: 7-6-1 Overall (4-2-0 WCHA)
• Gametime: Friday 8:37 CST/Saturday 8:07 CST
• Both games will be broadcast across the UND Radio Network, and as always, here's the standard broadcast information. While neither game of this series will be on TV, both games will be available for viewing via CC's Tiger Vision webcast. Cost is $6.95 per game, or you can buy a monthly pass for $10.95 and get both games at a discount.
• Series Notes (PDF): North Dakota and Colorado College
• For all of the GF Herald stories, check out Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading.
• Colorado Springs Gazette: CC Needs to Snap Out of Funk vs. #7 North Dakota
• The Catalyst: CC-DU Hockey Fight Raises Questions, Issues Off the Ice
• The Catalyst: Ice of the Tiger
• UND Sports: Men's Hockey Travel Blog
• Paisley Hockey: Friday Reading
• Series Numbers: North Dakota leads the all-time series 137-76-10, with Colorado College holding a 47-56-4 edge at home. However, in the last 10 meetings in Colorado Springs, UND has a 6-4-0 advantage. The Tigers have won just one time in the last eight meetings, with North Dakota holding a 7-1-0 advantage over that stretch. Their last meeting came just over one year ago (Thanksgiving weekend of 2011), with North Dakota earning a sweep in what was a wildly entertaining series at Engelstad Arena.  All-time, UND has recorded 137 victories at the Tiger's expense, second-most in program history to its 145 wins over Michigan Tech, and the Fighting Sioux have scored more goals (1,045) against CC than any other team.
• North Dakota forward Danny Kristo is averaging 1.40 points per game, good for ninth nationally and third in the conference, while goaltender Clarke Saunders is T-12th in the nation with his WCHA-leading .934 save percentage. 
• This is the last weekend for Team USA World Junior Championship candidates to make an impression on USA Hockey staff, as the preliminary roster is set to be released next week. Rocco Grimaldi would seem to be a virtual lock, but Jordan Schmaltz is a fringe player who could could tip the scale in his favor with a strong weekend in Colorado Springs, which is the home of USA Hockey headquarters.
• Special teams effectiveness could very well be a difference-maker this weekend. CC boasts the WCHA's top power play, converting at a 24.4% clip, but they've killed off just 73.5% of short-handed situations, second-worst in the conference and third-worst in the nation. UND, on the other hand, has been effective on the kill (85.7%, 3rd in WCHA), while cashing in on just 15.2% of its power plays, third worst in the WCHA.
• The defense and goaltending of Colorado College has been very porous this season. The Tigers allow 3.50 goals per game, second worst in the conference to Michigan Tech's 3.60 GPG and 54th out of the nation's 59 teams. Their goaltenders, Josh Thorimbert (3.38) and Joe Howe (3.48), rank 16th and 18th respectively in GAA among the 19 WCHA netminders who qualify statistically, and they've really struggled at home. In games played in Colorado Springs, Howe has a 3.66 GAA to go along with his .894 Save % while Thorimbert has a 4.00 GAA and .854 Save %.
• At the other end of the ice, Colorado College boasts a potent offensive attack, scoring 3.71 goals per game (3rd most in the WCHA, 5th most in the nation). They have seven of the top 22 point producers in the WCHA, with senior forwards Rylan Schwartz and William Rapuzzi tied for the league lead with 17 points each. Schwartz in particular has been a thorn in North Dakota's side. In his last three games against UND, Schwartz has scored eight of CC's twelve goals, including two hat tricks last year in Grand Forks.
• UND forward Michael Parks will not play this weekend. Two weeks ago against Minnesota-Duluth he aggravated the lower body injury he suffered in the exhibition game against Manitoba and he has not played since. His status is considered to be week-to-week. 
• Four Colorado College Tigers are NHL draft picks, while 14 North Dakota players have heard their names called by NHL clubs.
• USCHO's This Week in the WCHA
• USCHO's Three WCHA Observations
• USCHO's Weekend Picks
• CHN's Tale of the Tape
• CHN's WCHA Power Rankings
• WCHB Weekly WCHA Preview
• WCHA Weekly Press Release
• The Hockey Writer's Combine: UND vs. Colorado College Series Notes
• Sioux Sports Series Preview

North Dakota vs. Notre Dame: Notes & Links

• North Dakota: 5-3-2 Overall (3-1-2 WCHA)
• Notre Dame: 8-3-0 Overall (5-1-0 CCHA)
• Gametime: Friday 6:35 CST/Saturday 4:05 CST
• Both games will be broadcast across the UND Radio Network, and as always, here's the standard broadcast information. While neither game of this series will be on TV, Notre Dame is one of just a few schools out there to provide free webcasts of their games. Use the Live Video link on the Notre Dame hockey scoreboard page to access the live stream.
• Series Notes (PDF): North Dakota and Notre Dame
• For all of the GF Herald stories, check out Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading.
• South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame's Bryan Rust on Verge of Breakout Campaign
• The Observer: Irish Face North Dakota in Top 10 Matchup
• College Hockey News: Notre Dame, Team of the Week
• UND Sports: Men's Hockey Travel Blog
• Series Numbers: The all-time series is tied at 16-16-3, with Notre Dame holding a 6-9-1 edge in South Bend. Notre Dame has won just one time in the last 15 meetings, with North Dakota holding an 11-1-3 advantage over that stretch. Their last meeting came in 2010 over Thanksgiving weekend, with North Dakota earning a win and a tie at Engelstad Arena. The bulk of the matchups between the Irish and UND came while the two schools were members of the WCHA (1971-72 through 1980-81). In their 35 game history, they have met just five times as non-conference foes. 
• North Dakota's Danny Kristo is the reigning WCHA Offensive Player of the Week, while defenseman Robbie Russo and goaltender Steven Summerhays earned weekly CCHA honors for Notre Dame.
• Scoring will not come easily this weekend against Notre Dame. The Irish rank second in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 1.64 goals per game, while Summerhays' 1.51 GAA is the fourth best in the nation. Notre Dame has also killed 90.9% of its opponent's power play opportunities, good for fifth nationally.
• Offensively, Notre Dame is led by Anders Lee (11 gms - 5G, 4A) and Bryan Rust (11gms - 3G, 5A) while defensemen Stephen Johns (11gms - 0G, 7A) and Robbie Russo (11 gms - 3G, 4A) are regular contributors to the offensive attack of the Irish. Star forward TJ Tynan (11 gms - 2G, 3A) is off to a slow start this season, but the dynamic center remains a threat. 
• Because Notre Dame's webcasts are free (combined with the fact that they've appeared on national TV a few times), I've had the opportunity to watch them play several times. Lee has been consistently impressive upfront for the Irish. His combination of size, strength, and the ability to finish makes him very hard to handle. Tynan's play, as indicated by his dip in production this season, has been inconsistent. While he still displays the flashy skills that have made him a point-per-game player during his career (95 games, 100 points), there have also been significant stretches during which he is far too uninvolved in the play. Defensively, Johns has impressed the most. Both he and Russo are good offensively, but Johns has been more sound in his own zone. As for the goaltending, it usually takes a special play to get one by Summerhays. He has been very good all season for the Irish.
• Last week, forward Michael Parks returned to the UND lineup for the first time since suffering a lower body injury in the exhibition game against Manitoba, but he left Friday's game after apparently aggravating the injury. He will not play this weekend against Notre Dame and his status is considered to be week-to-week. Notre Dame freshman forward Mario Lucia made his collegiate debut during last weekend's sweep at Michigan. Lucia suffered a broken leg in the preseason, and he is expected to see increased ice-time this weekend against North Dakota. Mario, of course, is the son of Minnesota head coach Don Lucia, who is a Notre Dame alum himself.
• Twelve members of this season's Notre Dame squad are NHL draft picks, while 14 North Dakota players have heard their names called by NHL clubs.
• USCHO's This Week in the WCHA
• USCHO's Weekend Picks
• CHN's Tale of the Tape
• CHN's WCHA Power Rankings
• CHN's WCHA 3 Up, 2 Down
• CHN's Three Things
• WCHB Weekly WCHA Preview
• WCHA Weekly Press Release
• The Hockey Writer's Combine: UND vs. Notre Dame Series Notes
• Sioux Sports Series Preview

North Dakota vs. Minnesota-Duluth: Notes & Links

• North Dakota: 4-3-1 Overall (2-1-1 WCHA)
• Minnesota-Duluth: 2-5-1 Overall (0-3-1 WCHA)
• Gametime: Friday 7:37 CST/Saturday 7:07 CST
• Both games will be broadcast across the region on a variety of media outlets and as always, here's the standard broadcast information. Fox College Sports will also carry both games of the series. Friday's game can be found on DirecTV channel 623 while Saturday's will air on DirecTV channel 608.
• Series Notes (PDF): North Dakota and Minnesota-Duluth
• For all of the GF Herald stories, check out Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading.
• Duluth News-Tribune: Bulldogs Take WCHA Winless Skid to North Dakota
• Duluth News-Tribune: Bulldogs Looking For Right Chemistry
• The Ciskie Blog: UMD Returns to Grand Forks, Trying to Stop Slide
• Bulldog Country: Series Preview
• Series Numbers: North Dakota leads the all-time series 135-75-8, including a 75-31-2 record in Grand Forks. Dating back to the 2003-04 season, UND sports a 23-7-2 mark against the Bulldogs, including a 12-2-1 advantage at Engelstad Arena. UMD is one of just five programs North Dakota has faced at least 200 times, with Minnesota, Michigan Tech, Denver, and Colorado College being the others. 
• UND goaltender Clarke Saunders is second among WCHA goaltenders in both GAA (1.98) and Save Percentage (.931).
• UND has the second best penalty kill in the WCHA, having killed off 87.5% of shorthanded situations.
• UMD senior forward Mike Seidel leads all WCHA skaters with four power play goals and Tony Cameranesi is third among WCHA freshmen with seven points (4G, 3A), while Austin Farley is tied for fourth with six (2G, 4A).
• UMD is averaging the third fewest goals per game (2.38) among WCHA teams while allowing the fourth most (2.88). They are also the most penalized team in the country, taking an average of 19.0 penalty minutes per game.
• UMD's head coach is former Sioux player and assistant coach Scott Sandelin and one of his assistants, Jason Herter, is also a former Sioux player.
• Bulldog defenseman Willie Corrin is the nephew of former Sioux head coach Dean Blais, and his full name is William Blais Corrin.
• Michael Parks could return to the UND lineup for the first time since suffering a lower body injury in the exhibition game against Manitoba. He was a full participant in Thursday's practice, playing on a line with freshmen Rocco Grimaldi and Drake Caggiula. On the Minnesota-Duluth injury front, defenseman Chris Casto is expected to return to the lineup while defenseman Luke McManus is questionable (UMD injury news courtesy of Rink & Run).
• Seven members of this season's UMD squad are NHL draft picks, while 14 North Dakota players have heard their names called by NHL brass.
• USCHO's This Week in the WCHA
• USCHO Weekend Review: UMD is in Trouble
• USCHO's Weekend Picks
• CHN's Tale of the Tape
• CHN's WCHA Power Rankings
• CHN's WCHA 3 Up, 2 Down
• CHN's Three Things
• WCHB Weekly WCHA Preview
• WCHA Weekly Press Release
• The Hockey Writer's Combine: UND vs. UMD Series Notes
• Sioux Sports Series Preview
• Episode 2.07 of Through These Doors:

North Dakota vs. St. Cloud State: Notes & Links

• North Dakota: 3-2-1 Overall (1-0-1 WCHA)
• St. Cloud State: 5-3-0 Overall (3-1-0 WCHA)
• Gametime: Friday 7:37 CST/Saturday 7:07 CST
• Both games will be broadcast across the UND Radio Network and as always, here's the standard broadcast information. You can purchase the webstream of both games via America One Sports ($8.00/game) and NESN will carry the Saturday night game (DirecTV 628/Dish Network 434).
• Series Notes (PDF): North Dakota and St. Cloud State
• For all of the GF Herald stories, check out Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading.
• St. Cloud Times: SCSU Hoping To Build On Start Against North Dakota
• St. Cloud Times: Proud Dowds To Be In Stands Versus North Dakota
• St. Cloud Times: Summer Work Has Nic Dowd Playing Hot For SCSU
• Series Numbers: North Dakota leads the all-time series 59-39-11, including a 23-17-6 record in St. Cloud. In the last eleven meetings, UND sports an 8-2-1 mark against the Huskies, having outscored SCSU 39-23 over that span. Also of note, North Dakota's .639 winning percentage against SCSU is the highest among teams they've faced 100 or more times. North Dakota's first ever official collegiate game was against SCSU (then known as St. Cloud State Teachers College) on January 6th of 1947. UND dropped an 8-1 decision, and it would be nearly 43 years before the two teams would play again.
• Corban Knight joined the UND Century Club after picking up an assist last Saturday night against Boston University. He is the 84th player to score 100 or more points during his UND career.
• Danny Kristo is averaging 1.50 points per game, which is tied for second in the WCHA. Goaltender Clarke Saunders is fourth in the conference with a 1.73 GAA.
• SCSU has four former Fargo Force (USHL) players on its roster, while North Dakota has three.
• Both UND and SCSU rank in the bottom half of the WCHA in power play efficiency. The Huskies are seventh (17.1%, 31st nationally) while North Dakota ranks ninth (14.8%, 41st nationally). SCSU has also been mediocre on the penalty kill, ranking seventh in the conference with an 83.8% kill rate, while North Dakota is fourth at 88.2%.
• North Dakota got off to a slow start in the face-off circle this season, winning just 45.2% of its draws over the first three games of the year. UND has turned it around, however, winning 57.3% of its faceoffs in the last three games. On the season North Dakota has won 51.6% of its draws, compared to SCSU's 48.6% clip. Knight leads UND with a 63.0% success rate, and he has taken 36.0% of the team's draws despite having sat out the season opener.
• SCSU goaltender Ryan Faragher's play has been either maniacal or depressive this season. Faragher has a 4-3 record, and in his four victories he has a 0.50 GAA and .981 Save Percentage. In the three losses, however, he possesses a 5.23 GAA and .854%. He was very good against North Dakota last season, posting a 1.77 GAA and .953% in four games while sporting a 2.98 GAA and .905% against all other opponents. Faragher is also the only Husky goaltender to beat North Dakota in their last 11 meetings.
• SCSU, which boasts the nation's fifth most prolific offense (3.88 GPG), has plenty of firepower this season, both upfront and on the blueline. Nic Dowd is the WCHA's leading goal scorer (6), while Drew LeBlanc and defenseman Nick Jensen are tied for the conference lead in assists (8). Dowd's 12 points lead the conference, LeBlanc's 11 are tied for second, and Jensen and freshman forward Kalle Kossila are part of a logjam of players tied for fourth with eight. A total of four SCSU defensemen have recorded four or more points.
• UND junior forward Mitch MacMillan, who transferred from SCSU at semester break last season, is ineligible to play against his former team due to NCAA transfer rules. He will, however, be eligible to play when the Huskies travel to Grand Forks in January.
• Michael Parks is out again this weekend due to the lower body injury he suffered in the exhibition game against Manitoba. At the weekly press conference North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol said Parks is still at least a couple of weeks away from returning to action. On the St. Cloud State injury front, Husky sniper and senior co-captain Ben Hanowski is out with an upper-body injury, while freshman forward Joey Benik is still recovering from a broken leg suffered in the preseason. Redshirt freshman forward David Morley returned to practice this week and is considered day-to-day with a lower body injury. SCSU injury news courtesy of the St. Cloud Times.
• Five members of this season's SCSU squad are NHL draft picks, while 14 North Dakota players have heard their names called by NHL brass.
• USCHO's This Week in the WCHA
• USCHO: WCHA Column
• USCHO's Weekend Picks
• CHN's Tale of the Tape
• CHN's WCHA Power Rankings
• CHN's WCHA 3 Up, 2 Down
• CHN's Three Things
• WCHB Weekly WCHA Preview
• WCHA Weekly Press Release
• The Hockey Writer's Combine: UND vs. SCSU Series Notes
• Sioux Sports Series Preview
• Episode 2.06 of Through These Doors:

North Dakota vs. Boston University: Notes & Links

North Dakota vs. Boston University- Notes & Links

• North Dakota: 2-1-1 Overall (1-0-1 WCHA)
• Boston University: 3-1-0 Overall (3-1-0 HEA)
• Gametime: Friday 7:37 CDT/Saturday 7:07 CDT
• Both games will be broadcast across the region on a variety of media outlets and as always, here's the standard broadcast information. For the satellite folks, both games will be aired on DirecTV channel 623 and DISH channel 434. NESN will also carry the games (DirecTV 628).
• Series Notes (PDF): North Dakota and Boston University
• For all of the GF Herald stories, check out Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading.
• The Daily Free Press: No. 12 BU Travels West to Take on No. 5 UND
• The Daily Free Press: Jack Parker to Return to Bench at North Dakota
• Terriers.com: Terriers Visit North Dakota For Weekend Series
• The BU Hockey Blog: Series Preview
• Terrier Hockey Fan Blog: Series Preview
• Series Numbers: North Dakota leads the all-time series 11-7-1, including a 5-0-1 mark in Grand Forks. In the last ten meetings, BU holds the edge with a 6-3-1 record, with two of UND's three wins over that span coming in the NCAA tournament, including the 1997 Frozen Four championship game victory. From the 1984-85 season through 1989-90, UND & BU played at least once every season (WCHA-HEA matchups counted in the conference standings from 84-85 to 88-89). UND held a 7-3 advantage during that stretch. This weekend's matchup will be the first time these two storied programs have met since BU defeated North Dakota 5-1 in the 2008 IceBreaker Tournament.
• Senior Danny Kristo made his regular season debut last weekend with a four assist series against Alaska-Anchorage, and he is the lone active member of the UND Century Club with 113 career points. Corban Knight remains on the Century Club doorstep with 99 career points after scoring two goals last weekend. Carter Rowney, by the way, is third on the active point list with 48.
• Michael Parks is not expected to play again this weekend due to the lower body injury he suffered in the exhibition game against Manitoba. The time frame for his return to the lineup is still undetermined.
• Nine members of this season's BU squad are NHL draft picks, while 14 North Dakota players have heard their names called by NHL brass.
• USCHO's This Week in the WCHA
• USCHO's Weekend Picks
• CHN's Tale of the Tape
• CHN's WCHA Power Rankings
• CHN's WCHA 3 Up, 3 Down
• WCHB Weekly WCHA Preview
• WCHA Weekly Press Release
• The Hockey Writer's Combine: UND vs. BU Game Notes
• Sioux Sports Series Preview
• Episode 2.05 of Through These Doors:

North Dakota vs. UAA: Notes & Links

North Dakota vs. Alaska-Anchorage - Notes & Links

• North Dakota: 1-1-0 Overall (0-0-0 WCHA)
• Alaska-Anchorage: 2-1-1 Overall (0-0-0 WCHA)
• Gametime: Friday 7:37 CDT/Saturday 7:07 CDT
• Both games will be broadcast across the region on a variety of media outlets and as always, here's the standard broadcast information. For the DirecTV folks, Friday's game can be found on channel 623 while the Saturday matchup will air on channel 626.
• Series Notes (PDF): North Dakota and Alaska-Anchorage
• For all of the GF Herald stories, check out Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading.
• Anchorage Daily News: UAA Encouraged By UND's First-Half History
• Anchorage Daily News: Scott Allen Making the Most of His Chances
• Anchorage Daily News: UAA Has Odd Early-Season Schedule
• Series Numbers: North Dakota is unbeaten in its last six games against UAA dating back to the 2010-11 season, outscoring the Seawolves 28-10 while going 5-0-1 over that span. UND holds the all-time edge with a 45-17-4 mark while going 26-3-3 at home. Heading into this weekend, UND's 32 home games against UAA are split evenly between the old and new Ralph Engelstad Arenas, having played 16 games at each venue. UND never lost to the Seawolves at the Old REA, having gone a perfect 16-0-0. In the new Engelstad Arena, North Dakota is 10-3-3.
• Senior Danny Kristo, who will be making his regular season debut this weekend, is the lone active member of the UND Century Club with 109 career points. Corban Knight was held without a point last Saturday night against Alaska-Fairbanks, thus he remains on the Century Club doorstep with 97 career points. It will take a three point weekend, but expect him to be in the club by Saturday night. Carter Rowney, by the way, is third on the active list with 46.
• Michael Parks will not play this weekend due to the lower body injury he suffered in the exhibition game against Manitoba. He is still at least a few weeks away from returning to the UND lineup.
• Several players will be reuniting with former teammates this weekend. Dillon Simpson was a teammate of UAA's Bret Cameron and Scott Allen with the AJHL's Spruce Grove Saints, Corban Knight and UAA's Quinn Sproles were teammates on the AJHL's Okotoks Oilers, and Andrew MacWilliam and Austin Sevelrud were Camrose Kodiak teammates in the AJHL.
• UAA's Blake Tatchell was featured in TOE's WCHA Instant Impact series prior to the season, and thus far he has not disappointed. In four games the freshman has produced three points (2G, 1A) while centering a line that includes freshman Hayden Trupp and senior Alex Gellert. Hayden, of course, is the younger brother of former Sioux star Evan Trupp.
• USCHO's This Week in the WCHA
• USCHO's Weekend Picks
• USCHO's Three Things We Learned
• CHN's Tale of the Tape
• CHN's WCHA Power Rankings
• CHN's WCHA 3 Up, 3 Down
• CHN: WCHA Three Things
• WCHB Weekly WCHA Preview
• WCHA Weekly Press Release
• The Hockey Writer's Combine: UND vs. UAA Game Notes
• Sioux Sports Series Preview
• Episode 2.04 of Through These Doors:

North Dakota vs. UAA/UA: Goal Rush Notes & Links

North Dakota vs. Alaska-Anchorage/Alaska - Brice Alaska Goal Rush Notes & Links

• Gametime: Friday vs UAA 8:05 CDT/Saturday vs. Alaska 10:05 CDT
• Both games will be broadcast on regional radio across the UND Radio Network as well as across the web via UND Insider. Webcasts for the games are available for purchase on a single game basis or as a four game package.
• Series Notes (PDF): North Dakota and Alaska-Anchorage and Alaska
• Brice Alaska Goal Rush Tournament Central
• Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading
• Anchorage Daily News: UAA Brimming With Confidence
• Anchorage Daily News: North Dakota to be Seriously Shorthanded vs. UAA Friday
• Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: North Dakota in Town for Goal Rush
• Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Seawolves Aim For Third Brice Goal Rush Prize
• Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Nanooks Vie For Third Goal Rush Crown
• Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Teams Make Big Trips For Goal Rush
• TOE: Corban Knight is a Center of Attention
• Alaska Nanooks Hockey Blog: A Look at the 2012 Goal Rush
• Senior Danny Kristo, who will not be playing this weekend due to suspension, is the lone active member of the UND Century Club with 109 career points. Corban Knight could join the club with a big night Saturday. Knight, who will be sitting out Friday's game due to suspension, enters the season with 97 career points. Carter Rowney is third on the active list with 46.
• Michael Parks will not play this weekend due to a lower body injury suffered in the exhibition game against Manitoba. As for the full list of suspensions, sitting out Friday's game against Alaska-Anchorage are Kristo, Knight, Rowney, Andrew MacWilliam, and Brendan O'Donnell. Saturday's absentees will be Kristo, Connor Gaarder, Stephane Pattyn, and Andrew Panzarella.
• UND freshman Jordan Schmaltz is a highly-touted offensive defenseman who should see a lot of special teams play. Nick Naumenko's UND record for points by a freshman defenseman is 34, set in 1992-93, and that's a number Schmaltz could approach this season. Naumenko, Jason Herter, and James Patrick all hold the freshman defenseman record for assists with 24, and that's a number Schmaltz could challenge as well.
• Alaska-Anchorage's roster features Hayden Trupp, the younger brother of former Sioux star Evan Trupp.
• A player to watch during Saturday's matchup against Alaska-Fairbanks is Andy Taranto. Taranto, who starred for the Fargo Force in 2008-09, is a senior who has been one of Alaska's top offensive threats throughout his career in Fairbanks.
• USCHO's This Week in the WCHA
• USCHO's Weekend Picks Thursday Edition and Regular Edition
• CHN's Tale of the Tape vs. UAA and Tale of the Tape vs. UA
• CHN's WCHA Power Rankings
• CHN's WCHA 3 Up, 3 Down
• CHN: WCHA's Final Regular Season As We Know It Begins Tonight
• WCHB Weekly WCHA Preview
• WCHA Weekly Press Release
• The Hockey Writer's Combine: Brice Alaska Goal Rush Game Notes
• Sioux Sports Weekend Preview
• Episode 2.03 of Through These Doors:

North Dakota vs. Team USA U-18: Notes & Links

North Dakota vs. Team USA Under-18 - Exhibition Game Notes & Links

• Gametime: Friday 7:37 CDT
• The game will be broadcast by a variety of media outlets across the region. Here's the Broadcast Information.
• Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading
• Game Notes (PDF): North Dakota and Team USA
• A pair of local defensemen, including North Dakota recruit Keaton Thompson, will be playing for Team USA.  
• Get to know Team USA a little better via the United States of Hockey's extensive team preview.
• USCHO's Weekend Picks
• Western College Hockey Blog Weekly WCHA Preview
• WCHA Weekly Press Release
• Here's Episode 2.02 of Through These Doors:

Fighting Sioux vs. Michigan Tech: Notes & Links

North Dakota vs. Michigan Tech - Series Notes & Links

• Friday 7:37 CST/Saturday 7:07 CST
• The games will be broadcast on a variety of media outlets across the region. Here's the standard Broadcast Information.
• Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading
• Series Notes: North Dakota and Michigan Tech  
• The Dakota Student: High Stakes vs. MTU
• The Daily Mining Gazette: Tech Sees New Sioux
• A College Hockey News feature from a couple of weeks ago details Michigan Tech's resurgence this season. 
• The Huskies are a well-balanced bunch up front. They have nine forwards who have produced at least 12 points this season. By comparison, the Sioux have five forwards who have reached that mark. On the back-end however, just one Tech player has reached 12 points while five Sioux defensemen have done so. These numbers, by the way, include Joe Gleason as a defenseman even though he has recently been playing up front more often than on the blue line.
• Speaking of Gleason, the junior "jack-of-all-trades" has been on a nice run lately. He has ten points (0G, 10A) in his last ten games after registering just three assists in his first 18.
• After being held to just one point last weekend (a Brock Nelson goal Saturday night), expect UND's Knight Line of Nelson, Corban Knight, and Danny Kristo to have a big series.
• In UND's eleven team games played since the Christmas break, nobody has more points than Carter Rowney's 12 (7G, 5A). Kristo has 11 (5G, 6A) while Nelson (6G, 4A) and Gleason (0G, 10A) each have 10.
• Once the dust settles after this weekend's play we should see some separation in the race for playoff home-ice. Sitting in sixth place with 24 points, North Dakota currently holds a one point edge on seventh place Michigan Tech. Meanwhile, the two teams immediately ahead of UND in the standings, Colorado College and Nebraska-Omaha, are facing-off this weekend in Colorado Springs. Both the Tigers and Mavericks hold a one point edge on the Sioux. Bemidji State (at Minnesota) and St. Cloud State (vs. Alaska-Anchorage) each trail North Dakota by three points.
• Sioux Sports says that UND's national tournament hopes would really be bolstered with a weekend sweep.
• The UND Sports Spotlight was recently shining on freshman winger Mark MacMillan:

• USCHO's This Week in the WCHA
• USCHO's Weekend Picks
• CHN's Tale of the Tape
• CHN's WCHA Power Rankings
• WCHA Weekly Press Release
• Inside Hockey Series Preview
• Sioux Sports Series Preview 
• Episode 15 of Through These Doors:

Fighting Sioux vs. Minnesota-Duluth: Notes & Links

North Dakota vs. Minnesota-Duluth - Series Notes & Links 

• Friday and Saturday 7:07 CST
• Both games will be broadcast on regional radio across the UND Radio Network. As for television, Friday night's game only will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network (Directv channel 613). Each game will also be streamed by B2TV for $8.00/night.
• Lots of good stuff in Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading 
• Kevin Pates' (Duluth News-Tribune): North Dakota Back in Duluth
• Series Notes in PDF: North Dakota and Minnesota-Duluth
• Specialty teams could play a big role this weekend. UMD ranks near the bottom of the league in both power play percentage (10th - 18.6%) and penalty kill (10th - 76.1%) while North Dakota is fifth in the league on the man advantage (20.7%) and first on the kill (85.5%). 
• Danny Kristo is knocking on the door of the Fighting Sioux Century Club. The junior winger has 95 career points. Linemate Corban Knight is next in line with 83.
• UMD's top three scorers Jack Connolly, Travis Oleksuk, and JT Brown have combined for 116 points this season, yet none of them are NHL draft picks. Brown is the reigning WCHA Offensive Player of the Week after scoring five goals, including four on Friday night, in last weekend's series against Alaska-Anchorage. Oleksuk is sitting on 99 career points, and with a strong stretch run Connolly could break the 200 point barrier. The senior center currently has 179 career points.
• The Bulldogs will be looking to get back on track this weekend. Since their 17-game unbeaten streak came to a halt, UMD is 3-3-1 and has been outscored 20-17. They scored 4.29 goals per game and gave up 1.82 during the streak, but the Bulldogs are averaging 2.43 while allowing 2.86 since.
• This week's UND Sports Spotlight for Men's Hockey is Andrew Panzarella:

• USCHO's This Week in the WCHA
• USCHO's Weekend Picks
• CHN's Tale of the Tape
• CHN's WCHA Power Rankings
• INCH's Checking in Around the WCHA
• WCHA Weekly Press Release
• Goon's World Series Notes
• Sioux Sports Series Preview  
• UND Athletic Dept. Travel Blog
• The Ciskie Blog: Bulldogs Better Be Ready For Sioux 
• Episode 14 of Through These Doors:

Fighting Sioux vs. Wisconsin: Notes & Links

North Dakota vs. Wisconsin - Series Notes & Links

• Friday 7:37 CST/Saturday 7:07 CST
• The games will be broadcast on a variety of media outlets across the region. Here's the standard Broadcast Information.
• Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading
• Series Notes: North Dakota and Wisconsin
• Sioux Sports says that UND's road to the national tournament is getting steeper. If North Dakota does not want to rely on winning the Final Five to qualify for the NCAA playoffs, the team will have to earn some series sweeps down the stretch.
• According to Bucky's Fifth Quarter, North Dakota is well aware of Wisconsin's top playmakers.
• The UW Badger Herald says that the young Badgers will be facing a stiff road challenge this weekend, but if recent history is any indication, Wisconsin could be leaving North Dakota with points. The Badgers are 6-1-1 in their last eight games at Engelstad Arena.
• With Justin Schultz and Mark Zengerle having big seasons, the Badgers are looking to Tyler Barnes to provide additional production.
• Wisco defenseman Justin Schultz is the player to watch this weekend. He is the best college hockey player I've seen all season, and he's at the forefront of the race for the Hobey Baker Award. He is currently fifth in the nation with 37 points (12G, 25A), just three off the national lead (UMD's Jack Connolly has 40). His 37 points from the blueline are 11 more than the number two point producing defenseman, Nate Schmidt of Minnesota (26). Leading the way up front for the Badgers is sophomore forward Mark Zengerle, who is tied for second in the nation with 38 points (10G, 28A).
• Sean Lee and associate head coach Cary Eades recap last weekend's SCSU series and preview the Wisconsin matchup:

• Bucky's Fifth Quarter Take 5 With Brad Schlossman
• Bucky's Fifth Quarter Series Preview
• Wisconsin State Journal Series Preview
• Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal Series Preview
• USCHO's This Week in the WCHA
• USCHO's Weekend Picks
• CHN's Tale of the Tape
• CHN's WCHA Power Rankings
• INCH's Friday Four-Cast
• WCHA Weekly Press Release
• Inside Hockey Series Preview
• Sioux Sports Series Preview 
• Lastly, here's Episode 12 of Through These Doors: