UND Hockey Welcomes Top-10 Opponent to The Ralph This Weekend

The rematch begins this Friday.

GRAND FORKS, N.D — It’s a top ten showdown in Grand Forks this weekend as UND hockey gets ready to take on Denver for the second time this season. When these two teams met earlier this year, the Fighting Hawks made quite the statement, pulling off a 4-1 victory on Saturday night against the then no. 2 ranked Pioneers on their home ice. That all sets the scene for what is sure to be a high-powered rematch in the NCHC.

“They are one of our top rivals that we have and I think they can say that about us too so anytime we get into match ups with them, its intense, its fast, it’s a lot of play making, senior forward Jordan Kawaguchi said. “This year, I think with Denver, they lost the last two games before their bye week as well and we know they are going to come in and be full force against us especially since we swept them in their home rink, they are going to be looking for revenge.”

With the series less than a week out, there is still the question of who will start in net for the Fighting Hawks. While Peter Thome has had the hot hand as of late, Adam Scheel already proved he could hold strong in the last series against the pioneers. That weekend, the sophomore gave made 57 saves and allowed just two goals.

“Peter Thome played very well against Colorado College and his body of work and I know Adam (Scheel) has done that in the first part of the year,” head coach Brady Berry said. “Those were two big games for us out in Denver that we tied and got the extra point and then we had the win and Adam (Scheel) was a big part of that so it will factor into that for sure. It is a situation where we have two very good goaltenders and we will make that decision as the week goes on here.”

The rematch begins this Friday with puck drop scheduled for 7:37 P.M