No. 9 North Dakota Set to Host Defending National Champions No. 1 Denver

LAST SEASONS PENROSE CUP CHAMPS (UND) HOSTS LAST SEASONS NATIONAL CHAMPS (DENVER).

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) – North Dakota (5-4) moved up one spot in the most recent USCHO poll to number 9 following a weekend sweep to open up NCHC play vs Minnesota Duluth.

This weekend is a completely different beast in undefeated, number 1 ranked Denver (10-0).

The Pioneers have started the season 10-0 coming off their championship season a year ago. In that season, NoDak did go 3-1 against them and hope to replicate that success this weekend.

“I think just trying to make it difficult on them,” said senior forward Jake Schmaltz. “They are a high offense, high pace team, so, if we can work hard to try and take pucks away, that will feed into our offense. Just trying to be physical and playing hard hockey.”

Coming off their dominant weekend over Minnesota Duluth to open NCHC play, it was results that were needed to combat the previous weeks sweep at the hands of Cornell. The team hopes that they can carry the momentum into this weekend in what will surely be a one of a kind atmosphere at the Ralph.

“We went through a tough non-conference schedule and then started in Duluth on the road which is always tough too,” said head coach Brad Berry. “I thought our guys did a real good job in Duluth of playing the right way, playing as a team and getting off to a fast start both nights. That is going to be critical for us this weekend too. When you go up against a rival like Denver, both teams that have had a lot of success over the past few years, this is a situation where you want your leaders to lead the way in a lot of different things.”

It’s last years National champ vs last years Penrose cup champs. It is hard to find a better matchup in college hockey.

Puck drop Friday night set for 7:07 P.M. and Saturday night at 6:07 P.M. at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.