#4 UND Takes 8-Game Win Streak to Colorado College
UND IS 12-1 SINCE THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER AND ARE CURRENTLY RANKED NUMBER 4 IN THE MOST RECENT USCHO.COM POLL
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) –For the first time in weeks, North Dakota hockey is back together (fully) and back to business.
With several key players competing at the World Junior Championship and the Spengler Cup, the Fighting Hawks’ lineup had been scattered across the globe. Now reunited, UND returns to the ice this weekend ready to build on what has already been a championship-caliber stretch.
North Dakota’s recent surge has been anything but fluky. The Hawks enter the weekend riding an eight-game winning streak, ranked inside the top five nationally and owning a 12–1 record since the start of November. Players point to daily habits and buy-in, while the coaching staff emphasizes staying grounded as the season ramps up.
“I would just give big props to the coaching staff and the guys buying into everything they’re saying,” graduate student captain Bennett Zmolek said. “Just coming in, staying consistent, trying to get better each and every day, focusing on ourselves and playing our game for a full 60.”
Head coach Dane Jackson echoed that sentiment, noting that success can bring its own challenges.
“It’s something we’ve discussed a lot with our group,” Jackson said. “It’s human nature when things are going well to maybe think you’re better than you are and get away from the core values that have led to wins. We’re actually doing an exercise today on what it takes to be a championship team, making sure those attributes are front of mind and that we stick to what leads to winning.”
UND now turns its attention to a tough road test against conference foe Colorado College. While the Tigers sit at 8-9-3 on the season, the Hawks are not overlooking the challenge in Colorado Springs.
“They look like a better team than their record,” Jackson said. “We’ve always respected their program. They check extremely well, clog up the neutral zone, and their goaltending has always been excellent. We know it’s going to be a hard battle.”
Zmolek added that returning to road form will be a key focus.
“They’re a very good team,” he said. “We’ve got our game plan, but we have to stick to our brand of hockey. We haven’t been on the road in a while, so we need to become road warriors again.”
North Dakota is 7–1 away from home this season and will look to continue that success this weekend with an 8 p.m. puck drop Friday and a 7 p.m. start Saturday in Colorado Springs.
