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If you feel like invoking a wide range of emotions, pull up the results from University of North Dakota hockey’s first seventeen games of the 2018-19 season.

A quick glance would remind you that UND went winless – and didn’t look great doing it – in the opening three games of the year against Bemidji State and Minnesota State.

That worrying start was soon replaced by optimism, with a win over Minnesota in Las Vegas one of five straight victories over four different ranked opponents in late October and early November.

But just when it looked like the team had turned a corner for the better, injuries started to mount, and back-to-back-to-back defeats ensued, lowlighted by a disappointing home sweep at the hands of Western Michigan.

Thanksgiving brought two crucial wins over Alaska Anchorage – one in heart-stopping fashion – before a shorthanded UND squad finished out the first half of the year with a pair of encouraging splits against the last two national champions.

Clearly, it’s been an up-and-down start for Brad Berry’s team, but those in the know inside the program and around it will tell you that better things are in store for this group in 2019.

One of the experts who believes that’s the case is Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald, and he was kind enough to join me this week for the latest installment of the MidcoSN Podcast.

Listen below (or on SoundCloud or i-Tunes) to hear our conversation about North Dakota’s opening three months of the season, including our thoughts on the team’s standouts, surprises and what’s ahead in the new year.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy this holiday season!

UND Hockey 2018-19 First Half Overview

Record                  9-7-1, 3-5-0

Goals Scored      2.59 (8^th in NCHC/38^th in NCAA)

Goals Against    2.47 (4^th/23^rd)

Power Play         16.4% (t-7^th/t-36^th)

Penalty Kill         78.7% (5^th/43^rd)

 

Leading Scorers

#29 Jordan Kawaguchi                    3 Goals, 11 Points

#3 Matt Kiersted                              4 Goals, 10 Points

#24 Jacob Bernard-Docker           4 Goals, 10 Points

#22 Rhett Gardner                          8 Goals, 9 Points

#16 Grant Mismash                         5 Goals, 9 Points

 

2019 Schedule

JAN 4-5                 AT Canisius                         6-8-1, t-7^th in Atlantic

JAN 11-12            Colorado College              7-7-2, 7pts, 8^th in NCHC

JAN 18-19            AT Omaha                           4-10-2, 8pts, 7^th in NCHC

JAN 25-26            St. Cloud State                   13-1-2, 21pts, 1^st in NCHC

FEB 1-2                 AT Denver                           8-4-2, 12pts, 4^th in NCHC

FEB 7-8                 BYE

FEB 15-16             AT Western Michigan     9-6-1, 14pts, 2^nd in NCHC

FEB 22-23             Minnesota Duluth            10-4-2, 13pts, 3^rd in NCHC

MAR 1-2               AT Colorado College       7-7-2, 7pts, 8^th in NCHC

MAR 8-9               Omaha                                 4-10-2, 8pts, 7^th in NCHC

MAR 15-16          NCHC QFs

MAR 22-23          Frozen Faceoff

MAR 29-31          West Regional (Fargo)

APR 11-13            Frozen Four (Buffalo)