North Dakota sweeps Denver for the first time since November of 2021

GRAND FORKS --- The Fighting Hawks had no trouble locking down the nation's number one offense this weekend.

 Saturday night, UND once again did what no other team has done all year: hold the University of Denver under three goals. The Fighting Hawks defeated the Pioneers 4 - 2, sweeping them in the process, something North Dakota has been unable to do in the last few years.

 Coming into the weekend, the Pioneers were averaging over five goals per game; the Hawks held them to only four goals the entire series.

 North Dakota also shut down Denver's key players. The nation's leading scorer, Massimo Rizzo, was held off the score sheet both nights and the Pioneer's leading goal scorer, Jack Devine, only tallied one assist on the weekend.

 North Dakota head coach Brad Berry talked post-game about how the Hawks' success is largely attributed to the strong leadership within the team's locker room. 

"A lot has to come with the leadership. We have leaders on the bench that are saying the right things. They (Denver) got momentum because they were putting pucks behind us and playing hard in our end of the rink, and guys stepped up on our bench, and they said we got to play hard. We got to play North Dakota style of hockey."

Special teams were a huge factor for the Hawks on the weekend. UND was perfect on the penalty kill and scored key goals on both nights during the powerplay. Following a five-minute major and game misconduct call against Denver defenseman Sean Behrens, the Fighting Hawks capitalized twice on the power play. Both Owen McLaughlin and Riese Gaber found the back of the net, giving the Hawks a two-goal lead.

"We are playing simple," Gaber said. "I think we know what works for us, and we stick to our structure. We take our looks."

Gaber credited the net-front presence for their success. 

"A lot has to be said about the net front, a lot of our shots from me, Blaker (Jackson Blake), O-Mac (Owen McLaughlin), Bergie (Cam Berg), whoever it is on the flank there. Those aren't going in without the net front, so huge kudos to them."

The Fighting Hawks have gotten into a rhythm with their powerplay, going 6 - for - 9 in the last two weeks and 11 - for - 23 since Christmas break.

UND forward Jackson Kunz has played a big role in  North Dakota's power play. Kunz is one of the players who has taken on the net front presence role, screening the goalie so that they are unable to track pucks or even pick up rebounds.

"A big guy in front of the net that other guys can shoot for corners," Berry said when asked about Jackson Kunz's power play role. "When he gets in front of the net, I know he's a big body, he's got a great stick for rebounds, but it makes it tough for goaltenders to see around him."

Although he played a large role in UND's powerplay success this weekend, Kunz also was great in five-on-five hockey. Denver goaltender Matt Davis stopped Kunz's initial shot, but Kunz picked up his own rebound and buried the game-tying goal. He was later elevated to North Dakota's top line, playing with Riese Gaber and Cam Berg.

"He's playing his best hockey right now," Berry said. "You got to reward guys like that when they're feeling it, and they're doing a great job." We're here to reward guys who are going to earn it each and every day, and he has done that in practice and workouts and now on the ice in games."

UND now sits alone atop the NCHC standings following the Denver sweep; North Dakota is also currently ranked number two in the pairwise, only behind Boston College.

 The Hawks will have little time to celebrate as they hit the road this upcoming weekend to play Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

 Berry talked about what he wants his team to continue to do in the following weekends to keep the momentum rolling.

"I think having that attack mentality, that idea of whether you're up in a game, we want to continue to build our lead, and whether you're down in a game, you're never out of it." 

Berry also alluded to the importance of playing every team the same regardless of name, rank, etc.

"You got to have a faceless opponent, meaning that it does not matter who you play. You have to have the intensity like you're playing these teams like BU (Boston University), Minnesota, like Denver, like St. Cloud it's got to be that mentality that they're faceless in the fact that it's just another opponent that's in our way, and we want to make sure we clear the way for ourselves here."