North Dakota takes on Boston University for a second straight season 

GRAND FORKS — Two top 10 teams are facing off this weekend at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.

No. 7 North Dakota is taking on No. 3 Boston University for the second straight year. 

Last season, UND and BU split in Boston. The Terriers won 4-3 Friday night, followed by a  Fighting Hawks 5-4 overtime victory the next night.

This year, both teams are looking a little different. Terriers forward Macklin Celebrini,  the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft and 2024 Hobey Baker Award winner, signed with the San Jose Sharks after the season ended. 

Right alongside him, UND's Hobey Baker finalist Jackson Blake signed a pro deal with the Carolina Hurricanes. Blake scored the game-winning goal against Boston last November. 

Change in play

UND has its work cut out for them this weekend. Boston University plays a very fast-paced, skilled game. BU added firepower to its offense this offseason, bringing Cole Eiserman, a first-round pick of the New York Islanders, and Cole Hutson, the younger brother of former Terrier star defenseman Lane Hutson.

The Terriers are also a young team, with an average age of 21 years and three months (the 62nd youngest team, according to College Hockey News). Last weekend, UND split with Minnesota State. The Mavericks are the fifth oldest team in college hockey, at 22 years and 10 months.

“This will be a completely different thing (from playing an older and heavier styled team like Minnesota State). We don't want to change how we play,” UND captain Louis Jamernik V said. “We want to still keep the physicality, and I think that's what will help us  with success.”

“It will probably be a much quicker series,” UND head coach Brad Berry said when asked about the differences in style of play. “They're a very gifted offensive team, forwards and the D. We went out there last year and obviously that was a good weekend for us as far as playing high-intensity games against a skilled team in their building, and it's a situation this weekend here where obviously we got to play at a fast pace, and we got to bring our best foot forward here and play to our identity.”

For the Fighting Hawks, controlling the puck and the pace of play is important against a highly touted offense like the Terriers.

“I think puck possession is number one,” Berry said. “Puck possession is controlling the play in each zone having the puck and also to taking time and space away when we don't have it.”

Even though UND was shut out last Saturday, the Fighting Hawks dominated Minnesota State in offensive zone puck possession – 7:19 to 3:03. 

“I think we had a lot of good looks Saturday; they just didn't go in,” Jamernik said. “We just got to keep finishing on our chances. That goes back into practice; just finishing those small little plays so that we can get bearing down on those pucks, and they'll go in more.”

Boston University comes into the weekend ranked No. 3 in the weekly USCHO.com poll. Jamernik reiterated that a team's rank does not matter.

“It's a good team. We know that, but we try to have the mentality of a faceless opponent,” Jamernik said. “Like it doesn't matter who we're playing every weekend. We need to do what we need to do. That's all we need to focus on is playing hard, playing fast, playing to our identity, and when we do that, that's when we have success.”

Powerplay success

Special teams will play a factor in this weekend's tilt. The Terriers' powerplay, led by Eiserman,  is currently the seventh best in the country, operating at 30.77 percent. He has three powerplay goals this season.

UND has also seen success on the powerplay. Sitting second in the country, UND’s powerplay is off to a fast start again at 42.86 percent.

Berry credited the Hawks' success to having two strong units.

“We have two equal units, and we have a lot of really good players on both units,” Berry said.  I think if one isn't clicking, then the other one's going. You kind of put the other team  on the ropes a little bit when you have two units that you can throw out there.”

Dixon Ward returns

UND will again run its 'One More Shift' promotion Friday night, featuring Dixon Ward.

Ward played with the Fighting Sioux from 1988-92. He scored 219 points in his four years. He is fourth all-time in scoring for UND and is the only player ever to have over 100 career goals and assists at UND (110 goals, 109 assists).

Ward would go on to have a lengthy pro career, winning the AHL Calder Cup in 1995-96 alongside current UND associate head coach Dane Jackson. Ward was also named the playoff MVP.

During the 1993-94 season, Ward was traded from the Vancouver Canuks to the Los Angeles Kings. He played with Wayne Gretzky, and even recorded an assist on one of his many goals.

Quick hits

• Owen McLaughlin has four points in two games against the Terriers

• BU is 6-3-1 in its last 10 games  against UND

• Shane Lachance leads the Terriers in points (five)