UND fans give their predictions for this upcoming hockey season

GRAND FORKS — North Dakota hockey fans have never been shy about voicing their opinions.

You can find all sorts of hot takes regarding the UND hockey team on any social media platform; UND fans will ensure their opinion is known.

Last week, I went to two of the top UND-related Facebook groups and asked for predictions for this upcoming season along with some hot takes. Below is a summary of some of the comments and my thoughts.

Player projections

“Cam Berg scores 25 or more goals. His knack for scoring is unreal. If anyone could do it on this roster, it’s him.”

Another comment also suggested that Berg would lead UND in scoring.

Both of these things are very plausible. Berg exploded with a 20-goal junior season last year, and with the loss of Jackson Blake and Riese Gaber, I expect that he’ll light the lamp a few more times this upcoming season.

“Dylan James continues to blow minds with his speed and has a 35-point year.”

James is due for a breakout season. His speed and ability to fly by guys are exceptional. Do I see him scoring 35 points? Probably not, but it is definitely possible. But for this UND team to be successful, he’ll need to finish the season somewhere in the ballpark of 20-30 points.

“Perron breaks out. And doesn't hit the pipe this season as much.”

Perron hit the pipe more than any other player I've seen while watching UND hockey. His freshman-to-sophomore-year jump will be noticeable this season. He will have put on some weight and will be better defensively. I expect him to play a big role on this season's UND team.

“Sacha is a 40-point freshman.”

With Sacha’s elite ability to shoot the puck and beat goaltenders cleanly, he could have a great freshman campaign. 40 points is a lot, but if the Chicago Blackhawks first-round pick adapts quickly to the college game, anything is possible.

“Livanavage is a 35-40 point defenseman, especially after what we saw last season.”

I agree. He should once again have a great season offensively. There is a reason he was selected to the NCHC Preseason All-Conference Team.

“T.J. (Semptimphelter) and Hobie (Hedquist) split until January, and one of them takes over.”

I think the UND coaching staff will use Hedquist a lot this season. That being said Semptimphelter should be the guy. He has the ability to win big games.

“Mac Swanson outduels Sacha Boisvert for most points as a freshman.”

One thing is for sure: never count out Mac. He has proven he can compete at every level he's played at. The USHL Player of the Year will undoubtedly have his work cut out for him, adjusting to the bigger and faster-paced NCAA, it all depends on how quickly either of them gets used to playing college hockey.

“T.J. (Semptimphelter) goalie goal at home after the holiday break.”

That would be something. No goaltender has ever scored a goal for North Dakota.

Team predictions

“UND finishes top 4 in the NCHC, but Denver wins the league. Finally, win a game at the Frozen Faceoff and 1st round of the regionals.”

Denver winning the league and UND finishing in the top four is likely. If UND advances to the NCAA tournament, they will host a regional in Fargo, which is a huge advantage. Considering the lack of playoff wins since the 2016 national title team, the Fighting Hawks will undoubtedly have the motivation.

A few other comments suggested UND would make it to the Frozen Four. However, quite a few also discussed whether Fighting Hawks head coach Brad Berry should be fired if the season goes south.

While I understand the dismay from fans, Berry has proven to be a solid coach at the NCAA level. He’s won a national championship, and has won the Penrose Cup more times than he has lost (five times).

A coaching change means you risk losing players and recruits, which can hurt a program for years. Northern Michigan is an excellent example of what happens when a coach leaves.

Thank you to all of those who submitted predictions. It will be exciting to see how the season plays out!