UND is set for a high-stakes clash against Cornell in Ithaca

GRAND FORKS — UND is starting its longest road stint of the year, and its scheduling isn't getting easier.

This weekend, the Fighting Hawks will fly out to Ithaca, N.Y., for the first time since January 2010. 

UND is coming off a 7-2 win and 4-3 loss against No. 3 Boston University. But even though UND played two strong games against a highly-ranked team, the Fighting Hawks will need to switch gears once again.

The Terriers were a younger and more skilled team; this weekend, UND will face a much older and more experienced team.

Cornell is led by legendary head coach Mike Schafer, who is in his 30th and final season. Schafer's resume with Cornell is impressive; his record is 542–289–111 (.634).

During his 29 seasons, Mike Schafer has led Cornell to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Frozen Four trip in 2003, the program's first since 1979-80. That season, Cornell set a school record with 30 wins, surpassing the 1969-70 national championship team's record.

In 2020, Schafer won the Spencer Penrose Award, recognizing the best head coach in the country, sharing it with North Dakota's Brad Berry.

“Mike's done an unbelievable job of building that program to where it is, perennially every year being a team in contention every year,” UND head coach Brad Berry said.

This being Schafer’s last season, the Big Red will be motivated. Except for Gabriel Seger, who led the team in points last season with 44, Cornell will be returning nearly all its top scorers.

 The Big Red will also return star netminder Ian Shane (.923 SV%, 1.69 GAA), who notably played his first collegiate game against UND at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

No Z and special teams

UND will once again be without defenseman Bennett Zmolek. Berry stated that Zmolek's injury status is week to week. The Fighting Hawks have missed Zmolek's shutdown style of defense, but in his absence, other players have had chances to step up.

Taking fewer penalties has been a focus point for the Fighting Hawks this week.

“Discipline is going to be a key,” Berry said. “We went through a video session on Monday here, and we talked about discipline, and there's different ways of discipline. First of all is controlling your sticks, and controlling your habits away from the puck.”

Currently UND’s powerplay is leading the NCAA at 46.15 percent. Being able to constantly control the puck and create scoring opportunities during the powerplay has helped the Hawks win games this season.

“Karl Goehring’s done an unreal job,” Berry said. “You know, everybody talks about which unit is going out first and different things like that. We have the luxury with our guys of having two number-one units that can go out there. I think that the key is the competition within our group on those two units, respectfully, to push each other and to try to get better.”

This will be Cornell's first official game of the season. The Ivy League teams generally play a shorter season.

But to the UND coaches and players, this being the Big Reds first game of the season means nothing.

“It's going to be another great test,” UND goaltender T.J. Semptimphelter said.  “They're going to come out hard. I know they're excited to get their season going, so yeah, it's all about us kind of just being us and sticking to our identity.”

UND  needs to continue doing the things that helped them get off to a hot start Friday against Boston University, such as scoring first, playing a strong physical game, and making quick smart plays.

“Doing the little things right and that's what kind of led us to success in that first game,” Semptimphelter said. “Even in the second game, I thought we had a great effort level, and you know we’ll fine-tune in some of the things that we need to work on.”

This weekend will once again be a baseline for both UND and Cornell. UND will be eager to get another win against a well-oiled top-10 team.  Cornell is hungry to return to the NCAA tournament. The Big Red lost by one goal to Denver last season to advance to the Frozen Four.

Quick notes

• North Dakota is entering the weekend ranked No. 6 in the USCHO.com poll, marking the highest-ranked opponent Cornell has faced in its first two games of a season since Nov. 5, 1999, when it lost to No. 6 RPI. This is also the highest ranking for an opponent at Lynah Rink in the season's opening games since Oct. 29, 2010 (No. 10 New Hampshire).

• Cam Berg leads the Fighting Hawks in points with six (3 goals, 3 assists).

• Cornell boasts a home opener record of 56 wins, 28 losses, and 8 ties (.652) at both Beebe Lake and Lynah Rink.

• In its last 17 matchups against teams ranked in the top six of the USCHO.com poll, Cornell has achieved a record of 13 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie (.794).

• UND is 5-5 all-time against Cornell

• Jake Schmaltz has a record of 56 wins and 24 losses (70.0%) in the faceoff circle this season, ranking him second in the nation among skaters with more than 40 victories.