GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Fittingly, college hockey’s crown jewel gets the first crack at hosting a home-site semifinal in the sport’s best conference.
Ralph Engelstad Arena is the spot, as UMD faces NCHC regular season champion North Dakota in the first of two semifinals on this evening (Denver hosts Western Michigan in a game that starts about an hour after this one).
Not much else to note after the preview blog. Everyone’s excited and anxious to see how this goes. There are a lot of tickets up for grabs both here and at Magness Arena in Denver, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be great atmospheres.
The league will learn from this weekend and continue to try to make things as good as it can going forward. I’ve got suggestions that I’ll probably submit at some point, but for now, let’s play hockey.
Lots of changes for UMD, as Scott Sandelin has opted to break up the top line for the second time this season. The first time, Jan. 31 in Denver, lasted about half a period. Harper Bentz gets a shot at being the Plantes’ right wing in this one, with Jayson Shaugabay uniting with BFF Callum Arnott on the third line.
Maybe it looks great. Maybe Sandelin puts things back before the first period is over. Who knows??
Trevor Stachowiak draws in for the fourth time this season, his first game since Dec. 13 against Arizona State.
For North Dakota, they will have Anthony Menghini take warmup, but we don’t know which player in their 19 will be scratched if they choose to dress him for the game. Watch the socials for more on that should it become relevant.
(UPDATE: Jack Kernan has a illness of some description and will not play. Menghini is in, with Cade Littler moving from left wing to center. That change is reflected below. Carry on.)
Adam Gajan vs Jan Spunar.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD forwards
Plante (Max) – Plante (Zam) – Bentz
Truman – Gaffney – Anderson
Bibby – Arnott – Shaugabay
Shlaine – Kovich – Stachowiak
UMD defense
Hanson – Kleber
Pionk – Pierce
Cleveland – Siepmann
Bodnarchuk
UMD goalies
Gajan – Dahlmeir – Sheffield
North Dakota forwards
Zellers – Rickwood – Strinden
Swanson – Reschny – Zakreski
James – Josephson – Croal
Menghini – Littler – Young
North Dakota defense
Livanavage – Emery
Wiebe – Verhoeff
Strathmann – Zmolek
Laurila
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