NEWS

The University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks are looking to regain their old form. Since 2016, when UND won the first ever automatic bid from the WCCHA into the Regional Tournament, the Hawks have not been back to the championship game. They have been to the tournament each year since but have faltered each. Rex Riley (Academy of Holy Angels-MSHSL / Minneapolis, MN) moves behind the bench this year as a student-coach after years of leading his team on the ice. He will be looking to get his club back to where they were his freshman year—top of the WCCHA.

Last year, UND posted a 7-15 record, good enough to get into the WCCHA but not enough to avoid a first-round showdown and eventual loss to St. Thomas. A loss the next day of the tournament bounced them out.  Riley has put his team in a position to succeed with a strong nonconference schedule, along with the usual tough Northwest Division they’ll have to skate through. At the WCCHA Showcase, UND will be tasked with taking on Finlandia, Northern Michigan, and Bradley. Their Interdivisional matchups consist of a rematch with St. Thomas and a series against Gustavus. The Hawks will take on Jamestown in another nonconference series.

A trio of talented forwards will be looking to fill the net for UND this year. Joey Mendel (Technical High School-MSHSL / St. Cloud, MN) returns as a senior forward, hunting down 100 career points. Mendel owns 76 points so far in his collegiate career. “He’s an assist machine,” Riley said. “He plays a relaxed style of hockey with his head up and a pass-first mentality.”

Another senior, David Larson (Chicago Bulldogs-NA3HL / Fargo, ND) will hopefully be cashing in on those assists. “At any time, David is one of the most skilled players on the ice,” Riley said about the forward. “After playing defense last year, David will be back at forward where he thrives. He’s a hard hitter who throws his weight around. A pure power forward.”

Not to be outdone, Grant McDonald (Tartan Senior High School-MSHSL / Maplewood, MN) will be looking to build on his successful freshman season for the Hawks. “He scored goals in big games for us,” Riley said about the sophomore. “He has a knack for the net and a silky pair of mitts to help him get there.” McDonald posted 9 points in his freshman campaign, and Riley (and the whole UND team) expects that to double this year.

On the back end, Parker Wylie (Stillwater High School-MSHSL / Stillwater, MN) returns to solidify things. “He didn’t waste any time last year making himself known,” Riley said about the sophomore. He plays a passionate, aggressive game. He’s a stay-at-home D, but his offensive talent is nothing to overlook.” Wylie dished out five assists last year and is no doubt looking to build on that as he’s counted on more heavily in the 2019-2020 season.

The Fighting Hawks strength may rest in the net this year. UND returns two goaltenders from last year. Josh Kenney (Burnsville High School-MSHSL / Burnsville, MN) and WCCHA All Star Bryan Bresina (Baldwin-Woodville High School-WIAA / Hammond, WI) look to keep the nets clean this season, with both participants in this duo capable of stealing a game.

Rex Riley and his staff worked hard to bring in talented players to supplement their veteran core. Spencer Kuhlman (Emby-Riddle Aero. University-ACHA III / Grand Forks, ND) played at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in his career so far, and Riley is looking forward to Kuhlman bringing his talents back home to the blue line in Grand Forks. The coaching staff is also excited about the addition of Vetle Horverak (Lorenskog U20-Norway U20 / Bergen, NOR). Horverak was a prolific scorer in the Norwegian league, and will no doubt translate his game to helping the Hawks this year.

Riley sees a path to Regionals with the way the team is constructed this year. There is strong goaltending, solid defense, and an offense that can score by committee. Sporting new jerseys for the first time in five years, UND is looking forward to getting back on the ice and going toe to toe with the best in the conference, hopefully emerging victorious in Blaine in February. The Fighting Hawks open their season this weekend with a home series against Northwest Division foe Bethel University.