Dylan James felt that the sweep of Minnesota-Duluth was more than just sweeping an opponent, it was a statement of the team’s identity.   

 “It’s just a response to CC [Colorado College] that we got swept by CC and this was our response,” James said. “So, it was to show the character of this team.”   

UND defeated UMD 4-2 on Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Ralph Engelstad Arena to complete the series and season sweep of the Bulldogs, defeating them in all four contests this year.   

The first period of Saturday’s contest was not as explosive as the three-goal period the night before. Duluth came out harder, and UND had to counter more. The game was physical too, with four powerplay opportunities in just that period. While UND struggled to capitalize on their first two powerplays in the first, with only three minutes left in the third, Jayden Perron opened the scoring for UND, burying a rebound on their third and final power play of the period.   

UND doubled their lead only five minutes into the second, with Jackson Kunz sliding in and scoring off an assist from Jackson Blake. But UMD continued to push, outshooting UND 7-3 after the 2-1 goal. UMD tied up the score shortly after.   

Once the game was tied, a scrum broke out in the corner of UND’s zone; Jake Livanavage had his face mask ripped off and a fight broke out.   

Fifth year defenseman, Garrett Pyke, said the physicality of this series was par for the course.   

“That’s hockey for you,” he said. “It is an intense game and guys want to win really badly. They are looking to win. They are looking to check hard, and so are we.”   

Two of Duluth’s and UND’s players, including Livanavage, received minor penalties for roughing. Bennet Zmolek received a minor for roughing and a ten-minute game misconduct, and Carter Loney of UMD received a five-minute misconduct for face masking.   

Berry said that he and the coaching staff teach UND players what to do to help them avoid a major penalty if they get into situations like the second period scrum, especially as the physicality ramps up as the post-season looms ahead.   

“Even if you do put your hand in somebody’s face, you’re leaving it up to the interpretation of the review if it was grabbing the facemask or just putting your hand up there,” Berry said. “So, we talk about that all the time. We tell our guys, for the most part, to play whistle to whistle and anything that happens after the whistle get away, skate away.”  

Neither team could convert during the four-on-four, and UMD killed the major penalty. The period ended tied at 2-2 with UMD outshooting UND.   

UND only registered two shots in the third period, and both were goals by James. Both times he utilized his speed to carry the puck into the offensive zone uninterrupted and put it in the back of the net. The first resulted from a pass up the ice by Keaton Pehrson and the other from a smart play by Owen McLaughlin to chip the puck to James.   

Pyke said that James’ speed is what makes him such a lethal scoring threat.   

“It is hard to stop. I know that from practice,” Pyke said. “He [James] likes to use that speed, and when he does, it’s really hard to stop him.”  

UND still leads the NCHC in the standings and widened their lead over St. Cloud State from one to three with this weekend’s sweep.   

The team remains committed to their pursuit of the Penrose.  

“It is exciting, this is what everyone signed up for; for UND to play these tight games and to be in the race,” Pyke said. “We are looking to play our best hockey. It is fun to be in the race.”   

Maeve Hushman is a Dakota Student Sports Reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].