LAS VEGAS, Nev. — In a game that just would not go North Dakota’s way, the Hawks found their season reduced to seconds after a late goal brought the game within a goal’s reach. Despite efforts to level, UND was sent home disappointed.
Gone in 27 Seconds
The Hawks started slowly, representing a shell of the team that had beaten Quinnipiac 12 days before.
Wisconsin emerged on top shortly after puck drop, immediately burying Jan Špunar (Fr.) under a flurry of shots. The freshman netminder made ten saves before conceding two consecutive goals.
“We didn’t really come out hot,” said forward Ellis Rickwood (Sr.). “They were ready to play.”
Being down two so early in the game seemed surmountable, but North Dakota struggled to recover, lagging behind the Badgers in most metrics.
“We weren’t quite executing at a high enough level, reflected Dane Jackson. “They were tenacious and quicker. We weren’t managing the puck well. We kind of hooked some pucks to the middle that started some of their play and gave them momentum. I just thought they were a little sharper, and our execution wasn’t good enough to break through their checking early on.”
Shaping Up in the Second
The second period came and went for the Hawks, albeit with further chances arising. Despite the lack of scoring, North Dakota looked more convincing in the second stanza, forcing Wisconsin Head Coach Mike Hastings to use his timeout.
“We got hemmed in. That was the second time that had happened in that period,” Hastings said after the game. “There’s many a game I put my head on the pillow after it’s done, and I have that timeout in my pocket. I just thought it was really important for us to get a little bit of a reset.”
After the timeout, Wisconsin returned to its benchmark for the game. The Badgers continued to pressure any mistake from North Dakota while fighting off various asymmetric situations due to penalties and injury. Jan Špunar continued to have a busy night in the Fighting Hawks’ net.
Power Outage
Despite having five power plays, UND was not able to break through the UW penalty kill, which stood resolute on all 5 occasions it was called upon. A key issue for North Dakota was the breakup play that Wisconsin was able to present. The Badgers knew exactly what they were up against and had been preparing all week, said Ben Dexheimer (Sr.).
In the second period, penalties incurred by Luke Osburn (Fr.) and Joe Palodichuk (Jr.) set up a 5-on-3 power play. The three-man unit stood strong in front of Daniel Hauser — another missed opportunity.
“I thought we were prepped, but we just didn’t execute at a high enough level,” said Dane Jackson. “When you get a one-timer, you’ve got to hit your spot. They got some clears on us, especially five-on-three, we should be tenacious enough to keep that puck alive generally. We just didn’t quite have that, we weren’t in sync quite enough there.”
After failing on their fourth and fifth power plays, the situation looked grim for the Hawks.
Seconds to Go
Wisconsin had its second power play of the game with less than half a period remaining. UND did well to deny the Badgers, but one thing was becoming painfully obvious: if North Dakota wanted to win the game, it would need to score. The Hawks were using up precious time.
With three and a half minutes remaining, Jan Špunar skated to the bench. The Fighting Hawks were looking for another miracle comeback. After a few clears, North Dakota lost even more time.
With just under a minute left, Ellis Rickwood (Sr.) scored, assisted by fellow seniors Dylan James and Ben Strinden — a moment of elation quickly overshadowed by the clock. UND had 52.7 seconds to level.
In the end, North Dakota fell after pushing hard. It was too late.
Season Reflections
Many fans did not expect the Fighting Hawks to go this far in Dane Jackson’s first year. Over the summer, North Dakota brought in 15 new players: four transfers and eleven freshmen. Two new coaches joined Jackson’s staff: Associate Head Coach Matt Smaby and General Manager Bryn Chyzyk.
With all the new faces, predictions at the start of the season were grim. But something about the combination just worked. North Dakota is no stranger to success with a new head coach at the helm, but this young team earned a Penrose Cup and a Regional Championship in its first year under Jackson. While it may not be a National Championship, the feat is nothing to scoff at.
“[With] what we built this year, the tradition’s back,” said Jake Livanavage. “We want North Dakota hockey to be at the top every single year. I think under Coach Jackson, it will be like that for a long, long time.”
Anthony Dillett is a Dakota Student Sports Reporter. He can be reached at [email protected] and on X @adillettgf.