#8/9 DENVER vs. #1 NORTH DAKOTA
Dec. 8, 2020
Baxter Arena
3:35 pm CT
All-time Series: UND leads 150-128-16 (.537)
RADIO
PxP: Tim Hennessy
Radio: 740 The Fan (Fargo) & Home of Economy Radio Network
Web: FightingHawks.com
ON TAP
Top-ranked North Dakota gets a quick rematch with Denver in the fourth game of the 10-game NCHC pod. UND won the earlier meeting, 4-3 in overtime, in a great battle between the rival schools.
All UND men’s hockey games, home and away, can be heard on stations across the UND Sports Home of Economy Radio Network. Longtime broadcaster Tim Hennessy, in his 42nd season as the voice of UND men’s hockey, calls the action while Steve Olson will provide color analysis when the season resumes regular series play.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow the action live by following @UNDmhockey and @UNDInsider on Twitter. Fans can also read the action via live chat at GrandForksHerald.com with beat writer Brad Schlossman.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE PIONEERS
UND’s Jordan Kawaguchi scored at 1:17 of the overtime frame to lift North Dakota to a 4-3 win Dec. 4. Neither team led by more than a goal in a tight game throughout.
SERIES HISTORY WITH DENVER
North Dakota has won four straight in the all-time series and has 150 wins against the Pioneers in their history. UND has outscored Denver 15-6 in the current four-game winning streak.
PAIR OF FRESHMEN D OFF WITH TEAM USA
Jake Sanderson was named to the preliminary roster for the US National Junior Team last Monday. Tyler Kleven was also recently added to that 29-man squad in the hopes of making the 25 that will travel to Edmonton, Alberta for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Tournament, Dec. 25-Jan. 2.
NCHCPOD HONORS
Shane Pinto (Forward of the Week) and Ethan Frisch (Defenseman of the Week) picked up the first weekly honors for North Dakota after their play helped UND to a 3-0-0 start in the pod. Pinto talled a team-best five points with a pair of goals and three assists while Frisch had three points (G, 2A) and led the team with a +5 rating and 5 blocks. It was the second weekly award for Pinto in his career after being named the Rookie of the Week on Feb 3 last season while it marked the first for Frisch.
POLL POSITION
Five NCHC teams are ranked in this week’s USCHO.com poll once again. UND sits atop the poll with Minnesota Duluth third, Denver ninth, St. Cloud State 13th and Omaha 18th.
PINTO PERFECTION
Shane Pinto won all 18 faceoff draws in Friday’s prior meeting with Denver (Friday). The all-time leader in faceoff win percentage at UND, Pinto now is an impressive team-best 47/64 in the dot this season (.734)
DECEMBERS TO REMEMBER
In the Brad Berry era, the Fighting Hawks have recorded an impressive 16-3-1 record in the month of December. Only ONE of those wins is against an unranked team, the season-opening victory over Miami (2-0) this season.