GRAND FORKS, North Dakota (KNFL/KFGO/UND Athletics) – Fourth-ranked North Dakota drew back the curtain on the 2026-27 season with a 4-1 victory over Augustana in exhibition play on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 11,658 at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.
The Fighting Hawks received goals from Ollie Josephson, Carson Carels, Will Zellers and Cody Croal, while Josephson and Zellers each finished with a goal and an assist. UND held a 22-17 advantage in shots on goal and finished 3-for-5 on the power play while holding the Vikings scoreless on six chances.
Sophomore netminder Jan Špunar played all 60 minutes in net for UND and finished with 16 saves on 17 shots against. The Olomouc, Czechia, native was strong in the second period with six saves, including four during a 5-on-3 penalty kill.
North Dakota controlled much of the opening 20 minutes, outshooting Augustana by a 10-3 margin and finally breaking through late in the period. With UND on its second power play of the night, Josephson found the back of the net at 18:48 off helpers from Mac Swanson and Zellers to send the hosts into the first intermission with a 1-0 advantage.
The power play struck again midway through the second. Carels doubled the North Dakota lead at 13:45, with Jack Kernan and Hudson Malinoski collecting the assists. Augustana responded just 22 seconds later when Joey DelGreco scored at even strength to pull the Vikings within 2-1.
North Dakota restored its two-goal advantage on another power play at 6:35 of the third period. Zellers buried the opportunity off assists from Ethan MacKenzie and Cooper Simpson to make it 3-1.
Špunar and the UND penalty kill took care of the rest. Augustana generated seven shots on goal in the final frame and had a late power-play opportunity, but the North Dakota netminder kept the Vikings off the scoreboard in the third.
Croal put the finishing touches on the victory with an empty-net goal with 33.7 seconds remaining, with Josephson and Brasen Boser picking up the assists for the 4-1 final.
North Dakota will close out the exhibition portion of the season on Sunday afternoon against Manitoba at 3:07 p.m. on Midco Sports, NCHC.tv and the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.
Postgame Notes
- UND went 3-for-5 on the power play while Augustana went 0-for-6
- Ollie Josephson and Will Zellers each notched multiple points in the win
- Nine players saw the ice in green and white for the first time
- Jan Špunar made 16 saves on 17 shots against and played the full 60 minutes
- Shots were 22-17 in favor of UND
- Zellers, Carson Carels and Špunar were named the game’s three stars
- Faceoffs were even at 27, with Josephson pacing UND at 8-3
How It Happened
First Period:
18:48 | UND – Ollie Josephson (PP) from Mac Swanson and Will Zellers
Second Period:
13:45 | UND – Carson Carels (PP) from Jack Kernan and Hudson Malinoski
14:07 | AU – Joey DelGreco from Matsvi Marshchanok and Ryan Whiterabbit
13:45 | UND – Carson Carels (PP) from Jack Kernan and Hudson Malinoski
14:07 | AU – Joey DelGreco from Matsvi Marshchanok and Ryan Whiterabbit
Third Period:
06:35 | UND – Will Zellers (PP) from Ethan MacKenzie and Cooper Simpson
19:27 | UND – Cody Croal (EN) from Josephson and Brasen Boser
06:35 | UND – Will Zellers (PP) from Ethan MacKenzie and Cooper Simpson
19:27 | UND – Cody Croal (EN) from Josephson and Brasen Boser
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