2014 Frozen Four preview: North Dakota took tough road to Philadelphia
North Dakota was one of the lowest seeded teams in the tournament, but with a strong second-half of their season and impressive wins over Wisconsin and Ferris State, they’re dangerous in the Frozen Four. We chatted with Chris Dilks, editor of SB Nation College Hockey, about North Dakota’s chances in Philadelphia.
No. 14 overall, Midwest Regional champion
Record: 25-13-3 (15-9-0, No. 2 in NCHC)
Home: Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, N.D.
Enrollment: 12,000
Head coach: Dave Hakstol
Leading scorer: Rocco Grimaldi (17 G, 22 A, 39 P)
Starting goalie: Zane Gothberg (32 GP, 1.99, .926)
Path to Philly: def. Wisconsin, 5-2; def. Ferris State, 2-1
SB Nation: What has been North Dakota’s key to success this season?
Chris Dilks: Like most good hockey teams, North Dakota is a team that is built from the net out, starting with an excellent goalie in Zane Gothberg. Gothberg is big, and plays with a poise and calmness that allows him to stay in position and use his whole body to his advantage.
From there, North Dakota’s set of six defensemen that they’ll dress on Thursday might be as good as any group in the country. Their forward group isn’t as strong, but they play hard, score a lot dirty goals, and can make life miserable for the opposition.
What will lead the ND to a loss in Philadelphia?
This is so obvious that it’s going to sound dumb, but they’ll lose if they can’t score goals. They played very strong hockey in the second half of the season, but still had the occasional night where the offense disappeared and they just could not get the puck in the net. Three goals seems to be their magic number, because they’re 23-2-1 when they score three or more goals, which makes them 2-11-2 when they don’t.
Describe the type of game North Dakota plays.
Full 2014 Frozen Four Coverage
Getting to know... Union | BC | Minnesota | North Dakota
• Tournament bracket • Full schedule • Frozen Four by the numbers
• The 2014 Frozen Four Fan Guide • The statistical odds • Union learned lessons in 2012 • North Dakota will win if... • Unfinished business for Minnesota
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The strength of this North Dakota team is definitely on the blue line. Their defense will be very active in moving the puck up the ice and trying to generate shots for scoring chances. Up front, they play the typical physical style of play that North Dakota is known for. Their forwards will try to grind a team down and win physical battles rather than wow them with skilled plays.
Who are the NHL prospects on their roster that fans should keep on their radar?
St. Louis Blues first round pick Jordan Schmaltz won't necessarily stand out, but he's a very fluid skater, smart, and moves the puck extremely well. His defensive partner Dillon Simpson, an Edmonton draft pick, is one of the smartest, most mature players in the NCAA. Both can really control a game from the blue line.
Florida Panthers prospect Rocco Grimaldi is a really exciting player to watch. He's small, but extremely fast, and seems like he generates a scoring chance every time he touches the puck.
Finally, predict the Frozen Four for us.
Playing Minnesota on Thursday night will be a very emotional game for North Dakota and should help give them a little extra jump. This is a game that is going to be won in the 10x10 area in front of each team’s net.
Can North Dakota stop guys like Hudson Fasching and Kyle Rau in front of their own net on the Minnesota power play? Can guys like Michael Parks and Connor Gaarder fight their way to the front of the Minnesota net for tips and rebounds on shots from North Dakota's defense? It should be a fantastic game, but Minnesota has a little bit more scoring punch that should push them through to the final.
Overall, Boston College beats Union and Boston College beats Minnesota.
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