Fighting Hawks Put Up 12 Goals in 2 Wins Over Alaska
by Tyler Kuehl/CHN Reporter
Coming into a season after missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years (disregarding 2020), North Dakota has come back with a vengeance.
They have played like a team that has the potential to make a deep run in March. Led by Carolina Hurricanes draft pick Jackson Blake, along with senior captain Riese Gaber and sophomore Owen McLaughlin, the Fighting Hawks have a balanced offensive attack. Balanced with solid goaltending and an excellent defensive structure, they have the makings of a team capable of challenging for a conference title.
They have played well against some of the best teams in the country, earning wins against Minnesota, Boston and Denver.
Ninth-year head coach Brad Berry has North Dakota playing confident, even when things have not gone its way. It went into the winter break having lost three consecutive games in overtime, including twice to Colorado College.
However, even without its starting goaltender, North Dakota began 2024 on the right with a couple of strong offensive performances.
The Fighting Hawks hosted Alaska in their first regular-season action in almost a month, but were missing senior goaltender Ludvig Persson, who was out due to illness. That did not stop the top weapons from pushing their game onto the Nanooks, as North Dakota ended up with a 6-4 win on Friday night, following that up with a 6-2 win at Ralph Englestad Arena on Saturday.
Gaber had a huge weekend, leading the Fighting Hawks with six points, potting two goals and an assist on Friday, before reversing his stat line the next night.
“That’s what he does,” Berry said. “Every week … he just keeps working. His leadership’s shining through this time of year. Can’t say enough about him as a person and as a player.”
Gaber was on two different lines in both games. Teamed up with graduate student Hunter Johannes and junior Cameron Berg on Saturday, the trio accounted for four of North Dakota’s goals, with Johannes scoring twice, and Berg being credited with his first game-winning goal of the season.
Gaber is tied for second on the team in scoring with McLaughlin, both having 20 points thus far, four back of Blake.
It was a special weekend for fifth-year…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at College Hockey News from CHN…