How does UND plan to handle this weekend's exhibitions?
· Yahoo Sports
Oct. 1—GRAND FORKS — Dane Jackson has a main goal for this weekend's exhibitions against Augustana University (6:07 p.m. Saturday) and the University of Manitoba (3:07 p.m. Sunday).
The second-year UND head coach wants his Fighting Hawks to move out of summer-hockey mode.
Visit mchezo.life for more information.
That means no more trying to dangle through three opponents, no more trying to saucer passes through the middle in the defensive zone and no more soft turnovers.
"We want to get to that direct, north, fast, hard style we've got to play when we're in playoff time," Jackson said. "It seems to take a little while for guys to understand it. I think they forget sometimes how direct and how simple and how quick you have to play or how well we were playing in that facet at the end.
"You can make a lot of good decisions, but if you end up with a few soft plays high in your zone, or a few real weak breakout plays through the middle, that can cost you a game."
UND will learn that in the first month, because the schedule is a gauntlet.
The Fighting Hawks open with a home-and-home against Bemidji State on Oct. 9-10. After that, they face two-time defending Atlantic Hockey champion Bentley, rival Minnesota, No. 3-ranked Michigan State and No. 8-ranked Western Michigan.
"It's exciting," UND captain Cole Reschny said. "It's the moment we've all been waiting for. You work all summer, train all summer, bond as a team, come to this training camp for the first month and now it's what we're here for: to play hockey and play games."
UND won the Penrose Cup and reached the NCAA Frozen Four last season, but more than half of this season's roster is new.
UND brought in 10 freshmen and four transfers.
"I think a big thing for our group this year, especially the sophomores, is having the experience we had last year in the back of our minds," sophomore defenseman Keaton Verhoeff said. "But also, we have to remember to have a fresh start this year. It's a whole new season, a whole new group. Every single team is going to be better out there, so we've got to be better as well. I'm super excited about what's to come in the next couple weeks."
Freshman defenseman Bauer Dumanski is expected to miss this weekend's exhibitions while recovering from an injury. Dumanski is skating, so a return to full health is nearing.
Jackson expects everyone else will play in at least one of the two exhibitions.
Sophomore goaltender Jan Špunar will start Saturday's exhibition against Augustana.
"We haven't decided if he'll get a full game or if Caleb (Heil) will get a full game," Jackson said. "Those guys will definitely play the bulk of the two. Then, we'll possibly get Alex (Scheiwiller) some minutes in there as well."