UMD to face UND in Fargo regional final

Captain Noah Cates takes the puck across center ice against Western Michigan. Photo by Hunter Dunteman

The University of Minnesota Duluth is set to face off against conference-rival University of North Dakota Saturday evening in the final game of the Fargo Regional Finals. The winner will punch their ticket to the NCAA Frozen Four Championship in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in early April.

The Bulldogs’ opening matchup against the University of Michigan was cancelled due to a positive COVID test within Michigan’s team. A no contest result was issued by the NCAA, and the Bulldogs advanced to the regional final game.

UMD made sure not to take the day off, however. The team held a scrimmage against themselves to make use of the reserved ice time.

“There’s no question — you get nervous every time you test [for COVID]. You’ve seen what’s gone on,” UMD head coach Scott Sandelin said in an interview published on Twitter. “We’ve got to reset, keep doing what we’re doing and get ready to play [Saturday].”

UND earned their spot in the regional finals after throttling American International College 5-1. The Fighting Hawks dominated the ice from the start, tallying four goals in the first period. 

UND, the No. 1 seed in the NCAA, outplayed AIC in almost every aspect of the box score, winning in shots 33-25 and faceoffs 29-20.

AIC’s only goal of the game was answered almost immediately by the Hawks, killing momentum and securing the victory.

The Fighting Hawks only played UMD twice this year, winning one and tying the other — though Duluth won the shootout after the game. The all time record between the schools sits at 13-13-1.

Diving deeper into season statistics, the NCAA website ranks UND’s offense third, averaging 3.85 goals per game while UMD’s defense averages 2.23 goals allowed per game. Shots on goal may have a large impact on Saturday’s regional final game, too — UND’s Adam Scheel ranks sixth in the nation in save percentage, with nearly 80%.

With a shot for the NCAA title on the line, Saturday’s highly contested game between NCHC foes will determine whether UMD can continue their run for their third-straight national championship.

Saturday’s game will air on ESPNU at 6:30 p.m.