2006-07 North Dakota Men's Team Outlook
Optimism for the 2006-07 hockey season at the University of North Dakota is once again running high. The reasons are many.
The Fighting Sioux are coming off their second consecutive NCAA Frozen Four appearance and fourth in the last seven yearssophomore forwards T.J. Oshie (24 goals), Jonathan Toews (22 goals) and Ryan Duncan (16 goals) are all back with UND this season. The 62 combined goals that terrific trio scored as freshmen last season is 18 more than any other rookie threesome tallied last season for a Division I men's team.
Last June, Toews was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks with the third overall selection in the National Hockey League Entry Draft, becoming the highest NHL draft choice in UND school history. He is one of 11 NHL draft choices on the UND roster.
Oshie, Toews and Duncan are among 19 returning players who will be joined by six promising newcomers on the Fighting Sioux roster.
Following is a position-by-position rundown of the UND roster:
In the nets
One of the big losses from last year's team is goalie Jordan Parise, who during the summer signed a professional contract with the NHL's New Jersey Devils organization. Parise, who decided to forego his last year of college eligibility, finished his three-year career as UND's all-time leader in goals-against average (2.14) and save percentage (.921). He started all of UND's NCAA games the past three seasons, posting a 6-3 NCAA mark.
Despite the loss of Parise, UND head coach Dave Hakstol said the Sioux will have a strong trio of goaltenders in the 2006-07 season, and he expects there to be a great deal of competition among the three goalies on the roster.
The most experienced of the three netminders is junior Philippe Lamoureux. Lamoureux has played in 32 games (29 starts) his first two seasons, posting an excellent overall goals-against average (2.36) and save percentage (.913) along with a 12-15-2 record.
Adding to UND's strong group of goalies are freshman Anthony Grieco (Brampton, ON) and sophomore Aaron Walski (Fargo, ND).
On the Blueline
UND will miss 2005-06 captain Matt Smaby, who turned professional by signing with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning. However, the Sioux begin this season with a number of experienced players back.
UND played four freshmen defensemen in its lineup all of last season, and those four - Brian Lee, Taylor Chorney, Joe Finley and Zach Jones - showed they were up to the challenge, playing key roles in UND's Frozen Four run. Now that quartet, along with junior Kyle Radke, are among five returning starters at defense.
Lee was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team last season, when he led all UND defensemen in scoring with 27 points (four goals), a point total that is tied for sixth-best in school history among rookie rearguards.
Chorney chipped in with 18 points (three goals) and was second on the team with a +22 plus/minus rating.
Finley, who casts an imposing presence on the blue line with his 6-7 frame, displayed a poise beyond his years during his freshmen campaign and finished the season with a +18 plus/minus rating in 43 games.
Jones played in all 46 games last season and tallied six assists while establishing himself as a physical player with a tenacious streak.
Radke, now the veteran of the group as a junior, appeared in a career-high 44 games last season, scoring three goals and recording 12 assists. Radke finished the year with an even or plus plus/minus rating in 16 of his last 18 games.
Joining the five returning starters this year is another experienced defenseman, junior Robbie Bina, who missed all of last season while recovering from an injury.
Joining the returning defensemen is freshman Chay Genoway, from Swan River, Manitoba. Genoway, the younger brother of former Sioux scoring leader Colby Genoway, played last season with Vernon of the BCHL.
Up Front
The Sioux lose four key forwards, including last season's two leading scorers, Drew Stafford and Travis Zajac. Stafford notched a team-best 48 points (24 goals) last season and then signed with the NHL's Buffalo Sabres at season's end. Zajac had 47 points (18 goals) before signing with the NHL's New Jersey Devils. While Stafford and Zajac will be missed, UND has an impressive group of forwards coming back.
The forwards include the team's only three seniors, all of whom will be relied on for leadership.
One of those seniors, Chris Porter, has yet to miss a game in his three seasons at UND, playing all 132. Porter, who saw action at both left and right wing last season, had seven goals among his 23 points last season and has 29 goals in his three years.
Another senior, Erik Fabian, returns after missing the final eight games of the season with an injury. Fabian had six goals and 11 points last season from his left wing spot. During his UND career he has displayed a knack for scoring big goals along with a propensity to work the corners and come out with the puck. UND's third senior, Scott Foyt, has seen limited action, playing in seven games last season and 19 in his career, but can play forward or defense.
One junior forward, Rylan Kaip, joins the ranks of the upperclassmen this season. Kaip played both center and right wing last season and scored two key goals in UND's WCHA Final Five semifinal win over Wisconsin. He also scored in the Frozen Four against Boston College. A strong skater who is aggressive in both ends, Kaip was named the team's most improved player last season.
Oshie, Toews and Duncan lead a dynamic group of sophomore forwards that will be looked upon to provide much of UND's offensive firepower this season.
Oshie was a member of the All-WCHA rookie team last season. He was third on the team in scoring last year with 45 points (24 goals) and his nine game-winning goals led the nation and were a single-season school record. Eleven of Oshie's goals came on the power-play.
Toews was named the most outstanding player at last season's NCAA West Regional. He finished the year with 39 points (22 goals) in 42 games and was one of the nation's hottest players down the stretch, scoring 21 points (11 goals) during his final 13 games. He tied for the national lead in points (six) and points per game (2.00) in NCAA tournament play.
Duncan played in all 46 UND games and had 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) on the season. He was a member of the NCAA West Region all-tournament team after collecting two goals and two assists in two West Region games.
Two forwards the Sioux will be counting on to play larger roles this season are sophomores Andrew Kozek and Matt Watkins. Both played in all 46 games last season, with Kozek recording 13 points (seven goals) and Watkins registering nine points (five goals). Sophomore forwards Brad Miller and Ryan Martens add speed, skill and depth and are expected to make strong bids for lineup spots.
Joining the returning forwards are four talented newcomers. This year's four rookie forwards include Hunter Bishop, Michael Forney, Chris VandeVelde and Darcy Zajac. All four possess good size - 6-0 or better - along with excellent offensive skills.
Zajac (6-0), a Winnipeg, Manitoba, native and the younger brother of former Sioux Travis Zajac, played for Salmon Arm in the BCHL. He recorded 80 points (37 goals) in 57 games for the Silverbacks. Bishop (6-1), a Fairbanks, Alaska, native, played for Vernon of the BCHL last season, totaling 54 points (25 goals) in 56 games for the Vipers. VandeVelde (6-2), a Moorhead, Minn., native, spent last season at Lincoln of the USHL. He played 56 games for the Stars, scoring 16 goals among his 36 points. Forney (6-2) led his Thief River Falls (Minn.) high school team to a berth in the Minnesota state high school hockey tournament and as a senior was among the state's leading scorers, with 68 points in 25 games.
2006-07 North Dakota Women's Team Outlook
Fresh faces, new attitude and a revived outlook. This season things are a little different in the hallways of Ralph Engelstad Arena, the home of the University of North Dakota women's hockey team.
After graduating the first recruited class in program history last season, the 2006-07 team will have a vastly different look. The Sioux have 12 new players, 11 of which are incoming freshmen.
On paper the 2006-07 team looks like it did five years ago in the early years of the program. However, there is one glaring difference - recruits. Every person on the roster was recruited to play at UND. Most are getting scholarship money as UND approaches its maximum allowance of 18 full scholarships. That's a far cry from the first season, in which the team roster was put together in a few short months.
Forwards
The biggest need for the Sioux is offense. The top three scorers from 2005-06 are gone, however the coaching staff hopes that the 11 new freshmen will be a catalyst for success.
UND's two seniors will also be relied upon for goals, experience and leadership. Alexia Gagnon Laplante has dealt with injuries the previous two years, limiting her production. The Sioux are hoping she can return to the form she showed during her freshman season, when she scored 10 goals and added seven assists.
The other senior, Aynsley Allen, will also be looked upon to fill a number of different roles.
UND's top returning scorers are sophomores Melissa Jaques and Samantha Bowers. Both have great play-making ability and both are very offensive oriented. Jaques (8-8-16) worked hard all summer, working out and helping with summer hockey camps. Bowers (8-4-12) is a spark plug.
Randi Motsko is also expected to expand her role in her sophomore season.
Not only does the sophomore class bring a lot of offense, they also add a lot of fun.
And added to a group of talented freshmen, it is hoped the combination will be a good one.
The Sioux will have six freshmen forwards when the season begins, however, that may change as players develop over the course of the year. Two players the Sioux are hoping will make an immediate impact are Andrea Cook and Ashley Paulson.
The Sioux also have a lot of raw talent, which the coaches hope to mold into prototypical collegiate athletes. Jodi Holland and Jade Schirado both have a strong high school hockey background. Holland was an offensive force at John Marshall H.S., while Schirado, who spent the past two seasons at the North American Hockey Academy in Vermont, was the best player out of North Dakota this season.
Jenny Porter is the sister of current UND men's hockey player Chris Porter, but she probably has the least amount of hockey experience on the team. But she has a strong skating background and was a figure skater before deciding to play hockey.
Alex Williams also has a UND connection. Williams, who's another small player that plays big, is the daughter of Brian Williams, a former men's hockey standout at UND.
Defensemen
Versatility is UND's greatest strength on defense. The coaches expect to have a hard-nosed group that has the ability to score.
Junior Christey Allen is the veteran of the group. Allen's steady play is something the coaches hope that the rest of the defensive corps will mimic.
Another offensive-minded defenseman is Casie Hanson. Although she didn't score a goal last season, Hanson sets up the goals by doing the little things - forechecking and scrumming in the corner.
Sophomore transfer Kelsey Fletcher, who comes to UND from Clarkson University, will also be in the mix. She probably will pair Fletcher with sophomore Christy Carlson. The two have played on the same line in high school.
Freshman Ashley Lynch, Samantha Turner and Cassandra Flanagan will also play a role.
Goaltenders
One of the biggest question marks for the Sioux in 2006-07 will be the goaltending. After graduating two netminders that have played virtually every game for the past four years, the Sioux have two freshmen between the pipes this season.
Neither Brittany Kirkham or Jody Karnik have a leg up on the spot. Rivard said each will get a chance to compete and whoever is playing the best will get the nod. Kirkham has been rated as one of the best goaltenders in North America last year. The Nepean, Ont., native last played on the National Capital Competitive Program Junior Raiders in Canada.
Karnik hasn't been playing goalie for as long as Kirkham, but the Overland Park, Kan., native is an athlete. Karnik is a former gymnast and very athletic.
