UND could re-examine the way it schedules video games over Christmas break – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS — UND solely had 4 defensemen at apply final week.

Jake Livanavage and Abram Wiebe had been in Davos, Switzerland, taking part in within the Spengler Cup as members of the U.S. Collegiate Selects all-star staff. Keaton Verhoeff and E.J. Emery had been on the World Junior Championship within the Twin Cities. Ian Engel was out with an undisclosed ailment.

But the Fighting Hawks averted the worst-case situation.

Livanavage and Wiebe returned to Grand Forks a day earlier than the weekend sequence towards Mercyhurst and suited up in each video games. E.J. Emery returned for the sequence finale and the Fighting Hawks swept the nonconference sequence.

UND may not be so lucky sooner or later.

With a excessive likelihood of the Selects returning to the Spengler Cup sooner or later and the chance of UND recruiting extra World Junior Championship gamers within the coming years, the Fighting Hawks could should re-examine how they schedule video games over Christmas break.

“We’ve been discussing that actually,” UND coach Dane Jackson mentioned. “I’ve always liked our Christmas schedule, how we give the guys a good break. They can go home and enjoy their families and not be stressed about getting back and getting ready for important games. We’ve usually scheduled that USA (exhibition) game.”

Other groups have began shifting away from scheduling video games throughout the World Juniors — particularly people who undertaking they will have gamers competing on the under-20 occasion.

Notably, Penn State went practically a month and a half with out a recreation between Nov. 22-Jan. 3. Michigan, Minnesota, Boston University and UMass didn’t schedule a regular-season recreation throughout the World Juniors.

UND had two regular-season video games — not an exhibition — scheduled upon return from break this season.

Nonconference losses will be damaging within the NPI rankings, that are used to pick and seed the NCAA match area.

“That’s something we’re going to have to really watch and determine,” Jackson mentioned. “I think that’s going to be a factor going forward if the Spengler thing continues and we continue to get real top players that have a chance to play in the World Juniors. It’s definitely something we’ll look at.”

The NCAA allowed Canadian main junior gamers to retain their faculty eligibility for the primary time in additional than 40 years starting this season. It has opened the door to a brand new recruiting pool for UND. The Fighting Hawks had two gamers (Verhoeff, Cole Reschny) and one recruit (Ethan MacKenzie) on Canada’s World Junior Team — probably the most in program historical past.

Verhoeff and Reschny are each eligible for the World Juniors once more subsequent 12 months.

UND has already locked in a sequence towards Clarkson University on Jan. 1-2, 2027. It will happen throughout the World Junior Championship, which is scheduled to be performed in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta.

If faculty hockey sends a staff to the Spengler Cup once more, will probably be much more troublesome to get gamers again in time, as a result of the occasion ends Dec. 31.

“Some of our schedule is locked in two years ahead,” Jackson mentioned, “but it’s something we’ll definitely bake into our schedule and planning.”

Schlossman has coated faculty hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been acknowledged by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the highest beat author for the Herald’s circulation division 4 occasions and the North Dakota sportswriter of the 12 months twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.