Inaspect UND’s effort to maintain Bennett Zmolek wholesome for the ‘greatest video games’ – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS — UND has taken the lengthy view with Bennett Zmolek from the beginning of this season.

Early within the yr, Zmolek took at the very least sooner or later off from observe per week.

Now, he is solely practising sporadically. Some weeks, he would not observe in any respect.

Zmolek has missed two of the final 4 seasons resulting from hip surgical procedures and he is preventing one other lower-body damage — one which UND coach Dane Jackson says is painful to play by way of and has indicated is unlikely to go away any time quickly.

The Fighting Hawks have turned to fastidiously managing Zmolek because the postseason nears.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman from Rochester, Minn., has solely performed in a single recreation in every of the final two weekend sequence. While there isn’t any particular utilization plan going ahead, Jackson mentioned selections are made with the large image in thoughts.

The Fighting Hawks need their captain accessible for the NCAA event as they chase this system’s ninth NCAA nationwide championship.

That means generally holding Zmolek out of the lineup — even when he is wholesome sufficient to play.

“He can play,” Jackson mentioned. “He wants to play. So it’s a balance of saying, ‘Hey, what’s right for Bennett to make sure he’s healthy down the stretch?’ Obviously, he’s a captain and a leader for us, and a really good defenseman, so we’d love him in there. But we’re just trying to be prudent about how we manage his health.”

How do they assess Zmolek on a week-to-week foundation?

“We’re just talking to Bennett a lot, talking with (athletic trainer) Mark Poolman and figuring out what we think will give him the best chance to play,” Jackson mentioned. “We want to be smart about having him available for our biggest games down the stretch.”

Zmolek has stayed remarkably sharp, regardless of his lack of observe reps.

The 6-foot-2, bodily punishing defender has a purpose and three factors in 24 video games this season. He has a plus-15 ranking, which is second on the workforce to Jake Livanavage’s plus-20.

He’s averaging 17:07 of ice time and is commonly known as upon in defensive conditions like penalty killing. Zmolek performed practically 20 minutes final Friday as UND labored to shut out a 1-0 win over Miami.

“He’s known so much as a shot blocker and a defender,” Jackson mentioned. “But I think if you really watch him closely, he’s one of our best guys breaking out pucks. He’s a really good passer. He’s really cerebral. He’s smart. He has good hockey sense. On the breakouts, he hits the middle a lot. On the offensive blue line, he’s not doing anything fancy, but he keeps plays alive by extending plays with little, short passes.

“He has actually good hockey sense. He’s priceless each defending and offensively. How does he keep so sharp? I’m unsure. I simply suppose he has such a superb really feel for the sport that he is aware of what’s round him. The recreation appears gradual for him, as a result of he at all times is aware of what the following play is.”

Zmolek watches practices from an aisle seat in Section 113 or Section 114 when he is unable to take part. He additionally makes use of video periods to help his preparations.

“That’s why he’s our captain,” UND senior ahead Dylan James mentioned. “He battles through all his pain and never complains. It’s the kind of leadership we thrive off of. He’s been great about it. Obviously, I feel bad for him. He can’t really practice with us. But we’re just glad he can still play.”

Zmolek is one in all six UND gamers who will probably be acknowledged throughout Senior Night on Saturday. The others are James, ahead Ben Strinden, ahead Ellis Rickwood, ahead Tyler Young and goaltender Gibson Homer.

“A lot of different emotions,” Zmolek mentioned. “It’s been a long ride, but it’s definitely been a fast one. I’m kind of sad to see it’s already here.”

Zmolek mentioned he hasn’t given a lot thought but as to if his hockey profession will lengthen past this season. He’s extra targeted on a workforce that is 23-7 and ranked No. 3 nationally.

“Obviously, we have a lot of freshmen that came in,” Zmolek mentioned. “We have a lot of very good players with them. But I would say the biggest thing, especially with the new coaching staff as well, is all the players buying into their roles. No one is being too selfish or anything like that.”

UND instituted a brand new course of for its captain vote this season.

Instead of merely submitting votes, the teaching workers had the gamers are available and clarify their votes. Zmolek was chosen to put on the captain’s “C.”

“His presence,” Jackson mentioned as one of many foremost causes listed by his teammates, “who he is, how he handles himself day to day, how he’s truly team-first, his toughness, his commitment to the program. A lot of those things are the key reasons I heard.”

Zmolek is exhibiting these qualities this season, particularly down the stretch.

“He’s a warrior, for sure,” Strinden mentioned. “I admire him a ton. We’ve seen what he can do when he’s fully healthy, and the fact that he can still go impact the game (despite his injury) says a lot about how he is on the ice and his character off the ice, which is going to take him a lot further than just hockey.”

Zmolek began his collegiate profession at Minnesota State. He tallied two objectives and 7 factors as a freshman, however missed his second yr along with his first hip surgical procedure. After that yr, he transferred to UND.

In 2023-24, Zmolek registered eight assists and a team-best plus-17 ranking because the Fighting Hawks received the Penrose Cup as National Collegiate Hockey Conference champions. But he suffered a season-ending hip damage in UND’s season opener final yr.

Without Zmolek, UND went 21-15-2 and missed the NCAA event.

Zmolek is again this season and UND is within the hunt for an additional Penrose Cup. The Fighting Hawks want six factors to safe at the very least a share of the league championship. They’re additionally No. 3 within the NPI rankings and can make a return to the NCAA event.

“It’s been very good, but with that said, we haven’t accomplished anything,” Zmolek mentioned. “It’s been a fun year. Hopefully, we can keep that going.”