GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The UND men's hockey team has advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four for three years in a row. North Dakota's seven NCAA tournament wins during that three-year stretch are tied with Boston College for the most in the nation. UND's 11 WCHA playoff wins the past three seasons are two more than any other WCHA team.
Now as the Fighting Sioux prepare for the 2007-08 season, they do so with the knowledge that 15 of the players who suited up in last year's Frozen Four are back this season.
The North Dakota roster features four seniors and 10 juniors among its 25 players, making it the most upperclassmen on a Fighting Sioux team since 2004-05, when UND had nine seniors and three juniors on a team that advanced to the NCAA title game.
UND head coach Dave Hakstol looks at the team's experience as a good foundation from which to build.
“Experience doesn't guarantee us anything,” Hakstol said, “but it does give us a base to work from. We have a good combination of skill and work ethic, and our experience level is something we need to take advantage of.”
Hakstol said the team's style of play won't change in 2007-08.
“We use the same overall philosophies that have been with Sioux hockey for many years,” Hakstol said. “We have good players that we look to develop individually throughout the season, but everybody is focused on and dedicated to team accomplishments.”
Following is a position-by-position look at the 2007-08 Fighting Sioux:
In the nets
Back for his senior season is Jean-Philippe Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.). Lamoureux was outstanding for UND in 2006-07, posting a 21-12-4 record along with a 2.42 goals against average and .913 save percentage.
Lamoureux was a workhorse for the Sioux last season, tying Jon Casey's school single-season record with 37 games played. Lamoureux started UND's last 25 games in a row and seemed to relish the workload. In those 25 games, Lamoureux recorded a 17-4-4 record, 2.20 goals against average and .923 save percentage.
Lamoureux enters the season with a chance to move up on the school's top 10 list for most consecutive goalie starts. His 25 consecutive starts currently rank fifth all-time at UND. If Lamoureux starts UND's first game he will move into a tie for fourth place on the school list for most consecutive starts.
Battling for the number two spot behind Lamoureux will be sophomore Anthony Grieco (Brampton, Ontario) and junior Aaron Walski (Fargo, N.D.).
Grieco started seven games as a freshman last season and posted a 3-2-1 record with a 3.49 goals against average and .884 save percentage. He was named WCHA Rookie of the Week on Nov. 7 after leading the Sioux to a 3-1 win and 2-2 tie in a series against St. Cloud State.
Walski only saw action in two games last season, but he has shown continual improvement throughout his first two seasons at UND and is a solid goaltender, Hakstol said.
“We have a good situation with our three goaltenders,” said Hakstol. “But all three have to continue elevating their play. Phil is a proven performer and we will see some pretty high competition between Walski and Grieco, not only to push for that No. 2 spot, but to support Phil
in his No. 1 role.”
On the Blueline
Five of UND's six starting defensemen from last season are back. The group includes senior Robbie Bina (Grand Forks, N.D.), juniors Taylor Chorney (Hastings, Minn.), Joe Finley (Edina, Minn.) and Zach Jones (Lisle, Ill.) and sophomore Chay Genoway (Morden, Manitoba).
The only loss at defense is Brian Lee (2-24-26), who signed with Ottawa of the NHL over the summer after two seasons at UND.
“We have five guys with very good levels of experience coming back,” Hakstol said. “I look at the maturity of the returners as being important, as they need to be good leaders and mentors.”
Chorney continued to improve his strong overall game and offensively improved from three goals and 15 assists as a rookie to eight goals and 23 assists last season. He was named to the All-WCHA second team and was also named an AHCA second team All-American last season.
Bina came back after missing the previous season with a neck injury and became one of the nation's best two-way defensemen by season's end. He led all UND blueliners in scoring last season with 32 points, including 10 goals. Bina was particularly hot down the stretch, notching nine goals and 21 assists in the last 29 games.
Finley is one of the biggest players in college hockey at 6-7 and 245 pounds. He scored just one goal to go with his six assists last season, but the goal was the game winner in a key road win at Colorado College. Finley has continued to improved throughout his two years, Hakstol
said, citing his second-half performance last season as a “springboard” for him in further developing his all-around game.
Hakstol called Jones “a warrior” who will once again be a vital cog on the Fighting Sioux blueline. Jones recorded three assists last season and is one of UND's most physical defensemen. His hustle and aggressive style of play makes it difficult for any opposing player to maneuver in
the Sioux end.
Genoway, whose puck-handling skills provide an added dimension to his game, shuttled between defense and forward early last season because of injuries to other players. He posted 19 points, including five goals, in 43 games, and played on UND's second power play unit.
Although Hakstol said Genoway adapted very well to changing positions, he will not be expected to do the same this season.
“This year he will have the opportunity from day one to settle in on the blueline,” Hakstol said.
Two freshmen newcomers join the Sioux defensive corps this season ? Derrick LaPoint (Eau Claire, Wis.), and local product Jake Marto (Grand Forks, N.D.).
LaPoint, a two-time Wisconsin all-state player at Eau Claire North High School and the 2006 Wisconsin player of the year, played for Green Bay in the USHL last season. There he made an immediate impact, scoring 13 goals and adding 36 assists in 59 regular season games and earning All-USHL and USHL All-Rookie honors.
Marto, a 2005 graduate of Grand Forks Central High, was Mr. Hockey in North Dakota as a high school senior. He played the last two seasons for Omaha of the USHL. Last season Marto scored five goals and added 13 assists in 60 regular season games.
Up Front
UND is deep up front, returning its top two scorers and five of its top seven scorers from a year ago.
The leading returning scorer is 2007 Hobey Baker Award winner Ryan Duncan (Jr., Calgary, Alberta). Duncan had a sensational sophomore campaign, scoring 31 goals and adding 26 assists enroute to becoming the second Hobey Baker Award winner in UND school history.
Duncan won the WCHA scoring title and was named the WCHA Player of the Year in addition to earning first team All-America and first team All-WCHA honors.
Duncan became the first Sioux player to score 30 or more goals in a season since Brandon Bochenski scored 35 in 2002-03. While many of Duncan's goals came as a result of the accuracy and lightning-quick release on his wrist shot, he also has the ability to score in other ways, whether off his backhand or a tip-in.
Also back is one of Duncan's linemates, junior forward T.J. Oshie (Warroad, Minn.). Oshie is a dynamic player with an all-out style of play who scored 17 goals and 35 assists last season. A third team All-WCHA forward last season, Oshie plays on all of UND's specialty teams and has the capability of making highlight-reel plays.
Three forwards departed after last season, seniors Chris Porter (13-17-30) and Erik Fabian (5-6-11) and sophomore Jonathan Toews (18-28-46), who signed with the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks.
Toews combined with Duncan and Oshie last season to play on what some described as college hockey's best line. Fans can expect to see Duncan and Oshie get the chance to play on the same line once again this season.
“They had great chemistry last season,” Hakstol said, “and they will get a good opportunity to play together again this year.”
Two senior forwards ? Rylan Kaip (Radville, Saskatchewan) and Kyle Radke (Bashaw, Alberta) will be among the team's key leaders.
“Rylan Kaip is poised to have a great senior year, and I look for him to have a major impact on our team's performance this year,” Hakstol said.
Kaip was an assistant captain last season and a player whose passionate play has earned him the respect of teammates and fans alike.
He can play center or wing and scored five goals and had seven assists in 38 games a year ago.
Kaip seems to have the knack for scoring goals at key times, and two of his goals last season came in postseason wins.
Radke (two goals, three assists last season) spent most of his first three years at UND playing defense, but he was shifted to forward last season when the Sioux were looking for an added physical presence up front.
In addition to its two senior forwards, North Dakota has six junior forwards that bring a wealth of skills. Joining Duncan and Oshie among UND's junior forwards are Matt Watkins (Aylesbury, Saskatchewan), Brad Miller (Alpharetta, Ga.), Andrew Kozek (Sicamous, British Columbia) and Ryan Martens (Winnipeg, Manitoba).
Watkins is a smooth skater who killed penalties and also saw time on UND's power play units. He scored six goals and had 11 assists last season.
Miller was one of UND's most improved players last season, scoring 10 goals and adding 14 assists last season after being held without a point in 15 games as a rookie.
“Brad has to show consistency, and he has to step into a prominent and dependable role,” Hakstol said.
Kozek, who had five goals and six assists last season, has a big shot and is a threat to score from anywhere. He will be counted on for continued improvement this season, Hakstol said.
“Andrew is a guy that is ready to step to the forefront,” said Hakstol.
Martens had three goals and six assists in 20 games, and he will push for a regular lineup spot this season, Hakstol said.
“Ryan has really dedicated himself through our off-season conditioning program,” Hakstol said. “He has made a statement to his teammates with his hard work.”
Three sophomores ? Chris VandeVelde (Moorhead, Minn.), Darcy Zajac (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Michael Forney (Thief River Falls, Minn.) bring their own sets of impressive skills to UND's forward contingent.
VandeVelde scored three goals and had six assists in 38 games as a rookie, and his role and ice time increased over the course of last season. By season's end he was centering UND's second line. His 6-2, 204-pound frame along with his strength and play-making ability make him tough for opposing forwards to knock off the puck.
Zajac had eight goals and two assists in 41 games, and as a rookie he showed offensive poise and a nose for the net, getting an overtime game-winning goal early in the season at Wisconsin and two goals in the regular-season finale at St. Cloud State.
Forney saw limited action in 16 games and tallied two assists while being slowed by injuries last season. A talented player, Forney will be expected to battle for increased playing time this season.
Four freshmen forwards join the Sioux this season, and they will be expected to make immediate contributions.
“We always expect a lot out of our freshmen,” Hakstol said. “Part of our history is our freshmen coming in and being successful right away.”
This year's group of rookie forwards includes Brent Davidson (Morden, Manitoba), Matt Frattin (Edmonton, Alberta), Brad Malone (Miramichi, New Brunswick) and Evan Trupp (Anchorage, Alaska).
Davidson is a 6-4, 225-pound forward who played last season for Neepawa in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. He led his team in overall scoring with 79 points (36 goals, 43 assists) in 59 games last season and appeared in the MJHL All-Star Game.
Frattin is a 5-11, 193-pound forward who played last season for Fort Saskatchewan in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He had 49 goals and 34 assists in 58 games for the Traders and was named the AJHL Rookie of the Year after leading all rookies and finishing second overall in league scoring.
Malone is a 6-1, 197-pound forward who played last season for Sioux Falls in the USHL. Malone scored 14 goals and had 19 assists in 57 regular season games.
Trupp is a 5-8, 154-pound forward who played the last two seasons for Penticton in the British Columbia Hockey League. Trupp scored 20 goals and had 30 assists in 35 regular season games last season and in 2005-06 was the BCHL Interior Conference Rookie of the Year. He scored 29 goals and had 50 assists in 59 games as a league rookie.
The Schedule
UND opens the regular season on Oct. 13 against defending NCAA champion Michigan State in the US Hall of Fame game and follows that up with a trip to Boston for games against Hockey East schools Boston College and Northeastern on Oct. 19-20.
UND will play two other non-conference opponents this season. Hockey East power New Hampshire comes to Grand Forks for a two-game series on Dec. 28-29 and College Hockey America's Bemidji State will travel to Grand Forks for a two-game set on Feb. 23-24.
“It is a tough, challenging schedule,” Hakstol said. “The WCHA will be as competitive as ever, and this year's non-conference schedule includes several top-ranked teams from throughout the nation.”
