Oct. 7, 2011 • 7:37 pm CT • Ralph Engelstad Arena (11,634) • Grand Forks, N.D.
RADIO: 96.1 The Fox (KQHT-FM) • WEBCAST: www.fightingsioux.com
TV: Fighting Sioux Sports Network, Fox College Sports Central, DirecTV 617, MidcoSN3

THIS WEEK: Third-ranked North Dakota hosts the 15th annual Ice Breaker on Friday and Saturday at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

The tournament field also includes fifth-ranked Boston College, Air Force and Michigan State.

BC and MSU will square off on Friday afternoon at 4:07, with the Sioux meeting Air Force in the 7:37 p.m. nightcap.

Saturday's games will feature winner vs. winner and loser vs. loser, with UND guaranteed to play in the 7:37 game. The afternoon game will start at 4:07 p.m.

MEDIA COVERAGE: All Fighting Sioux men's hockey games, home and away, can be heard on 96.1 FM (The Fox) and on stations across the Fighting Sioux Hockey Network. Veteran broadcaster Tim Hennessy is in his 31st season as the voice of the Fighting Sioux. He is joined during home games by color analyst Steve Olson.

All four Ice Breaker Tournament games will be broadcast live on the Fighting Sioux Sports Network, Fox College Sports Central, DirecTV (617 Friday, 623 Saturday) and MidcoSN3. Consult your local listings for details. WDAZ-TV Sports Director Pat Sweeney calls the action with former UND assistant coach Jim Scanlan providing analysis.

Video webcasts for each game can also be purchased at FightingSioux.com, where FREE audio and live stats are also available.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Receive real-time updates during all UND men's hockey games at www.twitter.com/undmhockey.

Fans can also follow the action via live chat at FightingSioux.com, hosted by Grand Forks Herald hockey writer Brad Schlossman and UND media relations director Jayson Hajdu during every home and road game.

TICKET INFORMATION: Tournament packages and single-day tickets remain available for the Ice Breaker Tournament. Tournament packages cost $70 (adult), $40 (youth) and $30 (UND students). Single-day tickets, which include both games played that day, are also available and cost $40 (adult), $25 (children), and $17 (UND student) each.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-745-3000, logging on to ticketmaster.com or by visiting the UND Ticket Office at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.

The REA box office is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

ABOUT THE ICE BREAKER: The tournament field of Air Force, Boston College, Michigan State and North Dakota boasts a combined 14 NCAA championships, led by UND's seven.

Air Force defeated Simon Fraser 8-3 on Saturday and Michigan State defeated Western Ontario 6-1 on Monday, while BC will make its season debut this weekend.

UND has previously participated in the Ice Breaker Tournament in 2008-09 (Boston) and 2000-01 (Ann Arbor, Mich.), going 0-2-2.

MSU, which won the inaugural Ice Breaker in 1997, and BC are each making their fourth appearance in the tournament. Air Force is making its second appearance.

LEGENDS WEEKEND: This weekend also marks the annual Legends Weekend for the UND men's hockey program.

The Legend's Wall at Ralph Engelstad Arena honors former Sioux who have enjoyed successes both on and off the ice.

The 2011-12 inductees include Ralph Engelstad (1948-50), Bob May (1949-51, Coach 1957-59), Dan McKinnon (1947-50) and Bill Reichart (1954-57).

ABOUT AIR FORCE: The Falcons made their season debut with exhibition wins over Simon Fraser (8-3) and McGill (5-4) on Saturday and Monday, respectively.

Air Force was the nation's sixth-highest scoring team last season, average just over 3.6 goals per game. The Falcons' power play ranked fifth nationally at 24.0 percent.

Air Force was also the nation's least-penalized team last season, averaging 8.9 penalty minutes per game.

Junior forwards Kyle De Laurell (10-23--33) and John Kruse (11-18--29) are the team's top returning scorers, while senior defenseman Scott Mathis (8-19--27) anchors the blue line.

Goalie Jason Torf appeared in 33 games as a freshman last season, going 16-9-3 with a 2.87 goals against average and a .909 save percentage.

air force Coaching Staff: Head coach Frank Serratore (Bemidji State '82), an assistant at UND from 1987 to 1989, is in his 15th year at Air Force and is 234-239-43 (.495). In 18 seasons overall as a collegiate head coach, he is 283-331-52 (.464).

Serratore is assisted by Andy Berg (USAFA '03) and Mike Corbett (Denver '96).

SERIES HISTORY: Friday's game will mark the first meeting between UND and Air Force since the 1988-89 season.

The Sioux have won all three meetings between the programs by a combined score of 23-3.

The other two meetings came during the 19801-81 campaign.

UND'S LAST ACTION: The Sioux defeated Regina 8-1 in exhibition action last Saturday night in Grand Forks.

Sophomore forward Brock Nelson (2g) (Warroad, Minn.) and junior defenseman Joe Gleason (1g, 2a) (Edina, Minn.) led an offensive attack that saw 14 different players hit the scoresheet. The line of Nelson, Danny Kristo (1g, 1a) (Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Corban Knight (2a) (Jr., High River, Alberta) accounted for six points.

Goalies Aaron Dell (Jr., Airdrie, Alberta), Brad Eidsness (Sr., Chestermere, Alberta) and Tate Maris (Jr., Denver, Colo.) split time in goal and combined to stop 14 of 15 shots

RANK AND FILE: UND is ranked No. 3 in both the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine preseason polls (page 3), receiving first-place consideration in both.

The Sioux were also ranked No. 6 in the College Hockey News' Preseason Top 10 poll (page 3).

UND was voted No. 2 (four first-place votes) in the 41st annual Grand Forks Herald WCHA Coaches Preseason Poll and No. 3 (two first-place votes) in the 93X (Duluth) WCHA Media Preseason Poll.

In both polls, Sioux freshman forward Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor, Calif.) was named the preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year:

2011-12 Grand Forks Herald
WCHA Coaches Preseason Poll

Rk Team (1st place votes) Points
1. Denver (7) 115
2. North Dakota (4) 110
3. Colorado College (1) 105
4. Nebraska Omaha 89
5. Minnesota Duluth 75
6. Minnesota 74
7. St. Cloud State 61
8. Wisconsin 54
9. Alaska Anchorage 36
10. Bemidji State 30
11. Minnesota State, Mankato 29
12. Michigan Tech 14

POY: Jaden Schwartz, So., F, Colorado College

ROY: Rocco Grimaldi, F, North Dakota

2011-12 93X Radio
WCHA Media Preseason Poll

Rk Team (1st place votes) Poll Avg.
1. Denver (16) 11.35
2. Colorado College (7) 10.54
3. North Dakota (2) 10.31
4. Nebraska Omaha (1) 8.31
5. Minnesota Duluth 8.12
6. Minnesota 7.73
7. Wisconsin 5.54
St. Cloud State 5.54
9. Alaska Anchorage 3.85
10. Bemidji State 2.92
11. Minnesota State 2.12
12. Michigan Tech 1.69

POY: Jason Zucker, So., F, Denver

ROY: Rocco Grimaldi, F, North Dakota

COY: Mel Pearson, Michigan Tech

Senior defenseman Ben Blood (Plymouth, Minn.) and junior goalie Aaron Dell (Airdrie, Alberta) were both named to the 93X preseason All-WCHA team.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The Sioux are 40-18-7 (.669) all-time in season openers. UND skated to a 5-5 overtime tie at Alaska Anchorage last season at the Kendall Hockey Classic.

The Sioux have lost just three of their last 16 season openers (10-3-3).

UND has won nine straight home openers, with the last loss coming in 2001-02 in the first game played in the new Ralph Engelstad Arena.

SUPER MARIO: Senior forward Mario Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) was named team captain at UND's annual preseason media day luncheon.

In 43 games last season, Lamoureux established career highs in points (17) and assists (14) while earning his second straight WCHA All-Academic selection. In 109 career games, Lamoureux has amassed 13 goals and 22 assists. UND is 12-0-0 over the last three years when Lamoureux scores a goal.

Interestingly, Lamoureux's younger sister, Jocelyne, was named captain of UND's women's team earlier this month.

Mario Lamoureux joins Steve Johnson (1987-88), Jeff Panzer (2000-01) and Andy Schneider (2003-04) as the only Grand Forks natives to captain their hometown team.

Senior defenseman Ben Blood (Plymouth, Minn.), junior defenseman Andrew MacWilliam (Calgary, Alberta) and junior forward Corban Knight (High River, Alberta) were named assistant captains.

A BANNER SEASON: The Sioux added plenty of hardware to their collection last season, winning their second MacNaughton Cup in three years as WCHA regular season champions, as well as their second consecutive Broadmoor Trophy as WCHA playoff champions.

UND's 15 conference titles are more than any other program in the country. The playoff title was the 10th in program history for the Sioux, who also became the first team to repeat at the WCHA Final Five since Minnesota in 2003-04.

The Sioux then won the NCAA Midwest Region title in Green Bay, Wis., with wins over Rensselaer and Denver. Those wins gave UND its fifth NCAA Frozen Four berth in seven years, and the 19th in program history.

WE WERE MERELY FRESHMEN: Last Friday, College Hockey News named UND's incoming freshman class one of the top nine recruiting classes in the nation.

UND welcomes 10 freshmen to the lineup this season, including forwards Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor, Calif.), Connor Gaarder (Edina, Minn.), Mark MacMillan (Penticton, British Columbia), Brendan O'Donnell (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Michael Parks (St. Louis, Mo.), Stephane Pattyn (Ste. Anne, Manitoba) and Colten St. Clair (Gilbert, Ariz.), and defensemen Nick Mattson (Chanhassen, Minn.), Dan Senkbeil (Fremont, Calif.) and Andrew Panzarella (Washington, D.C.).

It is UND's largest freshman class since 2005-06, when the Sioux brought in 13 freshmen. That class included future NHLers Jonathan Toews, T.J. Oshie, Taylor Chorney and Brian Lee, as well as 2006-07 Hobey Baker Award winner Ryan Duncan.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS: The Sioux welcome back 14 letterwinners from last year's team that advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four, including six forwards, five defensemen and all three goalies.

UND, however, must replace six of its seven top scorers from last year, including NCAA goal-scoring leader and Hobey Baker Award finalist Matt Frattin, and two-time All-America defenseman Chay Genoway.

The Sioux graduated seven seniors last year, and lost two juniors to the professional ranks.

FORWARD THINKING: Despite the loss of significant production to graduation and the professional ranks, the cupboard is hardly bare.

Up front, UND returns several key forwards from last year's national semifinalist team, including juniors Corban Knight (High River, Alberta) and Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, Minn.).

Knight is the team's top returning scorer after amassing a career-high 44 points (14g, 30a) as a sophomore, while Kristo, the 2009-10 WCHA Rookie of the Year, racked up 23 points (7g, 16a) in his last 17 games.

FEELING BLUE: The Sioux also return a deep and experienced blue line, anchored by senior Ben Blood (Plymouth, Minn.), who led the NCAA with a plus-32 plus/minus rating last year.

Blood is joined by fellow veterans Derek Forbort (So., Duluth, Minn.), Joe Gleason (Jr., Edina, Minn.), Andrew MacWilliam (Jr., Calgary, Alberta) and Dillon Simpson (So., Edmonton, Alberta).

FEELING A DRAFT: The 2011-12 Sioux roster boasts 15 National Hockey League draft picks, including 2011 selections Rocco Grimaldi (Fr., Rossmoor, Calif.) and Dillon Simpson (So., Edmonton, Alberta).

Grimaldi was taken in the second round (33rd overall) by Florida, while Simpson went in the fourth round (92nd overall) to Edmonton.

Simpson's father, Craig, won two Stanley Cups with Edmonton during his 10-year NHL career. He is now the lead color analyst on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) Hockey Night in Canada.

UND's current collection of draft picks features two 1st-rounders (Derek Forbort, Brock Nelson), two 2nd-rounders (Rocco Grimaldi, Danny Kristo), three 4th-rounders (Ben Blood, Mark MacMillan, Dillon Simpson), four 5th-rounders (Brad Eidsness, Corban Knight, Michael Parks, Derek Rodwell), two 6th-rounders (Nick Mattson, Brendan O'Donnell) and two 7th-rounders (Joe Gleason, Andrew MacWilliam).

DUDE, WE'VE GOT A DELL: Junior goalie Aaron Dell (Airdrie, Alberta) entered the 2010-11 season having started only five games as a freshman, with mixed results. He ended his sophomore campaign as a record-breaking All-American and the NCAA goaltending champion.

Dell won a school-record 30 games, toppling Ed Belfour's 24-year old school record, and led the NCAA in goals against average (1.79) and shutouts (six).

Dell also put together a midseason shutout streak that was the second-longest in UND history.

Dell enters the season as UND's career leader in goals against average (1.79) and save percentage (.923). He was named to the 93X preseason All-WCHA team.

HOME SWEET HOME: UND averaged a school-record 11,756 in 20 home games at the 11,634-seat Ralph Engelstad Arena last season, breaking the previous record record of 11,719 set in 2008-09.

Six of the top 10 largest crowds in Sioux hockey history occurred last season:

Rk. Date Opponent Attend.
1. Feb. 9, 2002 Minnesota 12,189
2. Feb. 26, 2011 Bemidji State 12,114
3. Feb. 12, 2011 Alaska Anchorage 12,090
4. Nov. 8, 2003 Minnesota 11,986
5. Jan. 15, 2011 Minnesota 11,975
6. Dec. 4, 2010 St. Cloud State 11,941
7. Feb. 11, 2011 Alaska Anchorage 11,927
8. Feb. 16, 2008 Denver 11,926
9. Jan. 22, 2011 Nebraska Omaha 11,916
10. Oct 17, 2009 Minnesota 11,898

UND went 8-1-1 in the aforementioned 10 games, with the lone loss coming on Feb. 9, 2002 against Minnesota.

A KNIGHT'S TALE: Center Corban Knight enjoyed a breakout season as a sophomore, ranking second on the team in points (44) and assists (30) after notching 13 points as a freshman.

Knight has also won a team-leading 59.9 percent of his faceoffs, breaking Zach Parise's single-season school record of 59.1 percent.

PRO-FILES: When Matt Frattin signed with Toronto one day after UND's 2010-11 season came to an end, he became the first of nine members of the 2010-11 Fighting Sioux to sign a professional contract.

Fellow seniors Chay Genoway (Minnesota), Brad Malone (Colorado) and Jake Marto (Winnipeg) also signed with NHL clubs, as did juniors Jason Gregoire (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Brett Hextall (Phoenix).

Two other seniors, Derrick LaPoint (Reading) and Evan Trupp (Cincinnati) inked East Coast Hockey League contracts, while another senior, Brent Davidson, signed with Boras HS in the Swedish professional league Hockey Allsvenskan.

TRADITION NEVER GRADUATES: Those nine players hope to continue UND's reputation of developing NHL standouts.

Sixteen former Sioux played in the NHL last season, including: Jason Blake (Anaheim), Taylor Chorney (Edmonton), Mike Commodore (Columbus), Matt Frattin (Toronto), Matt Greene (Los Angeles), David Hale (Ottawa), Ryan Johnson (Chicago), Brian Lee (Ottawa), T.J. Oshie (St. Louis), Zach Parise (New Jersey), Chris Porter (St. Louis), Matt Smaby (Tampa Bay), Drew Stafford (Buffalo), Jonathan Toews (Chicago), Chris Vande Velde (Edmonton), and Travis Zajac (New Jersey).

An additional five former Sioux coached in the NHL, including Phoenix head coach Dave Tippett, Columbus assistant Brad Berry, Buffalo assistant James Patrick, Minnesota assistant Rick Wilson and Phoenix video coach Steve Peters.

Other former Sioux involved in the NHL ranks last season included Minnesota Wild Director of Player Development Brad Bombardir, Columbus Blue Jackets Assistant General Manager Don Boyd, and Chicago Blackhawks radio analyst Troy Murray.

The 2011-12 season will open with 13 former Sioux dotting NHL rosters, including: Jason Blake (Anaheim), Taylor Chorney (Edmonton), Mike Commodore (Detroit), Matt Frattin (Toronto), Matt Greene (Los Angeles), Brian Lee (Ottawa), T.J. Oshie (St. Louis), Zach Parise (New Jersey), Chris Porter (St. Louis), Matt Smaby (Anaheim), Drew Stafford (Buffalo), Jonathan Toews (Chicago), and Travis Zajac (New Jersey).

CALLING ALL CAPTAINS: Zach Parise was named captain of the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, joining Chicago's Jonathan Toews as former Sioux currently wearing the 'C' for their NHL clubs.

Additionally, defenseman Matt Greene serves as an assistant captain for the Los Angeles Kings.

Toews and Parise were also recently named to TSN's Top 50 NHL Players list. Toews was ranked No. 8 and Parise was ranked No. 26.

ROARING 20's: With 32 wins last season, UND has reached the 20-win plateau in each of head coach Dave Hakstol's first seven seasons behind the Sioux bench.

Hakstol's streak of seven straight 20-win seasons is the second-longest in UND history, behind only John "Gino" Gasparini's 13 in a row (1978-79 to 1990-91). Last season's total of 32 wins was the third-highest in program history.

With 187 wins behind the Sioux bench, Hakstol is closing in on becoming only the third coach in UND history to win 200. The others are Gasparini (392 wins, 1978-94) and Dean Blais (262, 1994-2004).

FOREVER SIOUX: Every member of UND's coaching staff is a graduate of the University of North Dakota.

Head coach Dave Hakstol (1989-92), associate head coach Cary Eades (1978-82), assistant coach Dane Jackson (1988-92) and volunteer assistant Karl Goehring (1998-2001) each played for the Fighting Sioux.

Additionally, nearly every member of the support staff is also a graduate of UND, including director of hockey operations Pat Swanson (2002), athletic trainer and strength coach Mark Poolman (1992), team physician Dr. Greg Greek and media relations director Jayson Hajdu (2000).

~Go Sioux~