**Click here for the complete game notes (pdf)**

#1 North Dakota vs. Miami
Dec. 2, 2020
Baxter Arena
3:35 pm CT
Live stats

TV
PxP: Alex Heinert
Analyst: Jake Brandt
TV: Midco SportsNet
Web: nchc.tv

RADIO
PxP: Tim Hennessy
Radio: 96.1 FM (Flagship) & Home of Economy Radio  Network
Web: FightingHawks.com  

ON TAP
All eight National Collegiate Hockey Conference teams converge on Baxter Arena in Omaha, Neb., for the #NCHCpod, a three-week event that will feature 38 games (10 for most most teams, 8 for Colorado College). 

North Dakota (26-5-4, 16-4-3-2 NCHC last season) enters the pod as the top pick in the league preseason poll and the overwhelming favorite in the early national polls as well. 

UND will face Miami in the season opener, getting two-game series against five different league schools while in the pod. North Dakota will also face the other NCHC "East" schools in Western Michigan, St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth along with two games against Denver, a fellow "West" school in this season's scheduling model. 

BROADCAST INFORMATION
All 38 games in the #NCHCpod will be telecast live on Midco Sports Network, the primary TV home of North Dakota hockey. Alex Heinert does the play-by-play for nine of UND's games, with former Fighting Sioux goalie Jake Brandt handling the color analysis. Ben Holden and Dave Starman will call one of North Dakota's games in the pod as well.  All games will also be available for purchase via streaming on NCHC.tv by buying a pod pass, a team-specific season pass or a full season pass which includes all NCHC games. See nchc.tv for pricing structures.

All UND men's hockey games, home and away, can be heard on stations across the UND Sports Home of Economy Radio Network, as well as through the iHeart Radio app. The flagship station for the network is 96.1 FM (The Fox). Longtime broadcaster Tim Hennessy, in his 42nd season as the voice of UND men's hockey, calls the action while Steve Olson will provide color analysis when the season resumes regular series play.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow the action live by following @UNDmhockey and @UNDInsider on Twitter. Fans can also read the action via live chat at GrandForksHerald.com with beat writer Brad Schlossman.

SERIES HISTORY
North Dakota has a 17-7-4 all-time record against Miami, including a 3-0-1 record last season. The RedHawks were outscored 21-12 in those games last season. 

POLL POSITION
Four NCHC teams are ranked in this week's USCHO.com poll once again. UND sits atop the poll with Minnesota Duluth third and Denver fifth. Western Michigan is 17th with St. Cloud State, Omaha and Colorado College all receiving votes. 

HAWK ON HAWK CRIME
Jordan Kawaguchi has done the most damage against the Miami RedHawks in his career, potting five goals and adding 10 assists for 15 career points against Miami.  

MIAMI MATT
Matt Kiersted piled up five points Jan. 17-18 at Miami. It started with a career-high-tying three-assist game on Friday and he added two more on Saturday, helping on both the game-tying and game-winning goals. He now has 11 career points against Miami in eight games.

PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Jordan Kawaguchi, Matt Kiersted and Jacob  Bernard-Docker were all named to the 2020 NCHC Preseason All-Conference Team, making up half of the squad. The trio is part of a stacked lineup returning to UND, looking to build on a 26-win season a year ago. 

CAPTAIN KAWA
Jordan Kawaguchi was selected as the captain of the 2020-21 team. The returning Hobey Hat Trick finalist goes into his senior season as the leading returning scorer in the country from last season. He's joined in the leadership group by four other assistant captains: defenseman Matt Kiersted (2nd season), defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker, forward Mark Senden and forward Jasper Weatherby (all 1st season). 

PENROSE RIGHTS
North Dakota won its third Penrose Cup this past season, tied for most
All-time Penrose Cup (NCHC regular season champ) winners below
2020    North Dakota
2019    St. Cloud State
2018    St. Cloud State
2017    Denver
2016    North Dakota
2015    North Dakota
2014    St. Cloud State

LOTS COMING BACK
Top Returning Scorers in the NCAA
(2019-20 Points)
45 – Jordan Kawaguchi, North Dakota
44 – Nick Abruzzese, Harvard
44 – Tyce Thompson, Providence
43 – David Farrance, Boston University
42 – Alex Newhook, Boston College

Most Returning Goals, 2020-21 Roster
96 – North Dakota
96 – Bowling Green
93 – Minnesota
90 – Minnesota Duluth
86 – Michigan Tech
84 – Denver
84 – Providence
83 – Arizona State

NASHVILLE NEXT YEAR
The Coronavirus pandemic wiped out the scheduled October meeting in Nashville with Penn State. That game has been rescheduled for the new date of Saturday, October 30, 2021 at Bridgestone Arena, home of the NHL's Nashville Predators. 

PAIR OF DRAFTEES JOIN
Freshmen Jake Sanderson (5th overall) and Tyler Kleven (44th overall) join UND this season, giving the Fighting Hawks 12 NHL draftees on its roster. There is a strong Ottawa Senators flavor on the team with these two joining Jacob Bernard-Docker (2018- 26th overall) and Shane Pinto (2019- 32nd overall) as fellow Ottawa prospects. 

GOOD HOSTS
North Dakota will be the host school for the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four in Las Vegas, Nev., (T-Mobile Arena) and the 2023 and 2025 NCAA Regionals at SCHEELS Arena (Fargo, N.D.), announced in October by the NCAA. This adds to UND's long resume of hosting NCAA events, including this coming season's NCAA Midwest Regional in Fargo. North Dakota has previously hosted NCAA Regionals in 2015, 2017 and 2019 at SCHEELS Arena, 2006 at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks and 2018 at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., in the past 15 years. 

OFF TO THE PROS
North Dakota again sent several players to the professional ranks after last season, all four coming on free agent deals. Colton Poolman inked with the Calgary Flames with the NHL while Cole Smith signed with the Nashville Predators organization. Westin Michaud signed with the Manitoba Moose, the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets and Dixon Bowen signed on to play in Finland. 

**Click here for the complete game notes (pdf)**