GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- They call the arena in which the University of North Dakota plays its home hockey games Ralph Engelstad Arena, in honor of the former UND goalie of that name who built and donated the finest arena in college hockey.

As far as No. 11 Denver is concerned, it might well be called the House of Pain.

No. 8 North Dakota rolled to its sixth straight win at The Ralph over the Pioneers Friday night, riding a 2-goal game from sophomore center Louis Jamernik and a sterling 22-save from senior goalie Zach Driscoll to a 3-1 victory in the opening game of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference season for both teams.

Denver, one of UND's biggest rivals, is now 2-11-5 in its last 18 games at REA. "I look at their team compared to (their) last team and I think the one thing is, their forward group is outstanding," UND coach Brad Berry said "I think they're a little bit younger on the back end. You can't give that team a lot of time and space. We get up for this team to play because we know how good they are. It's almost more motivation for us, that, we've got to take time and space away, or it could be a long night if we don't.''

Thanks to Driscoll, the Bemidji State transfer, and Jamernilk, who joined the team at mid-season last year, 11,058 fans saw UND extend Denver's streak of frustration at The Ralph.

Jamernik , who one goal last season and one so far this season, doubled his total in a single game while also playing a key role on faceoffs after faceoff ace Connor Ford was injured in the first period and didn't return to the game.

Jamernik tied Riese Gaber for most shots on goal (4) and won 9 of 15 draws (60 percent) to pace the team in that category. And....he added his first two-goal game. He also was used with linemates Mark Senden and Gavin Hain as a checking line to shut out Denver's top line of Carter Savoie, Cole Guttman and Bobby Brink.

Driscoll made the save of the game midway through the first period after UND had jumped to a 2-0 lead on goals by Matteo Costantini and Jamernik 49 seconds apart at 7:02 and 7:51. Driscoll moved at speed of light to his right to get a right toe on a shot by Denver's Cameron Wright that seemed headed into a gaping net.

Wright, a transfer from Bowling Green where he was a teammate of UND's Ford, did take advantage of a turnover late in the first period to score at 19:26 to chop UND's lead in half.

But with Denver pulling goalie Magnus Chrona (20 saves) for an extra attacker with two minutes left in the game, the Pioneers' Carter Mazur was called for goalie interference. On the ensuing power play, Jamernik found the open net from a sharp angle below the faceoff circle with 28 seconds left to clinch the victory for UND (5-3 overall, 1-0 NCHC). UND came into the series ranked 8/10 in national polls, Denver 11/13 in the same polls.

"I'm happy with how our guys battled up,'' team captain Senden said.

Berry said UND responded with a strong game after losing the Hall of Fame Game in Nashville last Saturday, by simplifying their game.

"There's pride in our locker-room, right?'' Berry said. "I love those guys. There's a lot of care in that locker-room, but it was almost too much, trying to do too much out of their own game instead of just doing your job, playing your position, moving pucks, playing your role. And I thought the guys played their role very good tonight.''

NOTES: Named the three stars, in order, by the media were Driscoll, Jamernik and Costantini . . . Both teams had 23 shots on goal with Driscoll stopping 22 for UND, including a point-blast from Savoie in the third period . . . UND was 1-for-5 on the power play with 7 shots, Denver 0-3 with 5 shots.  . . Brady Ferner, the UND junior defenseman from Dakota Dunes, S.D., and a transfer from RPI, picked up his first point in a Fighting Hawks' uniform with his assist on Costantini's goal . . . Denver was penalized twice for too many men on the ice . . . Saturday's rematch begins at 6:07 to conclude the only two meetings between the rivals during the regular season.

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