North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol is nothing if not predictable. In his three years with the Fighting Sioux, his slow-starting teams have advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four.
Last season, North Dakota was 7-10-1 at Christmas, but went 17-4-4 in the second half to finish 24-14-5. In 2005-06, the Sioux were 12-7-1 at Christmas before going 17-9 to end 29-16-1.
In both seasons, North Dakota lost in the national semifinals to Boston College.
This year, Hakstol’s squad is playing a familiar early-winter funk, shrugging off losses and remaining optimistic behind a wealth of talent. At 6-4-1 (4-4 Western Collegiate Hockey Association), the Sioux are surviving, but perhaps close to becoming scary good.
“We’d like to be a little bit better, record-wise, but we’re probably right where our record says we are,” Hakstol said. “So we’re OK. We’ve had a tough schedule and we’re just a team that’s looking to get better.”
The No. 8-ranked Sioux, picked to win the WCHA by league coaches, invade Magness Arena this weekend for a two-game series against No. 3-ranked University of Denver.
The Pioneers (9-3, 6-2) might be favored, but are well aware that they could be playing the country’s most dangerous team.
“Every year North Dakota has a great team, and they always come at you hard and have great skill,” DU goalie Peter Mannino said. “They’ll always be in your face, and they’re always in the thick of things in the WCHA, so it’s easy getting up for them.
The Sioux have reigning Hobey Baker Award winner Ryan Duncan, who plays alongside All-American candidate T.J. Oshie, and smooth-skating, playmaking defensemen Robbie Bina and Taylor Chorney. Senior goalie Jean-Philippe Lamoureux is fourth nationally in goals-against average (1.61).
However, North Dakota has yet to win back-to-back games on consecutive nights, and have split each of their four WCHA ser-ies against Michigan Tech, Colorado College, Wisconsin and Minnesota-Duluth.
Still, Hakstol said: “I think we’re off to a pretty good start. Our evaluation is that we’re playing reasonable well. We have to get more consistent. I don’t think we’re playing on a high level on a nightly basis.”
DU has played on a high level in every game but one. The Pioneers admittedly were not prepared a week ago in a 5-1 loss at Colorado College.
If anything, it was a good lesson for a team with 19 underclassmen.
“We weren’t ready to play against a great team and paid the price,” DU sophomore Tyler Ruegsegger said. “That can only help us from here on out. This weekend, we’ll be ready for a big, strong, fast and skilled team that has everything.”
Hakstol is equally as complimentary toward DU.
“Denver is one of the top teams in the country,” he said. “They know how to play the game. They’re good defensively and have a ton of ability offensively. The combination of those two things has led to their success.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
This weekend
NO. 3 DENVER VS. NO. 8 NORTH DAKOTA
What: WCHA two-game series
When: Tonight (7:35 p.m.) and Saturday (7 p.m.)
Where: Magness Arena
Records: UND (6-4-1, 4-4 WCHA) DU (9-3, 6-2)
TV/radio: FSN (tonight only)/KCKK 1510 AM
Notes: For a fee, Saturday’s game can be seen on webcast at . Sioux defenseman Chay Genoway is out with leg injury. DU’s defense is rated third nationally (1.67 goals per game) and North Dakota is fourth (1.91). The Sioux lead this series 126-107-7, but DU is 7-3 in the past 10 meetings.
NO. 4 COLORADO COLLEGE VS. ALASKA-ANCHORAGE
What: WCHA two-game series
When: Tonight (9:35 p.m.) and Saturday (9 p.m.)
Where: Sullivan Arena, Anchorage, Alaska
TV/radio: None/KYZK 103.9 FM
Records: CC (8-4, 8-2 WCHA), UAA (4-3-3, 1-3-2 WCHA)
Notes: CC, 1-4 on the road, begins an eight-game road trip. The Tigers don’t play at home again until Jan. 11-12, when they host Alaska-Anchorage. CC has swept it past two series in Anchorage.
AIR FORCE VS. AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL
What: AHA two-game series
When: Today and Saturday, 5 p.m.
Where: Olympia Ice Center, Springfield, Mass.
Records: AFA (7-4-1, 5-4-1 AHA), AI (2-6-2, 2-4-1 AHA)
TV/radio: None
Note: Air Force is 2-1-1 in its past four games, its best stretch since beginning 2-0.
Mike Chambers
