Get ready for an exciting weekend of college hockey as UND takes on Mercyhurst! The buzz is building at Ralph Engelstad Arena, and with good reason.
UND coach Dane Jackson is feeling the energy and excitement from his players as they return from their Christmas break. He believes the team is fired up and ready to compete, eager to see how far they can go. But here's where it gets interesting: UND will be missing some key players this weekend due to international competitions and injuries.
The Lineup Shuffle
Defensemen E.J. Emery, Keaton Verhoeff, and Abram Wiebe, along with winger Will Zellers and center Cole Reschny, will be absent as they represent their respective teams at the World Junior Championship. Winger Josh Zakreski is still recovering from a long-term injury, and defenseman Ian Engel's status is uncertain due to an ailment.
However, UND is hopeful that defensemen Jake Livanavage and Abram Wiebe will return in time for the series. They initially planned to arrive just hours before Friday's game, but the team has rearranged their travel plans, aiming for a Thursday night return if all goes well.
A Challenging Schedule
If Livanavage and Wiebe play both games, they'll be facing a grueling schedule. Six games in nine days, with a trans-Atlantic trip in between, is no small feat. Mercyhurst coach Rick Gotkin even joked that they should stay an extra day in Switzerland to rest up!
Mercyhurst's Injury Woes
Mercyhurst is no stranger to injury troubles themselves. In their last regular-season game against Holy Cross, they were missing a whopping 12 players! They had to dress just 10 forwards, and two of them were defensemen. Gotkin, with 38 years of coaching experience, has never seen anything like it.
But there's a silver lining. Mercyhurst expects to welcome back five of those players this weekend, including forward Will Schumacher from Prior Lake, Minn., and backup goalie Salvatore Evola. However, they'll still be without seven other key players, and plan to keep defensemen Tyler Nasca and Jaryd Sych up front.
A Tough Season for Mercyhurst
The injury bug has certainly impacted Mercyhurst's performance this season. They enter the weekend with a record of 0-15-1, struggling to close out games. Gotkin believes their record doesn't reflect their true potential, as their biggest issue has been a lack of goal-scoring.
Despite Mercyhurst's winless record, Jackson is confident his team won't take them lightly. He trusts his players' accountability and professionalism, especially with the importance of these non-conference games for the rankings.
So, will UND's depth and energy carry them through this weekend's series? And can Mercyhurst overcome their injury challenges to put up a fight? Find out as UND takes on Mercyhurst at Ralph Engelstad Arena on Friday and Saturday night. Catch all the action on Midco Sports and The Fox (96.1 FM), or stream it live at NCHChockey.com/tv.
Don't miss this exciting matchup! Who do you think will come out on top? Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below!
