GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota hockey program will open the 2022-23 season ranked No. 4 in the national polls, as the DCU/USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls were released on Monday.
It marks the third straight season that North Dakota has been inside the top-10 to begin the season, with the Fighting Hawks looking to claim their fourth straight NCHC crown.
Defending national champion Denver headlines both polls as the top team, while Minnesota, Minnesota State and Minnesota Duluth rounding out the top-5 with UND.
Entering the season, UND is scheduled to play six teams ranked in the polls and three other programs receiving votes.
After ushering in the most newcomers the program had seen since 1973 a year ago, NoDak enters the new season with 20 roster players returning. Headlining the returning group are All-NCHC First Team selection Riese Gaber, who led the team with 15 goals and 37 points, NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year Ethan Frisch, graduate student and captain Mark Senden and fifth year forward Gavin Hain returning from a season-ending injury.
Joining the fray are a trio of transfers – goaltender Drew DeRidder (Michigan State), defenseman Ty Farmer (Massachusetts) and defenseman Ryan Sidorski (Union) as well as four rookies – Jackson Blake, Dylan James, Owen McLaughlin and Ben Strinden.
Last season, the Hawks returned to the NCAA Tournament and reached the top of the NCHC standings for the third straight year with a 24-14-1 overall record and 17-6-1 conference mark to become the first team in NCHC history to win three consecutive Penrose Cups.
North Dakota opens the campaign on Saturday, Oct. 1 with an exhibition slate against Manitoba before beginning the regular season vs. Holy Cross on Oct. 7-8 from the Ralph Engelstad Arena.
