This weekend, No. 4 UND will start their NCHC slate against No. 18 Minnesota Duluth

Grand Forks, North Dakota – With a 5-2-1 non-conference record, UND finished. The Fighting Hawks split their series with the No. 9 Boston Terriers last weekend. Head coach Brad Berry and graduate forward Carson Albrecht discussed their team’s readiness for NCHC play.

“As a coach and even as a player I think you wish you were 8-0,” said Berry. “The biggest thing for us as a staff and as a team is how we are playing. Our record is our record because we play pretty consistent as a group here.”

“I think we are right where we wanted,” said Albrecht. “Every team wants to win every game, but… that is just not possible. I think We are in a great position right now. We have four great lines that are rolling right now.”

UND faces strong opponents again. After facing Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota State, they will face No. 18 Minnesota Duluth in Duluth for their second straight road series. Coach Berry and the players know they cannot underestimate NCHC opponents.

“We’re excited about getting going here,” said Berry. “It’s always a journey. Twenty-four games of a gauntlet and grind, and it starts this weekend. The good thing is that we have been on the road. We’ve been at home all of October, got on the road to BU (Boston University), so we know what that looks like as far as travel and as far as playing on the road. Now we take it up another level in the NCHC on a road trip.”

“They are obviously a hard team just like us,” said Albrecht on facing Minnesota Duluth. “It’s easy to get up for. So, I’m excited, everyone is excited. If you don’t show up, they will take it to you.”

UND and Minnesota Duluth will drop the puck at 7:07 P.M. on Friday and 6:07 on Saturday.

Friday night at 9:35 p.m., KVRR Sports Extra will air game highlights.