# 2020–21 North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey season

The 2020–21 North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey season was the 80th season of play for the program and the 8th in the NCHC conference. The Fighting Hawks represented the University of North Dakota and were coached by Brad Berry, in his 6th season. The first ten regular season games were played in a "pod" in Omaha, Nebraska at Baxter Arena during the COVID-19 pandemic. North Dakota won its 4th Penrose Cup as regular season champions of the NCHC. UND won the NCHC tournament for the first time in program history.

## Season

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the entire college ice hockey season was delayed. Because the NCAA had previously announced that all winter sports athletes would retain whatever eligibility they possessed through at least the following year, none of North Dakota's players would lose a season of play. However, the NCAA also approved a change in its transfer regulations that would allow players to transfer and play immediately rather than having to sit out a season, as the rules previously required.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Dixon Bowen | Forward | United States | Graduation (Signed with HK Spišská Nová Ves) |
| Casey Johnson | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (Signed with Macon Mayhem) |
| Wes Michaud | Forward | United States | Graduation (Signed with Manitoba Moose) |
| Andrew Peski | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (Signed with Providence Bruins) |
| Colton Poolman | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (Signed with Calgary Flames) |
| Cole Smith | Forward | United States | Graduation (Signed with Nashville Predators) |
| Jonny Tychonick | Defenseman | Canada | Transferred to Omaha |
| Zach Yon | Forward | United States | Graduation |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Brendan Budy | Forward | Canada | 20 | Langley, BC; transfer from Denver |
| Riese Gaber | Forward | Canada | 20 | Gilbert Plains, MB |
| Louis Jamernik | Forward | Canada | 20 | Calgary, AB |
| Tyler Kleven | Defenseman | United States | 18 | Fargo, ND; selected 44th overall in 2020 |
| Cooper Moore | Defenseman | United States | 19 | Cos Cob, CT; selected 128th overall in 2019 |
| Griffin Ness | Forward | United States | 20 | Wayzata, MN |
| Jake Sanderson | Defenseman | United States | 18 | Whitefish, MT; selected 5th overall in 2020 |

## Roster

As of December 31, 2020.

## Standings

2020–21 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | 3/SW | PTS | PT% | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #5 North Dakota †* | 24 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 54 | .750 | 94 | 47 | 29 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 114 | 57 |
| #2 St. Cloud State | 24 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 45 | .625 | 78 | 64 | 31 | 20 | 11 | 0 | 101 | 84 |
| #3 Minnesota Duluth | 24 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 43 | .597 | 72 | 54 | 28 | 15 | 11 | 2 | 84 | 66 |
| #13 Omaha | 24 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 40 | .556 | 79 | 69 | 26 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 85 | 81 |
| Denver | 22 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 31 | .470 | 61 | 60 | 24 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 67 | 66 |
| Western Michigan | 24 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 33 | .458 | 73 | 84 | 25 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 77 | 89 |
| Colorado College | 22 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 18 | .273 | 35 | 77 | 23 | 4 | 17 | 2 | 36 | 79 |
| Miami | 24 | 5 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | .250 | 46 | 83 | 25 | 5 | 18 | 2 | 48 | 89 |
| Championship: March 16, 2021 † indicates conference regular season champion (Penrose Cup) * indicates conference tournament champion (Frozen Faceoff Championship Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and Results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Rank$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular season ||||||||||
| December 2 | 3:35 PM | vs. Miami | #1 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Scheel | W 2–0 | 0 | 1-0-0 (1-0-0-0) |
| December 4 | 7:35 PM | vs. #4 Denver | #1 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Scheel | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 0 | 2–0–0 (1-0-1-0) |
| December 6 | 12:05 PM | vs. #17 Western Michigan | #1 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Thome | W 8–2 | 0 | 3–0–0 (2-0-1-0) |
| December 8 | 3:35 PM | vs. #9 Denver | #1 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Scheel | L 2–3 | 0 | 3-1-0 (2-1-1-0) |
| December 10 | 7:35 PM | vs. #3 Minnesota Duluth | #1 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Scheel | T 2–2 $^{SOL}$ | 0 | 3-1-1 (2-1-1-1) |
| December 12 | 4:05 PM | vs. #13 St. Cloud State | #1 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Thome | L 3–5 | 0 | 3–2-1 (2-2-1-1) |
| December 13 | 4:05 PM | vs. Western Michigan | #1 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Scheel | W 6–3 | 0 | 4-2-1 (3-2-1-1) |
| December 16 | 7:35 PM | vs. #9 St. Cloud State | #4 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Scheel | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 0 | 5-2-1 (3-2-2-1) |
| December 19 | 12:05 PM | vs. #3 Minnesota Duluth | #4 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Scheel | W 2–1 | 0 | 6-2-1 (4-2-2-1) |
| December 20 | 8:05 PM | vs. Miami | #4 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Scheel | W 6–2 | 0 | 7-2-1 (5-2-2-1) |
| January 10 | 8:00 PM | at Colorado College | #3 | Colorado Springs World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | | Scheel | W 3–0 | 0 | 8-2-1 (6-2-2-1) |
| January 11 | 8:00 PM | at Colorado College | #3 | Colorado Springs World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | | Scheel | W 2–1 | 0 | 9-2-1 (7-2-2-1) |
| January 17 | 7:05 PM | at #18 Denver | #2 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Scheel | L 1–4 | 0 | 9-3-1 (7-3-2-1) |
| January 18 | 7:05 PM | at #19 Denver | #3 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Scheel | W 5–1 | 0 | 10-3-1 (8-3-2-1) |
| January 23 | 6:07 PM | Colorado College | #3 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | | Scheel | W 4–1 | 2,008 | 11-3-1 (9-3-2-1) |
| January 24 | 6:07 PM | Colorado College | #3 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | | Scheel | W 5–0 | 1,775 | 12-3-1 (10-3-2-1) |
| January 29 | 6:07 PM | at #9 Omaha | #2 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Scheel | W 6–2 | 1,429 | 13-3-1 (11-3-2-1) |
| January 30 | 6:07 PM | at #9 Omaha | #2 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Scheel | L 4–5 | 1,771 | 13-4-1 (11-4-2-1) |
| February 12 | 7:30 PM | Denver | #2 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | | Scheel | W 3–0 | 2,286 | 14-4-1 (12-4-2-1) |
| February 13 | 6:00 PM | Denver | #2 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | | Thome | W 5–2 | 2,466 | 15-4-1 (13-4-2-1) |
| February 19 | 7:37 PM | #9 Omaha | #2 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | | Scheel | W 4–1 | 2,410 | 16-4-1 (14-4-2-1) |
| February 20 | 6:07 PM | #9 Omaha | #2 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | | Scheel | W 7–1 | 2,514 | 17-4-1 (15-4-2-1) |
| February 26 | 7:07 PM | at #11 Omaha | #2 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Scheel | W 4–2 | 1,979 | 18-4-1 (16-4-2-1) |
| March 5 | 7:30 PM | #12 Omaha | #2 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | | Thome | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 2,723 | 18-5-1 (16-4-3-1) |
| NCHC Tournament ||||||||||
| March 12 | 7:30 PM | vs. Miami* | #2 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota (NCHC quarterfinals) | | Scheel | W 6–2 | 2,763 | 19-5-1 (16-4-3-1) |
| March 15 | 8:00 PM | vs. Denver* | #2 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota (NCHC semifinals) | CBSSN | Scheel | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 2,509 | 20-5-1 (16-4-3-1) |
| March 16 | 7:30 PM | vs. #8 St. Cloud State* | #2 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota (NCHC Final) | CBSSN | Scheel | W 5–3 | 3,157 | 21-5-1 (16-4-3-1) |
| NCAA Tournament ||||||||||
| March 26 | 7:30 PM | vs. #4 AIC* | #1 | Scheels Arena • Fargo, North Dakota (NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals) | ESPN3 | Scheel | W 5–1 | 1,435 | 22-5-1 (16-4-3-1) |
| March 16 | 6:30 PM | vs. #3 Minnesota Duluth* | #1 | Scheels Arena • Fargo, North Dakota (NCAA Midwest Regional final) | ESPNU | Scheel | L 3–2 $^{5OT}$ | 1,722 | 22-6-1 (16-4-3-1) |

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Jordan Kawaguchi | C | 10 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 16 |
| Matt Kiersted | D | 10 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 12 |
| Shane Pinto | C | 10 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 0 |
| Riese Gaber | F | 10 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 10 |
| Collin Adams | LW | 10 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Jacob Bernard-Docker | D | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Grant Mismash | C/LW | 10 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| Brendan Budy | LW | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 17 |
| Jasper Weatherby | C/LW | 10 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Jake Sanderson | D | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Judd Caulfield | F | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harrison Blaisdell | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Mark Senden | C | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Cooper Moore | D | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Griffin Ness | C/RW | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Gavin Hain | F | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Tyler Kleven | D | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Gabe Bast | D | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Jackson Keane | C | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ethan Frisch | D | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Carson Albrecht | LW | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Adam Scheel | G | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Josh Rieger | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Harrison Feeney | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter Thome | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bench | - | - | - | - | - | 10 |
| Total | | | 39 | 64 | 103 | 112 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Adam Scheel | 18 | 1024 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 397 | 4 | .925 | 1.88 |
| Peter Thome | 6 | 172 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 58 | 0 | .879 | 2.79 |
| Harrison Feeney | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.00 |
| Empty Net | - | 0 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 20 | 1200 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 40 | 458 | 4 | .920 | 2.00 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | 5 |
| USA Today | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
USCHO did not release a poll in week 20.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award |
| Jordan Kawaguchi | Lowes' Senior CLASS Award |
| Shane Pinto | AHCA West First Team All-American |
| Matt Kiersted | AHCA West Second Team All-American |
| Jordan Kawaguchi | AHCA West Second Team All-American |
| Shane Pinto | NCHC Player of the Year |
| Adam Scheel | NCHC Goaltender of the Year |
| Shane Pinto | NCHC Forward of the Year |
| Jacob Bernard-Docker | NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year |
| Shane Pinto | NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year |
| Brad Berry | Herb Brooks Coach of the Year |
| Riese Gaber | Frozen Faceoff MVP |
| Adam Scheel | NCHC First Team |
| Matt Kiersted | NCHC First Team |
| Shane Pinto | NCHC First Team |
| Jordan Kawaguchi | NCHC First Team |
| Jacob Bernard-Docker | NCHC Second Team |
| Collin Adams | NCHC Third Team |
| Jake Sanderson | NCHC Rookie Team |
| Riese Gaber | NCHC Rookie Team |
| Collin Adams | Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team |
| Gavin Hain | Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team |
| Riese Gaber | Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team |
| Jake Sanderson | Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team |
| Adam Scheel | Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team |

## Players drafted into the NHL
### 2021 NHL Entry Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | NHL team |
| 3 | 80 | Brent Johnson$^†$ | Washington Capitals |
| 4 | 109 | Jackson Blake$^†$ | Carolina Hurricanes |
| 6 | 182 | Nate Benoit$^†$ | Minnesota Wild |
† incoming freshman