Any competitiveness that exists between the brothers fosters a level of intensity that has been a major contributor to the Sioux in the past few seasons. The connection that brothers have with one another is a resource that can be a factor on and off of the ice. For UND assistant coach Dave Hakstol, the family connection has helped in many ways. It's a thrill playing college hockey with your brother, and maybe that brings a little added passion into the locker room. For the coaching staff, having brothers on the team doesn't significantly change recruiting strategies.
Players often have a different style than the other brother, and develop independently.
The Hales are a good example, with Ryan at forward and David on defense. Still, it never hurts to have a brother to put in a good word. While UND is currently blessed with two brother pairs, there have been other notable combinations. The 1997 National Championship team is especially noteworthy, with two other prominent brother combinations. The Hoogsteen brothers, Kevin and David, were both standout players.