Minnesota completed a two-game sweep of No. 3 North Dakota on Friday night, beating the Fighting Hawks 5-3 at 3M Arena at Mariucci after a 5-3 win on Thursday, according to UND Athletics and KFGO.
For Grand Forks fans, the sting is in the details. UND Athletics reported that North Dakota outshot the Gophers 45-22 in Friday's finale, a margin that did not show up on the scoreboard. Minnesota freshman Wyatt Cullen scored three times and added an assist, per UND Athletics' game story.
How It Went
UND Athletics reported that Sam Laurila, Cody Croal and Hudson Malinoski scored for North Dakota on Friday. Sophomore goalie Jan Spunar made 17 saves on 22 shots, according to UND Athletics; the Grand Forks Herald's account listed 23 shots.
Thursday's opener was also a 5-3 Minnesota win, which UND Athletics described as the Fighting Hawks' first loss of the season. The Grand Forks Herald called the weekend a "nightmare defensive weekend" for UND in its headline on the sweep.
The Season So Far
- North Dakota is 4-2-0 after the weekend, per UND Athletics.
- It was UND's first sweep away from Grand Forks since Nov. 1-2, 2024, at Cornell, UND Athletics reported.
- UND Athletics also reported it was Minnesota's first sweep of North Dakota since Nov. 4-5, 2011.
Next Up
The Fighting Hawks do not return to Ralph Engelstad Arena right away, based on the schedule UND Athletics and the Grand Forks Herald have published. Their next game is the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game against Michigan State in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, Oct. 31, listed by UND Athletics at 7:07 p.m.
- Opponent: Michigan State
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 31
- Where: Austin, Texas (a destination game, as the Grand Forks Herald has described it)
- Watch and listen: Midco Sports, NCHC.tv and the Fighting Hawks Radio Network, per UND Athletics
- Next home game: Check ahead on the UND schedule page for the date and ticket information for the next game at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
UND's full 2026-27 schedule, with home dates and broadcast details, is on fightinghawks.com.
Sources
- UND Athletics: No. 3 North Dakota falls, 5-3, at Minnesota in series finale
- KFGO: No. 3 North Dakota falls, 5-3, at Minnesota in series finale
- UND Athletics: No. 3 UND suffers first loss of the season at Minnesota
- Grand Forks Herald: Minnesota sweeps UND in nightmare defensive weekend
- UND Athletics: 2026-27 men's hockey schedule
- Grand Forks Herald: UND's next destination game will be in Austin against Michigan State