GRAND FORKS, N.D. – (RV) Omaha Hockey (18-15-1, 14-9-1 NCHC) capped off the regular season with a landslide 7-3 victory over No. 18 North Dakota (19-14-2, 14-9-1 NCHC) at Ralph Engelstad Arena on Saturday night.
Omaha clinched home ice for the 2025 NCHC Tournament's Quarterfinal Round and will face North Dakota again on Friday, March 14, Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16, if necessary.
The Mavericks opened the game with two goals in the first period. The frenzy began at 11:11 into the opening period.
Junior defenseman Dylan Gratton sent the puck up along the wall. Senior forward Zach Urdahl grabbed possession in the penalty box side circle and wrapped it along the board in the corner, where it connected with graduate forward Sam Stange.
The Eau Claire, Wis. native saw junior forward Cam Mitchell centering towards the net, where he received the puck and buried it to get the game's first goal.
With under 40 seconds remaining in the opening frame, Stange and Mitchell found themselves all alone in breakaway fashion. Stange gave it to his left, and Mitchell carried it deep into the North Dakota zone.
Mitchell then gave a beautiful feed to Stange, and the graduate forward put it behind goaltender T.J. Semptimphelter's glove side.
The Fighting Hawks made a goaltending change, pulled Semptimphelter, and sent Hobie Hedquist into the contest.
Graduate defenseman and captain Nolan Krenzen buried his first goal of the season in the second period shortly after Harrison Israels netted one.
Omaha led 4-0 with under four minutes in the second period.
North Dakota scored two unanswered, but Israels scored his second of the period and game with just over 20 seconds remaining in the middle frame.
Forward Cameron Berg scored North Dakota's final goal on the power play, the weekend's first on the-man advantage.
Forward Brady Risk got revenge when he scored Omaha's sole power play goal of the weekend to make it 6-3.
North Dakota pulled Hedquist and had an empty net with over six minutes remaining in regulation.
Stange then put the final touch on the scoreboard when he hit an empty net 17:23 into the third period.
Omaha will play in the NCHC's Quarterfinal Round against North Dakota next weekend on Kemp Ice at Baxter Arena.
