This Week in NCHC Hockey: After nearly a year away, Fighting Hawks ‘grateful to be back’ at Ralph Engelstad Arena

The venue seats 11,634 fans, and it’s known widely among college hockey circles as one of the toughest places for a visiting team to play.

A year ago, North Dakota was atop college hockey and one of the favorites to succeed in the postseason tournament. The Fighting Hawks were readying to host an NCHC first-round series when the college hockey season was abruptly ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This weekend will mark North Dakota’s first home series this season at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

This Week in WCHA Hockey: Ferris State staying upbeat, working to grow through difficult 2020-21 season

It is tough to remain competitive through all of the adversity the 2020-21 season has thrown at teams.

Yet, Bob Daniels’ Ferris State squad is trying to do just that. The Bulldogs are 1-8-0 on the season after earning a win on Saturday over Trine.

Right now, his team’s record is the least of what Daniels is trying to focus on.

This Week in Hockey East: Rapidly-improving Connecticut team making waves with added experience, talent

Building and continuously rebuilding a college sports program is easily the greatest challenge that every coaching staff faces.

Success, particularly in college hockey, often leads to NHL teams taking notice and players being snatched prior to the conclusion of their four-year college career, often leaving significant holes in a lineup.

Three years ago, Connecticut coach Mike Cavanaugh faced exactly that.

This Week in Atlantic Hockey: RIT enduring ’emotional roller coaster’ as 2020-21 season moves forward, but ‘grateful to be playing’

Rochester Institute of Technology has had seven of its scheduled 17 games postposed so far this season, about average for teams in Atlantic Hockey.

The Tigers, who came close to not having a season at all, have had zero players and staff test positive for the coronavirus so far.

Saturday roundup: Sweep completed as Notre Dame defeats No. 1 Minnesota, 2-1; No. 3 BC survives, 2-1, against Merrimack; WMU sweeps No. 4 St. Cloud State

A cutout of coach Gordon Bombay seems to approve as Notre Dame took it to No. 1 Minnesota for the second straight night, sweeping the Gophers in a road series, winning Saturday, 2-1. The Fighting Irish are now 3-1-0 since the start of 2021 (Photo: Jim Rosvold)

This Week in Hockey East: Inconsistent schedule ‘can be weird at times,’ freshman players ‘ready for anything’

This hockey season is likely the weirdest time ever for a freshman to begin their collegiate hockey career.

With tons of regulations, inconsistency on the schedule, and some teams having 10 more games than others, it’s a lot to sort through. For anyone entirely new to college hockey, they have the luxury of not knowing how normal things felt in the before times to compare to.

This Week in WCHA Hockey: Alabama Huntsville establishing identity by ‘willing to change and do things a different way’

College hockey didn’t start back up again until November, and even then, Alabama Huntsville was on the road for its first six games.

So last Friday and Saturday’s games were a cathartic experience for the Chargers: a sweep of Ferris State in their first home games in almost 11 months.