GRAND FORKS — Will Zellers scored 44 goals in the United States Hockey League, 11 more than anyone else.
He won the Player of the Year honor and was a big part of UND’s highly touted recruiting class. But even he was curious how he would transition to the college game.
“It’s not easy coming into college hockey, especially the NCHC,” he said. “I think it’s the hardest college hockey league in the world. . . It was kind of questioning a little bit to see if I could play at this level.”
Yes, he can.
Zellers capped a torrid November by scoring a power-play, overtime winner to give UND a 2-1 victory over Bemidji State in Ralph Engelstad Arena on Saturday night.
The goal completed a two-game sweep for UND, which is now 10-4 through two months of the Dane Jackson era.
“He’s got a lot of confidence,” Jackson said. “He’s willing to attack guys 1-on-1. He gets inside. He’s got a little, I would say, Jackson Blake. Jackson Blake would attack guys. If guys were flat-footed a little bit, he would attack the triangle. Some guys you don’t really encourage that, but his risk-reward is good. He understands when he’s got to chip a puck or protect it, but when he’s confident to attack at guys, he plays inside, he shoots and follows.”
UND freshman Cole Reschny drew a holding penalty on Bemidji State’s Kirklan Irey with 2:21 left in overtime. It was UND’s first power-play chance of the game.
Before the faceoff, Reschny told Zellers he would camp on top of the crease and be ready for a backdoor pass. Reschny won the faceoff clean and went to his spot.
“I tried to get it to him,” Zellers said.
Bemidji State defenseman Maxon Vig blocked the pass — it snapped his stick — but the puck trickled back to Zellers.
He quickly snapped it just inside the post on Bemidji State goaltender Max Hildebrand to win it just 10 seconds into the power play.
“I got a lucky bounce,” Zellers said. “It came right back to me. When I see that, I’m just going to close my eyes and shoot 100% of the time.”
After scoring, Zellers skated to the corner and yelled a few words.
“I don’t know if I can say what we were talking about,” Zellers said. “Just a lot of emotion, a lot of happiness. It’s not easy to play a team like that two nights in a row. It’s really hard to sweep in college hockey. For us to get that under our belt at this time was crucial for us.”
Zellers scored seven goals in seven November games. No rookie in the country scored more goals in the month.
He now has nine goals on the season. Only two freshmen in the country have more — Maine’s Justin Poirier (11) and Michigan State’s Porter Martone (10).
“I’m trusting my instincts more, trusting my shot more,” Zellers said. “There’s confidence from the coaches, going out there and letting me play my game, trusting me, letting me know when I’m making bad plays, but also giving me a tap and letting me know I’m doing a good job.”
UND’s Dylan James looks for the puck as Bemidji State goalie Max Hildebrand defends in the third period Saturday.
Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald
UND improved to 6-2 in nonconference play with one non-National Collegiate Hockey Conference series left — a two-game set against Mercyhurst on Jan. 2-3.
Bemidji State dropped to 9-7-2 overall and 0-6 against NCHC teams this season. St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth also swept the Beavers.
UND freshman goaltender Jan Špunar, starting both games on a weekend for the first time, stopped 33 of 34 shots to improve to 6-0. He’s the first UND goaltender to start a career 6-0 since Jordan Parise in 2003-04.
Ben Strinden stayed red hot, scoring the game’s first goal. He tallied 12 points in November. Only one player in the country had more points in the month — Quinnipiac freshman Ethan Wyttenbach tallied 14.
“He’s been amazing,” Zellers said of Strinden. “I think it was only a matter of time. Watching him in bantam, watching him at Muskegon and watching him the past three years, I feel like it was only a matter of time before he was going to have his breakout season. He’s such an unbelievable player, so smart with the puck, really has a good goal-scoring touch. It’s really come into play this past month and the rest of this year. He’s been unbelievable and a key asset to us so far.”
UND’s Ben Strinden and Bemidji State’s Oliver Peer compete for the puck Saturday. Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald
Strinden started UND’s scoring for the fourth-straight game with a goal at 6:57 of the second period. Bemidji State answered with a Kasper Magnussen goal at 12:31.
For the eighth consecutive UND-Bemidji State series, one of the games went into overtime — something UND routinely practices.
“We try to work on it weekly, get some 3-on-3 in and talk about some of those ideas of valuing the puck and not taking shots that are low percentage,” Jackson said. “In the end, guys have got to be out there playing. Players play. It’s about the guys stepping up in big moments and not being afraid of the moment.”
Zellers has been comfortable in the spotlight.
“He’s got some special ability to score goals,” Jackson said. “That one was non-scripted, but he finds a way. His stick is so good. You want those guys on the ice and he made a play for us.”
Notes: UND played without four players due to injury. Winger Josh Zakreski missed his eighth-straight game (lower body), center Ellis Rickwood missed his third (lower), defenseman Bennett Zmolek missed his second (lower) and defenseman Jayden Jubenvill missed his first after suffering an injury Friday.
Keaton Verhoeff is upended against Bemidji State on Saturday.
Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald
