Sep. 29—GRAND FORKS — Fans can get their first look at the 2025-26 UND hockey team on Tuesday.
The Fighting Hawks will hold a scrimmage at Ralph Engelstad Arena before signing autographs.
Admission is free. The scrimmage will not be streamed.
Doors open at 4:30. The scrimmage begins at 5 p.m. Players will sign autographs on the concourse from about 7-7:45 p.m.
UND has 15 new players on the roster this season under first-year coach Dane Jackson.
What does Jackson want to see during the scrimmage?
“A lot of the things we’ve been talking about — a high work rate, high-level competitiveness, things like that,” Jackson said. “We’re going to be rusty and stuff. But the fact that we’re playing hard and competing and playing with a high pace is important.”
The scrimmage will start with 5-on-5 play for about 20 minutes.
The Zamboni will give players a fresh ice sheet to do power play and penalty kill sessions. The Fighting Hawks also will compete in 3-on-3 and hold a shootout to end it.
Jackson said Monday he doesn’t expect to hold any players out of the scrimmage for precautionary reasons.
The line combinations could be the same ones UND uses for its lone preseason exhibition against the University of Manitoba at 6:07 p.m. Saturday.
“We’re starting to see who is playing well together and what roles they could have,” Jackson said. “That doesn’t mean for sure they’ll be the same for Manitoba. We’re trying to find synergies among guys.”
Jackson, associate coach Matt Smaby and assistant Dillon Simpson have been busy installing systems with the players with limited practice hours.
On Monday, Jackson emphasized to his players that being simple is necessary sometimes.
“As you go through practice, you’re always trying to make great plays,” Jackson said. “Puck management is a big thing for me. The game is fast and chaotic. It’s an imperfect game. Sometimes, we’ve got to take what the game gives us, manage the game a bit and be smart about when we have a chance to make plays.”
