Feb. 4—GRAND FORKS — Dillon Simpson had an astute observation at practice Wednesday.
The assistant coach mentioned to head coach Dane Jackson that every player on the roster was skating at practice for the first time since October.
Yes, that means Josh Zakreski, too.
Zakreski, a freshman forward who suffered a lower-body injury during the final drill of practice on Oct. 30, has resumed skating with the Fighting Hawks. Zakreski is wearing a non-contact jersey.
“It sounds like, structurally, all of his injuries are healed up,” UND head coach Dane Jackson said. “He’s just got to get back in shape and get feeling good. The doctors and (athletic trainer) Mark Poolman think he’s structurally back to a good, safe level to play. He’s just got to find his game.”
Zakreski won’t play this weekend at Minnesota Duluth. His return to the lineup still might be a while, Jackson said.
“He’s still got a ways to go conditioning-wise and timing-wise,” Jackson said. “But it’s been really nice to see him back.”
Zakreski got off to a great start, tallying a goal and three points in his first six games. He was a regular on the penalty kill and vaulted up the linechart during UND’s first three weekends of the season.
But he got tangled during a drill on UND’s final practice of October. He had surgery in November and has been out of the lineup since then.
The Fighting Hawks began bringing Zakreski on road trips in the second semester, when he was able to walk on his own power.
Jackson also had positive news on center David Klee, who missed both games at Arizona State two weekends ago due to injury.
Klee, a seventh-round San Jose Sharks draft pick, has returned to practice with a non-contact jersey. He is questionable for this weekend’s series.
“It looks like he’s getting fairly close,” Jackson said. “He’s had a good recovery. He’s working hard and it looks like he’s not too far away.”
Klee has two goals and five points in 20 games for UND.
Minnesota Duluth will be without one player this weekend — starting goaltender Adam Gajan left to join Team Slovakia for the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.
But the Bulldogs don’t have any other injuries.
Forward Scout Truman, who missed Saturday night’s game at Denver with an upper-body injury, is expected to return to the lineup Friday night.
“Should be good to go,” Minnesota Duluth coach Scott Sandelin said.
Truman has 10 goals and 13 points in 27 games for Minnesota Duluth. The UMass Lowell transfer is tied for third on the team in goals behind Max and Zam Plante.
