Minnesota Duluth dominates North Dakota 5-1 in NCHC semifinal

Fighting Hawks fall short in front of sparse crowd at Ralph Engelstad Arena

Mar. 15, 2026 at 8:32am

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The University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs defeated the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks 5-1 in the semifinal of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) tournament. The game was played in front of just over 9,000 fans at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, North Dakota, as the local university and schools were on spring break, leading to a quieter than usual atmosphere.

Why it matters

The loss ends North Dakota's run at the NCHC Frozen Faceoff, but their postseason remains alive as they are a lock for the NCAA tournament. The game highlighted the importance of home-ice advantage and the impact of fan support, as the sparse crowd seemed to affect the Fighting Hawks' performance.

The details

Minnesota Duluth jumped out to a 3-0 lead before North Dakota's Cole Reschny scored to make it 3-1 in the final period. However, the Bulldogs added two more goals to seal the 5-1 victory. North Dakota head coach Dane Jackson and junior defenseman Abram Wiebe acknowledged that the team was not at its best, with Wiebe noting they came out "flat footed" in the first 10 minutes.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 15, 2026.
  • North Dakota and local schools were on spring break at the time of the game.

The players

Dane Jackson

The head coach of the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks hockey team.

Abram Wiebe

A junior defenseman for the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks hockey team.

Callum Arnott

A player for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs hockey team who scored the first goal of the game.

Luke Bibby

A freshman Ontario native who was assessed a slashing minor penalty after a review by the officials.

Keaton Verhoeff

A player for the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks hockey team.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The loss ends North Dakota's run at the NCHC Frozen Faceoff, but their postseason remains alive as they are a lock for the NCAA tournament. Their opponent and regional tournament site will be determined at next Sunday's NCAA Selection Show.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the importance of home-ice advantage and the impact of fan support, as the sparse crowd seemed to affect the Fighting Hawks' performance. Despite the loss, North Dakota remains a lock for the NCAA tournament, setting up an opportunity for them to rebound and make a deep postseason run.