UND Fights Back to Tie St. Cloud State in Thriller

Fighting Hawks rally late to earn point in NCHC matchup

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The University of North Dakota hockey team fought back from a multi-goal deficit to earn a 4-4 tie against St. Cloud State on Friday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. The Fighting Hawks have now trailed by multiple goals six times since Halloween, coming back to win or force overtime in five of those games as they continue their impressive run of form.

Why it matters

UND's ability to mount late comebacks has been a defining characteristic of their season, showcasing the team's resilience and determination. However, the frequency of these down-to-the-wire games has left fans on the edge of their seats, raising questions about why the Fighting Hawks keep finding themselves in such tight contests.

The details

Freshman winger Josh Zakreski made an immediate impact in his long-awaited return to the lineup, scoring a goal on his first shift since October. UND relied on its weekly Thursday shootout data to choose its shooters for the game-ending shootout, but was unable to convert. The Fighting Hawks' normally potent power play did not get a single opportunity in the game, as UND coach Dane Jackson noted they need to do a better job of "earning" power plays by creating more chances around the net.

  • Zakreski scored a goal just 2:20 into the game.
  • UND and St. Cloud State went to a shootout to decide the tie.

The players

Josh Zakreski

A 6-foot, 197-pound freshman winger who scored a goal in his return to the lineup after missing time due to a lower-body injury.

Dane Jackson

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

Yan Shostak

The goaltender for St. Cloud State who made a save on UND's Will Zellers in the shootout.

Barrett Hall

A player for St. Cloud State who scored in the shootout.

Tyson Gross

A player for St. Cloud State who scored in the shootout.

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What they’re saying

“It felt great. It was a lot of gratitude for all the people who helped me get back to this position. And it was a heck of a play by Ricky and a heck of a play by Zells, so a lot of credit to them.”

— Josh Zakreski, UND Freshman Winger (Grand Forks Herald)

“Every week, we have a shootout. We chart who scores the most. We go a lot off of that. Cade Littler has been really good. Zells has been really good. It's something we talk about. We say, 'Hey, we don't want you doing fancy moves when we're practicing the shootouts. We want you to try and do a game-like move.'”

— Dane Jackson, UND Head Coach (Grand Forks Herald)

“Completely on me. I can't lose a faceoff that clean. We literally pre-scouted that exact play with that exact line. That's on me. I can't lose that faceoff completely clean there.”

— Ellis Rickwood, UND Forward (Grand Forks Herald)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This game highlights UND's remarkable resilience and ability to mount late comebacks, but also raises questions about why the Fighting Hawks keep finding themselves in such tight, down-to-the-wire contests. The team's power play struggles and reliance on shootout data to choose its shooters are areas that may need further examination as UND continues its push for the Penrose Trophy.