Anchorage's Mac Swanson leads University of North Dakota to Frozen Four

Sophomore forward has stepped up his game in second season with Fighting Hawks

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:58am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a hockey player in mid-stride, their stick raised, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, forest green, and metallic silver, capturing the raw athleticism and dynamism of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a University of North Dakota hockey player's explosive energy and movement on the ice.Grand Forks Today

Mac Swanson, a 20-year-old sophomore forward from Anchorage, Alaska, has been a key contributor for the University of North Dakota hockey team, helping lead the Fighting Hawks to the Frozen Four national championship tournament. Swanson has improved his scoring and defensive play in his second season, adding strength and responsibility on the team's second line.

Why it matters

Swanson's progression mirrors his development in junior hockey, where he became a more dynamic offensive player in his second season. His success at the college level is a point of pride for the hockey community in Alaska, which closely follows the achievements of players from the state.

The details

After struggling at times as a freshman, Swanson has stepped up his game in his sophomore season under first-year head coach Dane Jackson. He has 11 goals and 17 assists in 39 games, a major improvement from just 2 goals as a freshman. Swanson has also taken on more responsibility on defense, including penalty killing duties, rounding out his two-way game.

  • Swanson played for the Fargo Force in the USHL before joining UND, where he developed into a more dynamic offensive player in his second season.
  • This season, Swanson has been especially effective in the second half, recording 13 points in his last 15 games.
  • UND will face Wisconsin in the Frozen Four semifinals on Thursday, April 10, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. Alaska time.

The players

Mac Swanson

A 20-year-old sophomore forward from Anchorage, Alaska, playing for the University of North Dakota hockey team. He has improved his scoring and defensive play in his second season with the Fighting Hawks.

Dane Jackson

The first-year head coach of the University of North Dakota hockey team, who has led the Fighting Hawks to a 29-9-1 record and a berth in the Frozen Four.

Brian Swanson

Mac Swanson's father, who had a standout hockey career at Colorado College and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 1999. He has been a valuable sounding board for his son throughout his college career.

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What they’re saying

“I felt confident throughout the year. My goal-scoring has improve and obviously we have a great team this year. It's easy to play with those guys.”

— Mac Swanson, University of North Dakota Sophomore Forward

“There was a lot of uncertainty in the program for the first time in a while. It was definitely a weird time for all of us that were kind of deciding whether to stay or transfer out. But when coach Jackson got the job, we all felt pretty confident in him and his abilities, so we really did think that we would have a good team this year.”

— Mac Swanson, University of North Dakota Sophomore Forward

“He's always there for me. But he never forces anything upon me, which I think is a good thing. He obviously is there for me whenever I need to talk or just a quick text before or after a game. … It's great to have someone who's been through everything I'm going through.”

— Mac Swanson, University of North Dakota Sophomore Forward

What’s next

The winner of the UND-Wisconsin semifinal will advance to the national championship game on Saturday, April 12, 2026.

The takeaway

Swanson's development at UND, from struggling as a freshman to becoming a key two-way player in his sophomore season, is a testament to his work ethic and the support of his family. His success has brought pride to the hockey community in his home state of Alaska.