North Dakota Held Annual Hockey Scrimmage
The University of North Dakota men's team hosted a public scrimmage at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Hockey
Approximately 1,000 fans gathered at the Ralph Engelstad Arena to watch the University of North Dakota men's hockey team in an annual public scrimmage. The event served as a platform for coaches to evaluate new line combinations and player performance ahead of the upcoming season.
Why it matters
The scrimmage provided student-athletes the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the arena environment while allowing the coaching staff to assess team chemistry. It also helped the program gauge player development through various 5-on-5, power play, and 3-on-3 drills.
A total of 1,000 fans attended the public event at Ralph Engelstad Arena. Individual performances included two goals from Jack Kernan, one goal from Josh Zakreski, and power play goals from Will Zellers, Cole Reschny, Ollie Josephson, and Connor Davis.
The players
University of North Dakota
This is a public research university located in Grand Forks that competes in NCAA Division I hockey.
Ralph Engelstad Arena
This facility is a premier ice hockey venue located in Grand Forks that serves as the home ice for the university team.
Jack Kernan
He is a student-athlete and forward for the university men's hockey team.
Bauer Dumanski
He is a member of the hockey program currently managing an injury.
The details
The coaching staff utilized the session to cycle through various 5-on-5 play, power play drills, and a 3-on-3 session to test roster depth. While E.J. Emery successfully netted a goal during the 3-on-3 segment, Bauer Dumanski remained sidelined as he recovered from an injury.
Timeline
The annual public hockey scrimmage took place on September 24, 2026.
An exhibition game against Augustana is set for October 3, 2026.
A second exhibition game against Manitoba follows on October 4, 2026.
The regular-season opener is scheduled for October 9, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This scrimmage represents the final stage of private development before the team transitions into competitive exhibition play. These evaluations are critical for establishing the roster hierarchy and securing team chemistry before the official schedule begins at Bemidji State.
The coaching staff's assessment of line combinations during these drills directly determines the depth chart for the October 9 regular-season opener. Monitoring the recovery timeline for injured players like Bauer Dumanski remains essential for understanding the team's defensive rotation strength.
The takeaway
The team's ability to integrate new players into its power play and 3-on-3 rotations will define its competitive edge early in the season. Fans should look for how these tested line combinations perform during the upcoming exhibition games to gauge the squad's readiness.
What happens next
The team will continue its preseason preparations with an exhibition game against Augustana on October 3, 2026, followed by a game against Manitoba on October 4, 2026, and the regular-season opener on October 9, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the current team status, visit the Hockey section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by INFORUM.
