UND Hockey Will Open Season This Weekend

The University of North Dakota team hosts two exhibition games at Ralph Englestad Arena.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Hockey

UND Hockey Will Open Season This Weekend

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The UND hockey team kicks off its 2026-2027 season this weekend with two exhibition contests. The squad will face Augustana on Saturday, October 3, and Manitoba on Sunday, October 4.

Why it matters

Coming off a 29-win campaign last year, the program is looking to build momentum as it pursues its first national championship since 2016. The exhibition matches serve as a key test for the roster as they integrate new players to maintain high performance.

Sophomore forward and team captain Cole Reschny enters the season after recording 6 goals and 29 assists as a freshman. The team secured 29 total wins last season and aims to add to its historic count of eight national titles.

The players

Cole Reschny

He is a sophomore forward and team captain who was selected 18th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames.

Calgary Flames

This is a professional NHL team that drafted Cole Reschny as the 18th overall pick in 2025.

UND hockey team

This collegiate hockey program has won eight national championships and plays its home games at Ralph Englestad Arena.

The details

The UND hockey team plays these exhibition games at the Ralph Englestad Arena, adopting a next man up mentality to fill gaps from last year's roster. Sophomore forward Cole Reschny, who was drafted 18th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2025, leads the team as captain.

2016: The year UND last won a national championship.
2025: Cole Reschny was selected in the NHL draft.
October 3, 2026: UND plays Augustana at 7pm.
October 4, 2026: UND plays Manitoba at 3pm.

Season Trajectory

The program is benchmarking its current development against the 2016 NCAA national championship season to gauge its title viability. Achieving high performance in these exhibition games is critical for establishing a playoff-ready identity and competitive balance early in the season.

Fans can look for impact from Cole Reschny, who accumulated 35 total points as a freshman, to see how his NHL-level talent influences the team's early offensive output. The outcome of these two games will establish the depth chart for the upcoming season.

The takeaway

The team's ability to maintain high performance while integrating new players will be a primary focus during the exhibition series. Establishing strong chemistry early is essential for the team as they aim to compete for a national championship.