2023-10-14 04:02:59
GRAND FORKS — Hunter Johannes and Cameron Berg grew up cheering for UND as children.
It was a long road to get to there, though.
Johannes started college at American International, then transferred to Lindenwood and ended up at UND this summer. Berg, of West Fargo, played two years at Omaha and transferred to North Dakota this summer.
They made their long awaited debuts in UND uniforms Friday night, and it turned out a lot like their dreams.
Johannes scored two goals, Berg scored one and the Fighting Hawks beat Army 7-2 in the Ice Breaker Tournament to open the season.
“I can’t really put words to it,” Johannes said. “I’m glad I could do it in front of my grandma and grandpa who are from North Dakota. Luckily enough, they were here today. So, this one goes up to them.
“Honestly, I’m just really blessed to be a part of this team and to put the jersey on. I know it’s just the beginning. It’s going to take a lot more hard work from here. But it feels good to get the first one and I’m going to keep my foot on the gas for this team.”
Jackson Blake put on his usual dazzling show, scoring twice and setting up another, while Jayden Perron and Riese Gaber each scored once. Jake Schmaltz added two assists for a multi-point game.
UND will play Wisconsin at 6:07 p.m. Saturday for the Ice Breaker title.
In four previous Ice Breaker Tournaments, UND has won it once — 2015 in Portland, Maine. That team went on to win the NCAA national championship.
“We’ve got a good team coming in here,” UND coach Brad Berry said of the 3-0 Badgers. “Every time North Dakota and Wisconsin play each other, everybody brings their best out. We’re going to bring our best out.”
Johannes got UND started Friday with a shorthanded goal at 3:58 of the first period, sprinting away from the Army defense and tucking it past goalie Gavin Abric.
“There’s a saying that you see things twice in your life — first in your head, then in reality,” Johannes said. “I didn’t know how it was going to happen, but I knew it was going to happen.”
Hunter Johannes scores his first goal at UND on Army goalie Gavin Abric during the 2023 Ice Breaker Tournament in Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Russell Hons / UND athletics
The onslaught came in the second period, when UND scored four times to turn a 1-1 game into a 5-1 lead.
Blake tipped a Bennett Zmolek shot at 4:07. Perron, who had a hat trick in UND’s exhibition win, rifled a Gaber pass to the corner of the net for his first official goal at 9:36
Johannes scored his second on a wraparound at 10:25. And Blake’s second was a highlight-reel one. He cut through the Army defense in the middle of the zone, then ripped a snap shot from the slot into the blocker-side corner of the net.
“The stuff he does, I envy,” Berg said of Blake. “Just the moves he makes, the way he’s able to see the ice. . . nobody really talks about his shot release, but watch his second goal, his pull finding that lane. . . it’s just incredible.”
Berg’s moment came in the third.
With UND on the power play, Blake skated into the high slot before leaving a feed for Berg in the circle. Berg, who scored 18 goals in two seasons at Omaha, hammered it into the net.
“That was exciting for sure,” Berg said. “It was a great play by Blaker. When I scored, I was like, ‘Oh wow, this is so exciting. I can’t believe it.'”
UND forward Cameron Berg smiles after scoring his first goal in a Fighting Hawks uniform against Army on Oct. 13, 2023, in Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Russell Hons / UND athletics
UND goalie Ludvig Persson, who was regularly under siege during his three seasons at Miami, had a quiet night.
He only faced 12 shots — three in the first, three in the second and six in the third. Both Army goals came on the power play — one from Joey Baez, the other from former Duluth East standout Ricky Lyle Jr.
“I thought Ludvig Persson did an outstanding job making some huge, tough saves when we needed them,” Berry said. “We want to take the pressure off him. He’ll make those saves from the outside and a distance, but we don’t want to give up breakaway and outnumbered opportunities. That’s going to be a teaching point.”
UND won its season-opener for the fifth-straight season. Four of them have come against Atlantic Hockey opponents.
It was a special one for UND’s newcomers.
“When we got the first one,” Berg said, “seeing all the fans doing all the chants that I know — that they’ve done since I’ve been a fan — it was crazy just to take it all in.”
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