Jean-Philippe Lamoureux has turned shutouts into routine early the season, posting four in his first five games.
Today brings a new challenge for the UND senior goaltender and the defensemen playing in front of him.
Colorado College comes to Grand Forks (7:37 tonight, 7:07 Saturday) with a team that likes to get up and down the rink perhaps more than any team the Sioux have faced this season outside of Boston College.
As opposed to Michigan State, Northeastern and Michigan Tech teams that hang their hat on defense Colorado College is known for its dynamic players who can outgun opponents.
"That's been a trademark of their program to a certain degree," UND coach Dave Hakstol said. "They have guys who can skate, make plays and they have good skill throughout the lineup. They get up the ice very well, and they generate offense."
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The names that highlight the roster are Chad Rau, a junior forward who can snipe the puck; Billy Sweatt, a speedy playmaker; and Scott McCulloch, a big body who is nearly impossible to move from the front of the net.
"It's probably going to be one of the most exciting series we'll play all year," Lamoureux said. "Expect a high-flying team, lots of scoring opportunities and lots of great playmakers. It's going to be a fun series, no question."
Tech's extra inspiration
Michigan Tech had some deeper inspiration while playing against UND last Friday.
Coach Jamie Russell missed the entire week of practice after his 9-year-old son, Ben, fell seriously ill and had to be med-evacted to Milwaukee. Ben's condition had improved enough by Friday that Russell returned to Houghton just before the game.
While the team was warming up, Russell wrote on the board in the locker room: "I thought I knew what tough was. This past week, my 9-year-old introduced me to whole new world of toughness and courage. I REALLY want to win tonight for Ben who is going to try his best to listen to the game."
Tech topped UND 3-1 and after the game, Russell simply told his team "Thank you." Captain Jimmy Kerr gave the game puck to Russell to deliver to his son.
In an e-mail sent to alumni and friends Monday, Russell said, "The play of our team was truly inspiring. We defeated the No. 1 team in the nation. Our goal was 50 hits on the night and 20 in the first period. We had 51 hits and 25 in the first."
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Russell returned to Milwaukee after the series and will be in Madison this weekend as the Huskies take on the Badgers.
Forney back
in the lineup
After battling a nagging shoulder injury last season and receiving two operations on it during the summer, Thief River Falls' Michael Forney worked his way back into the Sioux lineup last weekend against Michigan Tech.
Forney played the Saturday night game on the fourth line with Ryan Martens and Evan Trupp, nearly scoring his first career goal from the top of the crease in the first period.
"I thought he played solid," Hakstol said. "We asked him to come into the lineup and give a good, solid performance. We didn't want him to try to do too much. We just wanted him to be a solid, two-way player, play with some poise and bring us a good element. He did a good job."
Forney hadn't played a game since March 2 against St. Cloud State. It was one of two games he played in the last two and half months of the season. He didn't suit up for the exhibition game this fall against Manitoba, so Forney said his legs were a little tired because of a lack of game experience.
"You can never practice at game intensity," he said. "So it took me a couple of shifts to get it back. I felt pretty confident in that game. I've been practicing well lately, and it translated into an OK game."
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Forney is expected to be in the lineup again tonight.
Sioux to celebrate
60 years of hockey
More than 70 former players are expected to be in Grand Forks this weekend to celebrate 60 years of UND hockey.
Eight will receive 50-year letterwinner pins during the second intermission Saturday. They are Ben Cherski, Ginny Christian, Dan McKinnon, Reggie Morelli, John Noah, Bob Peabody, Bob Peters and John Wade.
Cherski, Christian, Morelli and Noah will be designated Sioux legends, too.
The event is being held in connection with UND's first WCHA home series of the season.
Briefly
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-- Former Sioux standout Jonathan Toews scored a goal in Chicago's 5-4 win over Dallas on Wednesday night to extend his point streak to 10 games. It is the longest current point streak in the NHL. Toews has a point in every NHL game he's played. The record point streak to start a career is 14 games (Dmitri Kvartalnov, 1992).
Reach Schlossman at 780-1129, (800) 477-6572 ext. 129 or bschlossman@gfherald.com .
