The UND men's hockey team is searching campus for someone to join the team as a third goaltender. If those efforts fail, perhaps the Sioux should try Chay Genoway.
He's doing everything else for the team, anyway.
The sophomore from Manitoba has been a force no matter what position he's played.
He started the season at defense and was the first blue liner to score a goal. The coaching staff felt he was becoming one of the most dynamic defensemen in the league.
Two weeks ago, because of injuries up front, the staff moved him to forward - a position he's played in the past. And despite not playing up front for nearly 12 months, Sioux coach Dave Hakstol said he felt Genoway was the team's best offensive threat in the Friday game at Wisconsin.
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"The things he's doing are starting not to surprise me," Hakstol said. "I don't know if there's anyone else in the country who could be a top-six forward on any team in the country or a top-three defenseman on any team in the country. That's pretty special.
"Chay is such a versatile guy and such a team guy. Going back and forth to forward and defense is not an easy thing to do. Physically, it's one thing to be a forward one day and an effective defenseman the next. Mentally, it's probably even more of a struggle. But he's handled it well and always put the needs of the team first. That's pretty impressive."
Hakstol also credited the development of rookie defensemen Derrick LaPoint and Jake Marto for allowing the team to move Genoway up front. The Sioux feel comfortable with both of them in the lineup and they've even paired the two together for the last three games.
"I think it's starting to come together a little bit better," Marto said. "I'm getting more comfortable every time I step out on the ice. I've started to take a couple extra chances here and there. It seems like (LaPoint) and I have some pretty good chemistry right now, hopefully we can keep that going."
Both players said they'd like to be getting a few more points (LaPoint has one goal, no assists and Marto is without a point) and they believe the scoring will come soon.
"The puck just isn't bouncing my way right now," LaPoint said. "Eventually, it will. I'm feeling comfortable jumping in the play more. The defensive side I'm still figuring out the speed a little bit, but over time you adjust and become confident and comfortable."
Defense presents
a challenge
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Last season, UND rolled to the Frozen Four by piling up goals in bunches down the stretch. The Sioux scored at least six goals in every second-half series except for one.
That was a mid-February homestand against the Bulldogs, who held the Sioux to just three goals in two games.
"(Last year), it was a great defensive series," Hakstol said of UND's 1-0 win and 2-2 tie. "There wasn't a lot of dynamic offense because there wasn't a lot of room. They're a team that does a very good job clogging up the slot area in their own zone. They make it difficult to get to the net. They are very good at boxing out on rebounds.
"You have to drive through that area, create lanes, confusion and traffic."
Expect to see a similarly tough Bulldog defense this season. Duluth held Michigan Tech to a pair of goals last weekend in taking three points from the nationally ranked Huskies.
Bulldog sophomore goaltender Alex Stalock has emerged as one of the top goalies in the league, boasting a 1.97 goals-against average and .929 save percentage. Stalock has played every minute so far this season for Duluth.
UND has already seen a pair of defensive-minded teams in Michigan Tech and Wisconsin. In both of those series, the Sioux were stifled the first night despite putting a lot of shots on goal.
Hakstol said his team needs to start burying more shots in those types of games - ones that UND could see this weekend.
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"If you look at the nights we had trouble scoring, we still created opportunities," he said. "We have to be sharp enough to capitalize on those opportunities."
Black Friday
deal for tickets
Tickets for this weekend's series are available for $10 if you buy them between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. today.
Ralph Engelstad Arena is promoting the sale as a "Black Friday" deal. Discounted tickets can be bought for both games of the series, but they must be purchased today to get the deal.
Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, most UND students will be gone. So, it's expected that a lot of seats will be available. The arena and UND are trying to fill the vacancies.
Briefly
-- Duluth's power play, which led the league for much of last season, is at the basement in the WCHA right now. The Bulldogs are converting at a 9.3 percent rate.
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-- UND has only allowed one first-period goal this season.
-- The Sioux are 8-0-1 in the last nine games against Duluth in Grand Forks.
-- The Sioux are 11-2-1 in games on Thanksgiving weekend in the last 10 years.
