Shantel Rivard will return to an old home this weekend.
Will it be the cure for the UND women's hockey team, which is ailing for goals and wins?
Rivard, the UND coach, says the Sioux have potential to break their six-game losing streak when they travel to the University of Maine for a two-game series.
Maine is the place Rivard served as an assistant coach from 1997 to 2001, prior to taking the job in Grand Forks.
"It'll be fun to go back there," said Rivard, who added that almost the entire program has turned over since she was there. "I've only been there once since I took the job here."
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The Black Bears swept UND in Grand Forks last season, but Maine is struggling early this year. Maine, 1-7, is allowing more than five goals per game on average.
UND hopes it can get its offense on track against Maine.
The Sioux have scored just one goal during their six-game losing streak. Against top-ranked Wisconsin, UND's shot total equaled the Badgers' goal total (seven). UND's offense is ranked the worst in the country.
"We desperately need to score some goals," said Rivard, whose team has played a pair of top-five teams in the past three weeks. "We need to shoot the puck whenever we get the chance to. We're over-handling the puck right now. We just need to get put the puck on net and be ready to crash."
Rivard said the Sioux must improve on the power play, too, where they have converted just one of 55 chances.
Maine might be a good opponent to right the ship. The Black Bears have the worst penalty kill in college hockey, fending off just two-thirds of opponent chances.
"We're looking forward to hopefully a great weekend," Rivard said.
Schlossman reports on sports. Reach Schlossman at 780-1129, (800) 477-6572 ext. 129 or bschlossman@gfherald.com .
