UND hockey lines up against the first opponent of the series

Dec. 24 GRAND FORKS UND’s non-conference schedule is already set for the next two seasons.

The Fighting Hawks have also started their work in the 2025-26 season.

UND has already signed two sets for this season. One is against a familiar opponent. The second is a first-time enemy.

The Fighting Hawks will face Bemidji State in a home-and-away series, continuing the long US Highway 2 rivalry between the teams.

They will also play Mercyhurst of Atlantic Hockey, a feat UND has never played in program history.

The Lakers, based in Erie, Pa., are one of only eight NCAA Division I teams that have never played UND.

The others are Lindenwood, UConn, Bentley, RIT, Sacred Heart and Division I newcomers Long Island University and St. Thomas. The Fighting Hawks will face Lindenwood for the first time on 6-7. January.

Mercyhurst has played at the Division I level since 1999, when it moved up from Division II.

The Lakers have reached the NCAA Tournament three times at the Division I level in 2001, 2003 and 2005.

Their head coach Rick Gotkin is the longest serving coach in hockey. He started at Mercyhurst in 1988, when the Lakers were still at the Division III level. He oversaw their promotion to Division II, then Division I.

The series with the Lakers is scheduled to be just two games in Grand Forks. There is no return trip to Erie planned.

UND has already set its non-conference schedule for 2023-24 and 2024-25.

In the 2023-24 season, UND will play in the Ice Breaker Tournament in Grand Forks against Wisconsin and Army. It has a two-game home series against Bemidji State, Minnesota, Minnesota State-Mankato and Alaska (Fairbanks). On the road, the Fighting Hawks play a two-game series against Boston University at Agganis Arena.

In the 2024–25 season, UND will play in the US Hockey Hall of Fame game against Providence in Grand Forks. It has a two-game home series against Boston University and Robert Morris. It will play a two-game road series against MSU-Mankato and Cornell. The Fighting Hawks will also play Bemidji State in a home-and-away series.