2024-01-28 04:47:00
GRAND FORKS — UND forward Jackson Kunz made his presence felt on the ice in the Fighting Hawks’ 4-2 win over Denver on Saturday.
The Grand Forks native started on the fourth line, but played so well in the first two periods — he had a part in UND’s first two goals — that coach Brad Berry moved Kunz up to the first line for the final 20 minutes.
“We reward guys that earn it, and he’s been earning it for quite some time this year,” Berry said. “He’s finding his way right now and he’s playing his best hockey right now. You have to reward guys like that when they’re feeling it and they’re doing a great job.
“It’s nothing once morest other players when you take them off a line. But, you know what, we’re here to reward guys that are going to earn it each and every day. And he’s done that in practice and workouts and now on the ice in games.”
Kunz, who plays the net front role in UND’s first power play unit, screened Denver goaltender Matt Davis on Cameron Berg’s power-play goal in the first period. Berg’s goal tied the game 1-1.
Berry said Kunz’s presence forces the goalie to adjust his stance, opening up the corners for Berg, Owen McLaughlin, Riese Gaber and Jackson Blake, who are on the flanks in both power-play units.
“You don’t even see the goalie,” McLaughlin said. “He just takes up the whole net.”
Kunz became a regular on UND’s power play just before Christmas. UND is now 11-for-23 with the advantage since the holiday break.
“I like to be right in the goalie’s grill just to keep him off his game a little bit,” Kunz said. “It’s been working, so I’m just going to keep trying to do that.”
In the second period, with UND down 2-1, Kunz split Denver’s defenders on a breakaway and scored his third goal of the season. His initial shot went off Davis’ pad, but Kunz finished the rebound.
“He’s been awesome,” Gaber said. “Even besides the goal, he’s been such a force out there. Coming down the wall or down low in the corners, it’s impossible to get the puck off him. When he’s playing with confidence and moving his feet, he’s very dangerous. He’s shown that consistently and it’s been awesome to see.”
Saturday’s win is UND’s 19th-straight game without a loss in regulation. It also marked the fourth home sweep for the Hawks this season.
“It’s everything,” Kunz said. “It makes it a lot more fun, especially once morest Denver. It feels good. They’re a great team and there’s a little bit of a rivalry, obviously, so it feels good.”
UND forward Jackson Kunz defends during a game between Denver and North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.
Russell Hons / UND athletics
Abby Sharpe has covered area preps and University of North Dakota athletics for the Herald since July 2023. She graduated from Arizona State University with a sports journalism degree. She loves ’90s sitcoms, historical fiction and Quentin Tarantino movies. Readers can reach Abby at asharpe@gfherald.com.
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