The 2025–26 North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey season was the 86th season of play for the program and 13th in the NCHC. The Fighting Hawks represented the University of North Dakota in the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, played their home games at Ralph Engelstad Arena and were coached by Dane Jackson in his first season as head coach. The team wore new sweaters this season, which were revealed on July 24, 2025.
Season
Departures Cameron Berg Forward Graduation (signed with Bridgeport Islanders) Sacha Boisvert Forward Transferred to Boston University Hobie Hedquist Goaltender Transferred to Ferris State Aleksi Huson Goaltender Left program (retired) Louis Jamernik V Forward Graduation (retired) Kaleb Johnson Goaltender Graduation (retired) Tanner Komzak Defense Transferred to Mount Royal University (U Sports) Jackson Kunz Forward Graduation (signed with Abbotsford Canucks) Caleb MacDonald Defense Signed professional contract (Columbus Blue Jackets) Owen McLaughlin Forward Transferred to Boston University Dane Montgomery Defense/Forward Graduation (signed with Stuttgart Rebels) Jayden Perron Forward Transferred to Michigan T.J. Semptimphelter Goaltender Graduation (signed with Bridgeport Islanders) Jake Schmaltz Forward Graduation (signed with Providence Bruins) Carter Wilkie Forward Graduation (signed with Calgary Wranglers)
Recruiting Ian Engel Defense 21 Hortonville, WI Gibson Homer Goaltender 21 Grand Rapids, MI; transfer from Arizona State Ollie Josephson Forward 19 Victoria, BC; selected 105th overall in 2024 Jack Kernan Forward 20 Maple Grove, MN David Klee Forward 20 Castle Rock, CO; selected 196th overall in 2023 Sam Laurila Forward 18 Moorhead, MN; selected 138th overall in 2025 Anthony Menghini Forward 22 Brainerd, MN; transfer from Minnesota Duluth Cole Reschny Forward 18 Macklin, SK; selected 18th overall in 2025 Ellis Rickwood Forward 22 Brantford, ON; transfer from Clarkson Zach Sandy Goaltender 22 Fargo, ND; transfer from Minnesota Duluth Jan Špunar Goaltender 21 Olomouc, CZ Keaton Verhoeff Defense 17 Fort Saskatchewan, AB Tyler Young Forward 24 Lancaster, MA; transfer from Merrimack Josh Zakreski Forward 19 Saskatoon, SK Will Zellers Forward 19 Maple Grove, MN; selected 76th overall in 2024
Roster As of January 21, 2025.
1.Zellers was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in 2024, but his NHL rights were traded to the Boston Bruins on March 7, 2025.2.Wiebe was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022, but his NHL rights were traded to the Calgary Flames on January 18, 2026.
Standings
Schedule and results
!colspan=12 style=";" | Exhibition
!colspan=12 style=";" | Regular Season
!colspan=12 style=";" | Exhibition
!colspan=12 style=";" | Regular Season
!colspan=12 style=";" |
!colspan=12 style=";" |
Scoring statistics F 35 9 28 37 19 F 38 15 20 35 8 F 36 6 29 35 22 F 38 18 16 34 29 F 40 21 11 32 10 D 40 5 24 29 6 F 40 11 17 28 4 D 39 5 20 25 10 F 36 11 10 21 14 F 38 6 14 20 2 D 36 6 14 20 29 F 35 10 4 14 16 F 35 5 8 13 28 D 38 3 10 13 32 F 35 5 7 12 8 F 32 5 7 12 6 D 35 1 9 10 29 F 24 3 3 6 14 D 38 1 5 6 48 F 15 3 2 5 6 D 33 1 3 4 30 D 15 0 2 2 18 F 4 1 0 1 2 D 2 0 0 0 0 G 14 0 0 0 2 G 1 0 0 0 0 G 28 0 0 0 2 Total 151 263 414 412
Goaltending statistics 28 1602:02 20 5 1 51 577 6 .919 1.91 14 798:27 9 5 0 36 287 0 .889 2.71 1 00:00 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0.00 Empty Net - 20:33 - - - 3 - - - - Total 40 2421:02 29 10 1 151 864 6 .906 2.23
Awards and honors Dane Jackson Herb Brooks Coach of the Year Jake Livanavage AHCA West First Team All-American Jake Livanavage NCHC First Team Jan Špunar Jake Livanavage NCHC Preseason All-Conference Team Cole Reschny NCHC Rookie of the Year Cole Reschny NCHC Rookie Team Jan ŠpunarKeaton VerhoeffWill Zellers Jan Špunar NCHC Goaltender of the Year
Rankings
Note: USCHO did not release polls in weeks 12 and 26. The previous polls' rankings are listed with an asterisk for these weeks. Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12. The previous poll's ranking is listed with an asterisk.
2026 NHL entry draft
1 6 † Calgary Flames 1 9 San Jose Sharks 1 22 † Pittsburgh Penguins 2 39 † Pittsburgh Penguins 3 69 † Toronto Maple Leafs 4 117 † Montreal Canadiens 5 129 † Vancouver Canucks 5 158 † Toronto Maple Leafs † incoming freshman
References