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Nine things to know ahead of UND's two-game series against Colorado College

The Fighting Hawks will play their first games outside of the NCHC Pod on Sunday and Monday.

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Colorado College forward Grant Cruikshank (21) skates in to celebrate Josiah Slavin's goal on Minnesota Duluth in the second period Sunday at Baxter Arena in the NCHC Pod in Omaha, Nebraska. (Tyler Schank / tschank@duluthnews.com)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A little bit of winter greeted UND as it arrived in Colorado Springs on Saturday afternoon.

Snow was falling, roads became sloppy and car accidents dotted Interstate-25, which connects Denver and the Springs.

The Fighting Hawks practiced in World Arena on Saturday and will play a two-game series at 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Sunday's game will be on Midco Sports Network. Both will be carried on NCHC.tv. Here are a few other things to know about the series:

1. UND is flying in and out

The Fighting Hawks chartered to Colorado Springs for the series. Although they are scheduled to play Denver next weekend, they will fly back home Monday night instead of spending the week in Colorado.

They made the decision for multiple reasons.

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For starters, there's no guarantee next weekend's games will be played, and if they are, that they'll be played Friday-Saturday. They don't want to sit in Colorado for several days only to have things change.

Second, COVID-19 testing on the road can be much more difficult than at home.

And third, the players also will be able to start the academic semester at home.

2. Sanderson, Kleven cleared

UND rookie defensemen Jake Sanderson and Tyler Kleven, who returned from the World Junior Championship on Thursday , have gone through COVID-19 protocol and are cleared to play this weekend against Colorado College.

It will be the first game for the duo since Dec. 13 against Western Michigan.

UND went 3-0 before they left the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Pod in Omaha and 4-2-1 after they left.

3. Roommate battle

This weekend will be a head-to-head battle between UND's Sanderson and Colorado College's Hunter McKown, who lived together in the same billet house while playing for the U.S. National Team Development Program.

"I'm super pumped to see him," Sanderson said. "I lived with him in Northville (Mich.)."

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McKown has been one of Colorado College's top rookies. He has two goals and four points in 10 games. He also has scored the game-winning shootout goal in two games, both with electric moves.

"He's super skilled," Sanderson said.

4. CC's dangerous top line

Colorado College's top line has been outstanding this season.

It features captain Grant Cruikshank, Chicago Blackhawks draft pick Josiah Slavin and winger Patrick Cozzi.

Cruikshank and Slavin make the line go. Cruikshank has six goals and eight points in 10 games. Slavin has three goals and nine points in 10 games. Cruikshank and Slavin have combined to score 39 percent of Colorado College's goals this season.

Cruikshank, the son of Olympic gold medal speed skater Bonnie Blair, is a speedy forward who can create space and scoring opportunities. His shot is much improved this season and he's using it often. He has 38 shots on goal. Only one other player on Colorado College's roster has more than 21.

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Slavin is the brother of former UND defenseman Jordan Slavin and of Carolina Hurricanes alternate captain Jaccob Slavin. He has great size at 6-foot-3, 187 pounds, and played with UND's Shane Pinto in Lincoln before college. Slavin can win battles as a power forward and has skill.

5. CC's rebuilt defensive unit

The area where Colorado College has made the biggest strides in its rebuild is on defense.

The Tigers brought in three players that are going to greatly improve that unit this year and in the future: freshman defenseman Jack Millar, freshman defenseman Chase Foley and Boston University transfer Hugo Blixt, a junior.

Millar already has displayed his terrific two-way ability. He has six points in 10 games for the Tigers, second among all rookie defensemen in the NCHC behind Denver's Mike Benning.

Foley did not play in the Pod, but Tiger coach Mike Haviland is high on him. That was evidenced by Foley getting time on the first power-play unit during his NCAA debut.

Blixt, of Sweden, provides some pretty good size on the back end at 6-foot-4, 199 pounds.

Combine those guys with Zach Berzolla, the NCHC's leader in shot blocks (with three more in this series, he'll lead the nation), junior Bryan Yoon and others, and the Tigers are putting together their deepest defensive unit since Haviland took over as coach.

6. A rookie in net

Colorado College started the season with sophomore Matt Vernon in net.

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Vernon's college career, to this point, was summed up in last year's series in Grand Forks.

On Friday night, Vernon was spectacular in a 1-0 UND win. He stopped 29 of 30 shots. Some of them were highlight-reel type saves. The only goal he allowed was on the power play on a bounce off the end wall.

On Saturday night, Vernon allowed six goals in two periods, some of them on shots he would like back.

Vernon has showed he can be a high-end goalie, but the inconsistency has set him back.

After more see-saw play to start the season in Colorado College's first three games, Haviland went to freshman Dominic Basse, a 6-foot-6 draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, and he hasn't gone back.

Basse (pronounced Bassey) has started seven consecutive games for the Tigers. Basse was outstanding in his first six starts, posting a .914 save percentage and a 2.13 goals-against average. Denver chased him last Saturday night, though.

7. A familiar name

One Tiger forward's name might ring a bell for college hockey fans: Jackson Jutting.

Yes, that is the nephew of longtime Minnesota State-Mankato head coach Troy Jutting.

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Jackson, a 5-foot-10, 196-pound forward, comes to Colorado College from Cedar Rapids in the USHL.

8. The final trip

This will be UND's final trip to World Arena .

Next season, Colorado College will open Ed Robson Arena on campus.

This trip will be different than past ones, because no fans or family members will be allowed. Strangely enough, that will be extra disappointing for UND, which has a large alumni base in Colorado and typically has a large following at games in Colorado Springs and Denver.

9. Kawaguchi's streak

It's been a while since UND played, Dec. 20 to be exact.

So, in case you forgot, captain Jordan Kawaguchi enters the Colorado College series on a 10-game point streak. He has tallied a point in every game he's played this season. He's the only player in the NCHC to do so.

Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald's circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year once. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.

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