College Hockey Series of the Week: No. 3 Boston University vs. No. 7 North Dakota

All eyes of the college hockey world will be set on Grand Forks this weekend as No. 3 Boston University faces off against No. 7 North Dakota in a much-anticipated two-game series at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

North Dakota holds a slight edge in their all-time series, 13-12-2. However, recent matchups have favored the Terriers, who are 5-1-1 in their last seven meetings with the Fighting Hawks.

When these teams last met in November, BU claimed a 3-2 victory in the opening game, but North Dakota responded with a 5-4 overtime win in their second effort, earning a hard-fought series split in Beantown.

The Terriers enter the series with a perfect 3-0-0 record, fresh off a 4-2 victory over UConn last Friday in their Hockey East opener. They followed up that performance by skating to a 2-2 tie in an exhibition game against Harvard, eventually winning in a shootout.

Key contributors for Boston University include freshman sensation Cole Eiserman, who was named Hockey East Rookie of the Week after his standout two-goal performance against UConn. Eiserman has been electric to start the season, scoring in all three games and racking up four goals, including three on the power play, placing him second in the Hockey East in goals.

Senior goaltender Mathieu Caron has been a brick wall in net, posting a .947 save percentage and a 1.67 goals-against average through three games, making him one of the top-performing goalies in the nation.

The Terriers' special teams have also been a force to be reckoned with, as they have converted on five of their 15 power play opportunities, while also maintaining a 87% penalty kill rate.

On the other side, North Dakota comes into the series with a 2-1-0 record, having split a two-game road series against No. 20 Minnesota State last weekend.

After a thrilling 3-2 victory on Friday, in which they scored three goals in the third period to overcome a 2-0 deficit, the Fighting Hawks were shut out 3-0 in Saturday’s rematch.

North Dakota’s season opener saw them defeat then-No. 13 Providence 5-2, proving their ability to compete with, and beat top teams early in the season.

Senior Cameron Berg and freshman Sacha Boisvert have been pivotal for the Fighting Hawks so far, each tallying four points through the first three games. Berg leads the team in goals with two, while Boisvert has dished out three assists.

In net, North Dakota has primarily relied on graduate student, T.J. Semptimphelter, who boasts a 2-0-0 record with a .918 save percentage and a 2.00 goals-against average.

Semptimphelter is no stranger to Boston University, as he faced the Terriers while playing for Northeastern in the 2022 Beanpot Championship, a game BU won 1-0.

This weekend’s series could serve as an early indicator of both teams’ postseason aspirations. Boston University, aiming for its first Frozen Four appearance since 2015, will look to continue its undefeated start, while North Dakota hopes to prove it belongs among the nation’s elite after a sample size of mixed results early on.

The puck drops at 8 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday, with both games set to be broadcasted on ESPN +. As two of college hockey's powerhouses collide, fans can expect high-level competition, future NHL talent, and a preview of potential postseason battles to come.

Joseph Granton is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism, to contact him please email jlg6619@psu.edu.