LAS VEGAS — Text messages started flowing in as soon as UND beat Quinnipiac to clinch a spot in the NCAA Frozen Four.
“It’s always really nice to hear from former players,” UND coach Dane Jackson said. “Quite a few players have reached out and are excited about us going back to the Frozen Four and taking that next step. But it’s always quickly followed with, ‘You better get it done now that you’re going there.'”
UND landed in Las Vegas on Tuesday afternoon to 90-degree temperatures. They were greeted at Palms Casino Hotel by an Elvis impersonator and showgirls.
But soon, they will have to turn their attention away from the glitz and glamour of Vegas and re-focus on the task at hand — Thursday’s NCAA Frozen Four semifinal game against Wisconsin in T-Mobile Arena.
Perhaps this team can take cues from some of the passengers on the charter flight from Grand Forks to Vegas.
One is general manager Bryn Chyzyk.
Ten years ago, when UND landed in Tampa, Fla., for the 2016 NCAA Frozen Four, Chyzyk prophetically told the Herald: “We’re not trying to be tourists here. I think we’ll come back here and be tourists one day. It’s a business trip for us.”
UND won the national championship that year, and sure enough, that group returned to Tampa last May as tourists.
Another is Gino Gasparini, who sat at the front of the plane.
The former UND coach led the program to three NCAA national championships in 1980, 1982 and 1987. He also gave UND a speech the night before the 2016 NCAA title game.
“I’m so happy for the guys, so happy for the coaching staff and certainly the players,” Gasparini said. “The players have earned the right to be there. It’s one thing getting there, it’s another thing to win it all. So, their challenge is right in front of them.”
Gasparini knows what it takes to win a national championship.
“You’ve got to be a real focused team,” Gasparini said. “You’ve got to be focused to the point of exaggerating your talents, exaggerating your commitment and exaggerating your effort. You can’t wish you could win it. You have to go out and earn it and take it.”
UND players arrive in Las Vegas in near 90 degree weather Tuesday for the NCAA Frozen Four tournament.
Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald
UND kept Tuesday night open for the players.
But they’ll move into their regular game routine on Wednesday.
The Fighting Hawks are scheduled to practice at 11:15 a.m. Pacific on Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena. Practice is open to the public.
“I think it’s nice to enjoy the surroundings and everything that comes with it, but then really try to narrow the focus,” Jackson said. “Obviously, it’s outstanding having friends and family there. But as we get toward game day, it’s really trying to have the mindset — really narrowing the focus — of what were the best things about how we played against Quinnipiac, and how do we focus on repeating those specific things.”
Jackson’s goal is to have the team at the top of its game.
“I’ve always said over the years,” he said, “if you lose out in these big games, if you play really well, it’s a lot easier to go through the summer when you felt like you played a real strong game, and you just didn’t get the bounces or someone executed at a really high level or a couple guys made some great plays.
“I was really happy with our team and the fact that we probably played one of our best games at the biggest moment. I think it’s just trying to prepare our guys to do that again. If we can really stay focused and dialed in on that, have a good process, we’ll let the chips fall where they may and be happy with that.”
UND hockey program equipment manager Dan Johansson unloads gear off the Fighting Hawks charter flight Tuesday, April 7, 2026 in Las Vegas.
Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald
NCAA Frozen Four semifinal
Who: UND vs. Wisconsin.
When: 4 p.m. Central, Thursday.
Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
Records: UND 29-9-1; Wisconsin 23-12-2.
TV: ESPN2 (GF Ch. 26/621HD).
Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM).
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 twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.