UND secures its seventh Penrose Cup as NCHC champions, and the victory comes with a story worth telling. In Kalamazoo, as UND’s plane descended Thursday afternoon, the players kept up their banter in the aisles, prompting the flight attendant to remind them—even twice—that they needed to buckle up. The scene underscored what everyone has come to know about this year’s UND squad: yes, there are 15 newcomers, and yes, 11 of them were added in a frantic sprint after Dane Jackson was named head coach. Yet the group quickly bonded into a tight, lively, and engaging unit that’s hard to apart from—both on the ice and off it, even if the FAA guidelines say otherwise.
This cohesive team doesn’t just gel off the ice; they’re tough to beat on it, too. After a 5-3 win over defending national champion Western Michigan at Lawson Ice Arena on Friday night, UND celebrated a milestone: the program’s seventh Penrose Cup as National Collegiate Hockey Conference champions. The trophy was presented in the locker room by NCHC commissioner Heather Weems, who lauded Jackson’s mission to instill a relentless North Dakota spirit and to demand that level of effort every time the players hit the ice. She reminded the team that this is one goal, not the ultimate one, and urged them to keep playing relentlessly to shape their destiny.
Captain Bennett Zmolek then accepted the trophy, lifting it high as teammates swarmed him in celebration. The moment carried extra meaning for Zmolek, who had suffered a season-ending injury in the first game of the previous year. Jackson reflected on the accomplishment, stressing the 24-game grind behind the trophy and the culture they had built. He praised the selfless, team-first mindset and the workmanlike attitude that defined the season, noting that the players embodied the values discussed at the outset and that the process had worked. The team’s note of gratitude extended to a locker-room presentation request made out of respect for Western Michigan, followed by a group photo that drew a cheer from the remaining UND fans in attendance.
Assistant captain Ben Strinden spoke of the deep camaraderie: a group that loves coming to the rink, which translates into how they perform on the ice. The coaching staff, he added, has done an outstanding job, building a close-knit “family” from top to bottom. Western Michigan’s Pat Ferschweiler and Jason Herter also paused to congratulate UND in person on the league title.
UND’s Penrose Cup history includes wins in 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024, with this being Jackson’s first as head coach. He inherited a sizable rebuilding project after last spring’s turnover, including seven graduates, an early NHL signing, and several transfers, including the top two scorers. Jackson restructured the staff by creating a general manager role focused on roster construction, appointing former UND standout Bryn Chyzyk to lead that effort. He kept Dillon Simpson as an assistant and added Matt Smaby as associate head coach.
Zmolek credited Jackson and the entire staff for assembling the roster, saying, “It starts with Jax—believing in him and the coaching staff.” The approach relied on character, team-first players, and a willingness to put the program above personal agendas. The result was a group that bonded early and trained through the summer and fall, through hard moments, and through a shared commitment to the program and the university.
Off the ice, the team also shows big personalities and a sense of humor. Strinden described them as a bunch of fun-loving ‘idiots’ who laugh a lot but switch to seriousness when the moment calls for it. The players delivered on Friday, with freshman contributors Sam Laurila, Ollie Josephson, Josh Zakreski, and Will Zellers scoring, sophomore Mac Swanson adding an empty-netter, and freshman Cole Reschny providing two assists. Freshman goaltender Jan Špunar stopped 22 of 25 shots to seal the win.
Jackson had warned the team about the difficulty of defeating Western Michigan, but before Friday’s game he reframed his message: they had chosen this kind of test for a reason—200-foot players, toughness, character, and a readiness to show what they’re made of in that rink. UND delivered, handing WMU its fourth loss in 23 games and signaling the depth and resilience of a squad that has become both competitive and cohesive.
Zmolek called the group “very special,” noting the ease with which everyone gets along and the sense of pride that comes from their shared experiences. Jackson echoed that sentiment, pointing to the locker room’s joy and the players’ willingness to support one another—not just as teammates but as a family. As the celebration continued, the story of this UND team is more than the championship; it’s about building a culture, embracing collective effort, and proving that a program can rise again by prioritizing character, community, and consistent, hard work.
Would you be curious to see how this style of roster-building—focusing on character, team-first chemistry, and thoughtful leadership—could translate to other programs or sports? Share your thoughts in the comments.
