UND hoping to get a couple of players back for Denver series

Nov. 9—GRAND FORKS — The health of the UND hockey team is improving.

How much exactly?

That depends on the next 48 hours.

UND coach Brad Berry said he suspects he may have a few more players available for this weekend's showdown against No. 2 Denver in Ralph Engelstad Arena (7:07 p.m. Friday, 6:07 p.m. Saturday).

Last weekend, the Fighting Hawks were without five players for their two-game series against Omaha in Baxter Arena. The missing players were forward Gavin Hain (lower body), forward Ben Strinden (upper), forward Carson Albrecht (undisclosed), forward Dane Montgomery (upper) and defenseman Luke Bast (upper).

"At the end of the day, we have some guys coming in," Berry said. "We have another practice (Thursday), and I think at the end of the day, we'll have a couple of options going forward."

The top candidates to return are Strinden and Hain.

Strinden, a freshman forward from Fargo, has gradually increased his reps at practice this week and is trending toward being ready. The Nashville Predators seventh-round draft is the most likely to be available come Friday's series opener.

Strinden has been out since sustaining a hit from Arizona State defenseman Tanner Hickey during the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game last month in Las Vegas. He did not travel to Omaha.

Strinden has one assist in five games this season.

Hain, a fifth-year senior from Grand Rapids, Minn., also has returned to practice. Hain is questionable for the series with an injury he has been battling for a few weeks.

The Philadephia Flyers draft pick was at the top of his game during the first month of the season. In October, he ranked second among all National Collegiate Hockey Conference players in even-strength goals with five. Dating back to last season, Hain has eight goals in the last 11 games.

Hain also has played a key role on UND's best defensive line alongside Mark Senden and Louis Jamernik V.

Berry split up Senden and Jamernik V last week in Hain's absence.

Albrecht is doubtful for the series against the Pioneers. He has missed the last three games.

Montgomery and Bast, who have been bothered by nagging injuries since this fall, are not expected to be available.

Denver (7-3) also is becoming healthier.

Aidan Thompson, Denver's top rookie forward and a third-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, played in his first collegiate games last weekend against St. Cloud State. Thompson, who had 82 points in the United States Hockey League last season, is already being used on the power play.

"His overall speed and the pace of his game is something that stands out," Denver coach David Carle said. "We've been injured and we're young. We've been trying to built some depth in our offensive game. We hope and believe he'll be someone who can help with that."

Denver also got Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick McKade Webster back from injury last weekend. Webster was injured during the season-opening Ice Breaker Invitational and missed a month.

The one lingering question mark for Denver is the health of defenseman Sean Behrens, a second-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche.

Behrens sustained an apparent upper-body injury in the second period Saturday night against St. Cloud State when he was checked into the boards by Husky forward Jami Krannila. Krannila was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct on the play.

Behrens was taken the the hospital for precautionary reasons. He did not practice Monday. Denver was off Tuesday for Election Day.

"We'll gauge it day-by-day," Carle said. "(His availability) has not been determined yet."

When: 7:07 p.m. Friday, 6:07 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Records: Denver 7-3, UND 4-3-2.

TV: Midco Sports (GF Ch. 27/622 HD).

Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM).

Stream: NCHChockey.com.