WCHA Final Five: No. 4 North Dakota

Stop me if you've heard this one before.North Dakota started the season slowly, then proceeded to get white hot down the stretch, becoming one of the most dangerous teams in college hockey.

No, this isn't the formula UND used last year, when it was the best team in the country until Shawn Hunwick had something to say about it in the Frozen Four semifinals. But it's a familiar refrain in Grand Forks, and it works again this season.

Hakstol expressed pride his team was able to earn home ice and advance to the program's tenth straight WCHA Final Five.

"I think it's a great reward for our players, coming out of a real tough first round playoff matchup," he said, "and a year where I thought our guys did a good job scratching and clawing for that home ice advantage."

North Dakota overcame a 4-7-1 start that saw the Sioux begin WCHA play a measly 2-6 by finishing league play on a 14-5-1 run. The Fighting Sioux won ten and tied once over their last 13 games, and swept Bemidji State in the first round of the league playoffs last weekend.

Through it all -- as well as through the well-publicized nickname controversy that Hakstol clearly had no desire to revisit this week -- the Sioux have kept their focus and haven't stopped working, which is a credit to Hakstol's coaching and his team leadership.

"Whether it's injuries or something else, you go through different types of adversity as a team," Hakstol said. "Injuries are no different. They give you a real good opportunity to grow as a team. It can become a bit overwhelming, when you look at what you have available."

St. Cloud State is an interesting matchup for the Sioux Thursday. Neither team has great scoring depth, but both teams have been playing superb defensive hockey as of late. With the Aaron Dell-Brad Eidsness platoon peaking, and Mike Lee playing great for St. Cloud, it could come down to a bounce or two.

No matter who advances, Minnesota better be ready on Friday.