Each school has their one thing that it is notable for. The University of Florida is known for their love of football, and MIT is known for its undeniable engineering program. However, the University of North Dakota is not well known.
It is not the school in Fargo ––that is North Dakota State University–– it doesn't have a study program like Harvard, and it is in the middle of nowhere. Yet, University of North Dakota has one thing going for it: hockey! The hockey games are the thing to do in the town, and they never disappoint.
The UND rink was finished in 2001, thanks to Ralph Engelstad. He is a UND alumni who played as a goalie for the hockey team in 1948. He eventually played for San Bernardino Shamrocks, then went back to get his degree. He became a very successful businessman as his career went on.
The Ralph is 400,000 square feet that seats 11,634 people. It still looks as if it was just built, as opposed to 15 years ago. It feels like a new world when seated with the giant screen above and ice that shines like a jewel. There is no bad seat in the house. Every angle is the best angle.
The school does not waste time with the production of hockey. The game starts with a huge welcome to all of the guests followed by an extremely loud introduction to the team.
The music that plays during the introduction becomes drilled into the brains of its guests, and everyone is already standing, preparing for the team to make their entrance. There are lights and sparklers that make all of the production ten times more elaborate and stunning.
Each week, there is also a new episode of "Through These Doors" which takes the guests behind the scenes to the team themselves. It shows how they train, prepare, and live while playing for the team. It doesn't feel like just a hockey game, it feels like a show put on in a theme park.
At every game, win or lose, the team gives it their all. It is hard to take your eyes off the ice rink because you may miss an unbelievable play. The head coach is Brad Berry who is now in his third season at UND. During his first season, he led the team to the NCAA victory in 2016.
The players put everything they have into each game and they never disappoint. Each year, we see many of the players go on to new opportunities, but no matter who puts on the green and white jerseys, they all show love for the game, passion on the ice, and sportsmanship together as a team.
The crowds are just as crazy as what happens on the ice. After each goal, the crowd will stand and scream as if they are on a roller-coaster. They high-five everyone around them, even strangers, and start to dance and sing to the theme song for a goal.
The voice that is echoed throughout the arena sounds like he should be telling a back story to a serious movie, but his enthusiasm fits into the joy in the area when he announces the goal and the players who were involved. There are so many cheers that have been around for a long time, and still are just as loud as they were when they began.
The arena also knows how to have fun in between each play. There is a kiss-cam, Simba-cam, and of course, the best music to stand up and dance along to. And, you can't forget the famous beer song that is sung about five times per game.
North Dakota may not have a lot to do. The winters are killer, and the land is flat as a pancake. However, when you go to a UND hockey game, it is there that you will find enthusiasm, noise, and excitement. The people love to watch the game of hockey as much as the players who are on the rink.
If UND didn't have hockey, I think I would go crazy.
