Gaber’s game for challenge

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/11/2020 (1816 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Riese Gaber won’t have the luxury of a slow, methodical adjustment to the top level of U.S. college hockey and he might not need it.

Next month, the 21-year-old freshman from Gilbert Plains will be thrust into the middle of the battle for a national championship, expected to play a crucial role when the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks open their pandemic-delayed 2020-21 National Collegiate Hockey Conference season in Omaha, Neb. 

The 5-8, 161-pound forward figures he’s up for the challenge.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform because I know what I’m capable of and I know it’s not going to come easy,” said Gaber via telephone from Grand Forks, N.D., Monday.

“There’s going to be an adjustment period but I think that if I’m given the right opportunity and play my game, I should have pressure on myself to execute and perform.”

Gaber’s track record suggests expectations should be high.

In his second season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints, he led the USHL with 34 goals in 47 games while earning the league’s top forward and MVP honours. His skating and deadly finishing touch are considered his best assets.

“His offensive ability is living up to expectations so far as far as 5-on-5 and we’ve got him on the power play and in different situations here,” said UND head coach Brad Berry. “He’s doing really good in that regard but I guess what really totally impresses me is his compete level and work ethic. From a first-year guy, he pushes hard every day.”

Berry adds Gaber’s willingness to engage means he hasn’t been deterred by the physical play dished out by UND’s larger forwards and defencemen in pre-season scrimmages.

The Fighting Hawks, with 12 NHL draft picks on the roster, were the overwhelming choice for the No. 1 spot in last month’s U.S. College Hockey Online pre-season poll. UND earned 28 of 40 first-place votes.

In 2019-20, the Hawks were 26-5-4, regular-season NCHC champs and ranked first in the NCAA when the season was shut down owing to the pandemic.

They return with a frightening collection of talent that includes first-round NHL draft picks Jake Sanderson (Ottawa, 2020) and Jacob Bernard-Docker (Ottawa, 2018), a pair of rangy defencemen, and second-round forwards Grant Mismash (Nashville, 2017), Shane Pinto (Ottawa, 2020) and blue-liner Tyler Kleven (Ottawa, 2020).

“There are a lot of guys that are just on another level,” said Gaber, one of two Manitobans on the roster along with senior forward Jackson Keane of Winnipeg.

“Obviously, there’s so many guys that are so good at what they do and we have a ton of extremely talented returners with (Matt) Kiersted, (Jordan) Kawaguci, Bernard-Docker, Pinto, Mismash and (Collin) Adams and a ton of great role players. Everyone kinda knows their job and does it really well.”

During scrimmages, Gaber has spent much of his time skating on a line with Pinto, a high-scoring sophomore centre, and an assortment of wingers.

The third member on the line usually dictates which side the right-handed Gaber plays on.

“It’s a tandem we really like so far,” said Berry, whose team will open a 10-game stint in the Omaha bubble on Dec. 2 against Miami of Ohio. “I’m not saying it’s going to (stay intact) through the year but so far, they seem to feed off each other. The chemistry is good and that’s a top-six forward role.”

Playing his off wing shouldn’t be a problem.

“I did it for a bit in Dubuque, so we’ll see what happens and what the line looks like when we get into the bubble. A lot can change (in two weeks),” said Gaber, who thinks his team will handle their status as pre-season favourites.

“I think we’re ready for the challenge,” said Gaber. “Obviously the returners went through it last year and everyone has their head on their shoulders. We’re really excited to get going and we just want to prove to people what we’re really about.” 

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14