GRAND FORKS — UND coach Brad Berry wouldn’t divulge many details about what ailment kept starting goaltender Ludvig Persson out of Game 1 of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference playoffs Friday night.
“It presented itself that way,” Berry said, keeping vague as hockey coaches often do when it comes to ailments at playoff time. “That’s all I’m going to leave it at.”
Hobie Hedquist made sure it didn’t matter.
UND’s freshman goalie stopped 23 of 24 shots and helped the Fighting Hawks cruise to a 5-1 win over Miami University in the best-of-three NCHC quarterfinal series.
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Hedquist, making his first start since Jan. 13, turned aside six shots in the first, six in the second and 12 in the third as he improved to 4-0 in his rookie season.
“I thought he was exceptional,” Berry said. “Coming to the rink this morning, finding out he was going to play and doing what a professional does, he dialed in and was prepared to have success at night. He’s done that the whole year. It’s not a surprise to me, because he was patient. He worked hard. He was team-first. He’s a humble guy — all of the things we want character-wise for players at North Dakota.”
He had some help, too.
Junior forward Jake Schmaltz snapped a 33-game goal drought by scoring the game’s opening goal with 1.1 seconds left in the first period. It was his first tally since last year’s NCHC quarterfinal series.
Hobey Baker Award contender Jackson Blake scored his 20th goal of the season and tallied two points, moving to 54 on the season. He’s just four points shy of becoming UND’s first player since Zach Parise to reach 100-career points as a sophomore.
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Captain Riese Gaber also scored a goal and tallied two points. He now is tied with Drake Caggiula for the most career points of any UND player in the last decade (128). Twenty-four of them have come against Miami.
Sophomore forward Owen McLaughlin and freshman defenseman Jake Livanavage also scored goals and tallied two points.
“It was awesome,” Livanavage said of his first playoff game at UND. “You obviously battle for home ice throughout the entire year to be able to play in front of these fans. To get to do it night in and night out is something so special. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
UND’s Jake Livanavage and Jackson Blake celebrate Livanavage’s goal in the third period Friday at the REA.
Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald
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The Fighting Hawks will have a chance to close out the series at 6:07 p.m. Saturday and earn a trip to next week’s NCHC Frozen Faceoff in St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center.
Miami’s season will be on the line.
Berry didn’t tip his hand on starting goaltender for Game 2.
“I do not know,” Berry said. “I’ll let you guys know tomorrow when you get to the rink.”
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Hedquist is giving UND reason to be confident when he’s in net, though.
The Heron Lake, Minn., product filled in for Persson early in the second semester, winning back-to-back games against Alaska 6-4 and 6-2.
Hedquist has now started twice against NCHC opponents — Omaha on Jan. 13 and Miami on Friday — stopping 45 of 47 shots (.957 save percentage) in grabbing two wins.
“He’s just great,” Schmaltz said. “He’s a great guy. It’s not always easy when you don’t play for a bit, then you get the nod that you’re in — in a big game — then he comes in and he plays just unreal. It’s fun to root for a guy like that.”
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UND goalie Hobie Hedquist is congratulated by Cameron Berg and Jake Livanavage after Friday’s win against Miami.
Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald
Hedquist said goalie coach Karl Goehring informed him before morning skate that he was getting the start.
“I was excited about it, but I was a little shocked,” Hedquist said. “You never want to see your starter going down at this time of year. He’s been the backbone of our team all year. It was good to get a playoff game and get the win.”
Hedquist became the first UND freshman goalie to start a playoff game since Zane McIntyre in 2012-13.
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“I felt good,” Hedquist said. “I felt like the guys really helped me. There was an incredible amount of blocked shots that really helped. We played really well defensively. I felt like I made saves when I had to and I felt like the guys bailed me out.”
Notes: UND played without forward Carson Albrecht (illness). Defenseman Bennett Zmolek returned to the lineup after missing three games with a lower-body injury. . . Miami played without injured forwards William Hallen and Frankie Carogioiello, as well as injured defenseman Michael Feenstra.
UND’s Louis Jamernik V celebrates Jake Schmaltz’ goal in the first period against Miami.
Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald
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By
Brad Elliott Schlossman
Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald’s circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year once. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.
MIAMI — Dustin May attacked the strike zone and got ahead in counts, allowing his arsenal to play at its best in the Cardinals’ 5-3 win over the Marlins at loanDepot park on Tuesday.
The right-hander consistently set the tone early, either landing a first-pitch strike or inducing a foul
The Miami Heat are heading into another crucial offseason, and they MUST make changes. This team has been mediocre for the past few seasons and has been stuck in the Play-in Tournament. The Heat can’t currently compete with the way the roster is constructed. They need to trade for a star who can lead this team, and if a star becomes available, Miami will be involved. The real question is which direction actually makes the most sense.
The Heat could go after three potential targets this summer: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, and Donovan Mitchell. Who should Miami target? Let’s stack rank them based on fit, risk, and potential.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Only Move That Changes Everything
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Apr 10, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo enjoys a moment during warmups prior to the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The Miami Heat need to go all-in for Giannis. This is a trade that would completely reshape the franchise. Giannnis could potentially turn the Heat into a contender overnight. Even with his recent injury cutting his season short, nothing about his overall impact has changed. He still bends defenses in a way very few players can. Teams build entire game plans around simply trying to slow him down, and most of the time, it doesn’t work.
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The Miami Heat have desperately needed a true superstar who can take over games late in crunch time. The Heat have been relying on undrafted players and role players to create and execute their offense. Giannis flips that instantly by creating advantages on his own, possession after possession.
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I think the most interesting part will be pairing Giannis with Bam Adebayo. They would automatically become the best defensive frontcourt duo in the NBA. Giannis and Bam could both guard 1-5, and their switchability and rim protection would be elite. Offensively, Bam’s versatility allows Giannis to stay aggressive without needing to adjust his game too much.
The risk is obvious. Injuries have started to creep into the conversation, and committing everything to one player always carries weight. Still, Miami has never been a franchise that plays it safe. If Giannis is available, the conversation starts and ends there.
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2. Donovan Mitchell: The Cleanest Basketball Fit
Apr 20, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts after a made basket during the second half during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images | David Dermer-Imagn Images
If Giannis is the bold swing, Mitchell is the move that makes the most basketball sense from top to bottom. At this stage of his career, Donovan Mitchell knows exactly who he is as a player. He can control tempo, create offense in isolation, and take over stretches of games when things stall out and that is something Miami has struggled with consistently.
This is less about transforming the roster and more about fixing a specific problem. The Heat have lacked a reliable perimeter engine. Mitchell fills that gap immediately. What makes him especially appealing is how easily he fits into different lineups. He doesn’t need the ball every possession to be effective, but he can handle that role when needed. That flexibility matters on a team that values structure as much as Miami does.
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There’s also a timeline advantage here. Mitchell is younger than the other options and doesn’t come with the same long-term durability concerns. He gives Miami a clearer runway to build around, rather than a shorter window that demands immediate results. He may not bring the same overwhelming presence as Giannis, but he raises the overall level of the team in a way that feels sustainable.
3. Kawhi Leonard: Elite Talent With Too Many Variables
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Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in the second half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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When Kawhi Leonard is available and healthy, he’s still one of the most controlled and efficient players in the league. His season with the Los Angeles Clippers was a reminder of that. Playing 65 games was a big step, and when he was on the floor, he looked like himself, methodical, physical, and impossible to speed up. From a pure basketball standpoint, he fits Miami’s identity. He defends, doesn’t force offense, and thrives in structured environments.
The hesitation comes from everything outside of that. Kawhi’s availability has been unpredictable for years, and even in seasons where he plays a high number of games, there’s always uncertainty about how things will hold up deep into a playoff run. Age adds another layer. Miami wouldn’t just be trading for a player; they’d be betting on a timeline that may already be shrinking. There’s no denying the upside. A healthy Kawhi still moves the needle in a big way. It’s just harder to justify that gamble compared to the other two options.
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Final Take
Each path offers something different. Giannis is the all-in swing that could put Miami back in the championship conversation overnight. Mitchell is the calculated move that stabilizes the offense and fits long-term. Kawhi is the wildcard, still elite, but with more uncertainty than the Heat can comfortably ignore.
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If Miami is serious about breaking out of the middle, they need to pick a direction and commit fully. Giannis is the dream, Mitchell is the smartest bet, and Kawhi is the toughest sell.
MIAMI (WSVN) – A 21-year-old man was arrested on a charge of sexual battery on a minor by an adult and lewd or lascivious molestation stemming from an alleged incident involving a 10-year-old girl, according to an arrest report.
According to the report, Alvin Davis was arrested due in connection from an alleged incident that occurred Oct. 16, 2025, in Miami. The child’s mother, who became suspicious and placed a recording device in the child’s bedroom.
The report states the girl told investigators that Davis touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions.
Authorities said Davis was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and is being held without bond.
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