Universtiy of North Dakota’s Mac Swanson, of Anchorage, skates with the puck during a game against Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Russell Hons / North Dakota Athletics)
Coming into his sophomore season at the University of North Dakota, Mac Swanson was facing more uncertainty than at any point in his young hockey career.
By his own admission, Swanson, 20, struggled at times on the ice as a freshman. And after the 2024-25 season, the Fighting Hawks had replaced their head coach, introducing another variable.
But first-year coach Dane Jackson has now led UND to a 29-9-1 record, and Swanson has added multiple dimensions to his game in his second year of college hockey.
Now Swanson and UND are among the final quartet of teams playing for a national championship this weekend at the Frozen Four in Las Vegas.
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The Hawks take on Wisconsin on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Alaska time with a chance to advance to the championship. That game will be preceded at 1 p.m. by the first semifinal, pitting Michigan against Denver, which is coached by Anchorage’s David Carle. Both games are scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN2.
A mainstay on UND’s second line, Swanson has added strength, improved his scoring and taken on more responsibility on defense.
“I felt confident throughout the year,” Swanson said. “My goal-scoring has improve and obviously we have a great team this year. It’s easy to play with those guys.”
When UND announced it was replacing longtime coach Brad Berry, Swanson said players were in a holding pattern. But Jackson, who was on the UND staff for nearly two decades before taking the head coaching role, helped maintain continuity for the players after a couple weeks of wondering who would lead the team.
“There was a lot of uncertainty in the program for the first time in a while,” Swanson said. “It was definitely a weird time for all of us that were kind of deciding whether to stay or transfer out. But when coach Jackson got the job, we all felt pretty confident in him and his abilities, so we really did think that we would have a good team this year.”
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University of North Dakota’s Mac Swanson, of Anchorage, looks for an open teammate during a game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Fighting Hawks at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Photo by Russell Hons / North Dakota Athletics)
Swanson described Jackson as a “hard but fair coach” and said the announcement secured his future with UND.
“I love my time here,” he said. “I love playing at The Ralph (Engelstad Arena), and I didn’t really want to leave at all. So I’m happy with where I’m at.”
Swanson’s production this season has been consistent. He’s seventh on the team in scoring, with 11 goals and 17 assists in 39 games. He showed a major uptick in his goal-scoring ability, after notching just two as a freshman.
Swanson believes his progression at UND is similar to what he was able to accomplish with the Fargo Force, where he played before signing with the Fighting Hawks. There he developed into a much more dynamic offensive player in his second season with the USHL team. Swanson has been especially effective the last half of the season with 13 points in his last 15 games.
“I think (my game) has evolved a little bit,” he said. “I’ve really tried to round out my two-way game. I started penalty killing this year too, which just adds another dimension to my game and makes me more valuable to the team.”
Mac’s dad, Brian, had a standout hockey career at Colorado College and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 1999. Having his dad as a sounding board has been invaluable as he’s progressed through his college career.
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“He’s always there for me,” Swanson said. “But he never forces anything upon me, which I think is a good thing. He obviously is there for me whenever I need to talk or just a quick text before or after a game. … It’s great to have someone who’s been through everything I’m going through.”
Part of Swanson’s offseason mandate was to add strength. In Alaska over last summer, he worked out independently as well as at Mac’s Strength & Power in Eagle River, operated by his cousin.
“It gave me a good opportunity to grow in some areas I needed to,” he said.
The Frozen Four is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in recent history. The four teams have the four most NCAA championships in history, led by Denver’s 10 and followed by Michigan (9), UND (8) and Wisconsin (6).
“It’s really cool it’s kind of all these blue-blood programs,” he said. “Obviously we’ll try not to focus on too much of the stuff going on in Vegas and just focus on us.”
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UND was dominant in reaching the Frozen Four, winning a pair of games by a combined 8-0 score in the Regional at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He had family in attendance for those games and in the week and a half since has received plenty of messages from friends and family.
“Obviously you feel that support being from Alaska,” he said. “When someone is doing well, everyone is happy for them, which I think’s pretty cool about the hockey community back home.”
The Northern Plains UAS Test Site in North Dakota has begun offering the Vantis statewide beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) system to uncrewed aerial system (UAS) operators for no cost.
As of 1 July, operators will be able to obtain Application Programming Interface (API) access and can be onboarded on the system at no cost, enabling initial flights on North Dakota’s statewide BVLOS infrastructure, along with access to Northern Plains UAS Test Site personnel and expertise. Aircraft up to 1,320 pounds (598 kg) can be flown and altitudes up to 17,999 feet mean sea level (msl) reached depending on location.
The test site will be working with industry partner, Thales, to onboard operators on Vantis – teaching them how to use the system and giving them API applications to fly successful missions using compliant aircraft.
Renowned outdoor retailer L.L. Bean is officially making its way to North Dakota, bringing its heritage gear and apparel to the Red River Valley.
The Maine-based retail giant has signed a lease to open its first-ever North Dakota location at the West Acres Shopping Center in Fargo. According to mall officials, the new store will take over the approximately 15,000-square-foot space in the Aquarium Court formerly occupied by Forever 21, positioning it right next to Crave restaurant.
Bringing a Taste of Maine to the Midwest
The announcement has already sparked significant excitement from regional retail organizers. West Acres took to Facebook to enthusiastically share the news of the partnership with the community.
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“From their iconic Duck Boots and Boat and Tote bags to clothing for men, women, and the whole family, they’re bringing it all to Fargo!” the shopping center posted.
The expansive retail footprint will feature L.L. Bean’s signature array of high-quality apparel, outerwear, and footwear designed to withstand the rugged elements—a fitting match for North Dakota’s notoriously tough winter climate.
A Strategic Multi-Year Launch Timeline
The incoming retail hub represents a major cornerstone addition for the Fargo shopping destination. West Acres Chief Operating Officer Alissa Adams noted that the addition of the iconic brand directly targets the lifestyle and outdoor needs of local and regional shoppers.
Work on the Aquarium Court space is expected to transition over the coming months. Shoppers will have to wait just a little while longer to browse the racks in person, as the store is projected to officially open its doors to the public in 2027, with specific targets aimed toward the first three months of that year.
BISMARCK (KFGO) – North Dakota is offering new grant money to help improve the health and well being of workers at rural hospitals.
North Dakota Health and Human Services has opened applications for the hospital wellness equipment program. The goal is to help hospitals create healthier workplaces and support employees’ physical and mental health.
“The healthcare professionals caring for our communities need support, too,” said HHS Commissioner Pat Traynor. “These frontline workers often put the needs of others ahead of their own. By creating opportunities for staff to stay healthy, manage stress and recharge, hospitals can build stronger teams, improve retention and ultimately provide better care for the patients who depend on them.”
About $500,000 in federal funding is available. The state expects to award around 10 grants of about $50,000 each to eligible rural hospitals.
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The grants can be used to by wellness equipment like treadmills, exercise bikes and weight equipment.
State officials say healthcare workers continue to deal with staffing shortages and burnout, and hope the grants will improve employee wellness to keep hospital workers in rural communities.
