GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Valley News Live) – Like most hockey players, TJ Semptimphelter’s love for the game started with Learn to Skate lessons, and early on, he found out the crease was his home.

“I would go and sit in the crease, and I would tug on the instructor’s pants and say ‘Hey, can you let me put the pads on? I don’t want to skate around in circles. I want to go in the crease and move around,’” Semptimphelter said. “I think, ever since then, I just had a love for the position.

“It’s been a perfect marriage ever since, and I’m glad I made that decision.”

Semptimphelter is playing his final season of college hockey at North Dakota, but his journey to Grand Forks is a unique, cross-country venture.

His college hockey career began at Northeastern in the 2021-22 season, where he backed up Devon Levi, who is now a goalie for the Buffalo Sabres.

“It was just great to have that ability to watch him and continue to implement little things in my game,” Semptimphelter said. “We’re kind of a similar stature, we like to play similar games, and it was great to just pick apart what he’s doing that allows him to have success, and then trying my best to implement that in my game.”

Then, he picked up his stride at Arizona St., where much heavier playing time helped TJ become one of the best goalies in Sun Devil history.

“It was great for me to just develop that endurance, I think, and that was a huge piece that I really gained from ASU, just really being ready for those back-to-back games, those long series when you’re on the road, and you’re not sure when you’re coming back home,” Semptimphelter said.

Now, the transfer goalie is embarking on his final collegiate campaign with North Dakota, a program that caught his attention two years ago, when UND faced TJ and Arizona State in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game in Las Vegas.

“I remember coming out, T-Mobile Arena, looking around, and there was just a sea of green, everywhere I looked,” Semptimphelter said. “I think just feeling that level of support really drew me to this program, and I think fans, they might not always realize this, but how powerful it is to have that kind of support and that kind of energy behind you.”

And TJ is enjoying every moment.

“There’s nothing better than when they’re calling out the starting lineups, and just hearing the whole section going crazy for you and everybody else that’s joining you on the lines,” Semptimphelter said. “We want to do everything we can to bring a national championship home, not only for us and the staff, but for this amazing fanbase.”

North Dakota begins conference play this weekend when UND heads east to face off with Minnesota-Duluth starting Friday at 7:07 p.m.

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