Bennett Zmolek’s first goal in four years sparks UND past Colorado College

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — There was no elaborate celebration from Bennett Zmolek.

In fact, he didn’t even see it go in.

“I saw Resch coming at me,” Zmolek said of teammate Cole Reschny. “I was like, I guess it went in.”

Zmolek scored his first goal in nearly four years to help UND beat Colorado College 5-2 on Saturday night in Ed Robson Arena.

His last goal was Jan. 20, 2022, when he was a freshman at Minnesota State against St. Thomas. That was 1,450 days and three hip surgeries ago.

With the game tied 1-1 in the second period, Zmolek spotted open ice on the right side of the rink and pinched from his defensive spot. Reschny made a cross-ice pass and Zmolek one-timed it five-hole on Tiger goalie Kaidan Mbereko.

“I’d say huge props to Resch,” Zmolek said. “He set it all up. I just had to tap it in.”

Teammate Dylan James grabbed the puck for Zmolek to keep.

“So proud of him,” James said. “Obviously, he’s been through a lot these past couple years. He’s played minimal games the last two years and he was voted captain. That shows what kind of guy he is. He’s the rock of our team. It’s very special seeing him get his first in a UND jersey.”

Zmolek’s teammates celebrated the goal more than he did.

“We were all screaming on the bench,” forward Anthony Menghini said. “He’s such a great leader, such a great captain, does all the right things. For him to put it in the net was huge.”

UND also received goals from James, Tyler Young, Abram Wiebe and Reschny. James and Reschny tallied assists and had two-point nights, while Menghini notched two assists.

UND (17-5) took four points from the weekend after losing Friday’s series opener 3-2 in overtime.

The Fighting Hawks finally got to Tiger goalie Kaidan Mbereko, who had won six in a row against UND. Mbereko gave up four goals on 24 shots before leaving with an apparent injury in the third period.

“I don’t believe our record is great against CC, but this team is different,” James said. “It feels great to bounce back from yesterday and get a win.”

The Fighting Hawks sit atop the National Collegiate Hockey Conference standings, five points ahead of Denver. The Pioneers come to Ralph Engelstad Arena next weekend.

“Their coach. . . I have a lot of respect for Kris Mayotte,” UND coach Dane Jackson said. “He kind of mentioned that he really thought our North Dakota mentality was evident this weekend. That was pretty nice for him to say.”

Jan Špunar, starting on consecutive nights for the first time since Dec. 5-6 at St. Cloud State, stopped 19 of 21. He allowed a pair of goals to defenseman Mats Lindgren, a midseason pickup from the ECHL.

But the night belonged to Zmolek.

After the game, Zmolek was asked what he remembered about his last goal.

“St. Thomas, right?” he said. “Their old barn. Low blocker.”

That goal came at the end of the 2021-22 season. Zmolek missed nearly the entire 2022-23 season due to hip surgery.

He transferred to UND in the summer of 2023, and helped anchor UND’s defensive corps to a Penrose Cup in 2023-24. He missed all but one game last year with another hip surgery.

“I’m so happy for him,” Jackson said. “It was a great read, a great pass and he got a lot of wood on it. It was really a high-skill play. The guys are so happy for him. He’s such a leader for us in so many ways. Obviously, most of the time it’s with his defensive play and penalty killing and everything else. But to see him bring out the offense in a big moment, I was just so happy for him. He’s a warrior.”

Notes: UND wore its black jerseys. It is 4-1 in the black jerseys this season. Colorado College wore gold. . . UND played without Josh Zakreski (lower body) and Cody Croal (illness). The Fighting Hawks moved Jayden Jubenvill into the lineup for Sam Laurila. . . Colorado College played without forward Owen Beckner (upper), forward Brandon Lisowsky (lower), defenseman Max Burkholder (lower) and defenseman Colton Roberts (upper).

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 twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.