March 11, 2025 • 6 mins
North Dakota Hockey Coach, Brad Berry joins Tim and Paul to discuss the first round of the NCHC playoffs in Omaha.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Morning, coach, Morning, guys, good morning, Well here we go.
It didn't go your way Saturday night. But I think
you've pointed it out as others have. The slate is
clean for everybody. It's a whole different situation now, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
For sure, it's you know, playoff hockey. There's the standings
are a reset again here and now it's the second
season and guys are excited about it. I know, obviously
we wanted to be at home here, but it's on
the road. It is what it is, and we're gonna
go down and make sure that we have a great
weekend in Omaha here. And you know we did a
(00:37):
few years ago down there. We had to go on
the road and came out with a couple of wins.
So we plan on doing that as well.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Yeah, I think if I remember, right, didn't you lose
the first game and then won the next two? Right?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah? Correct? We won Saturday and then Sunday, three game
of three nights, And that's gonna be a big thing
here because you know a lot of times in our
league at the NAC it does go to three games.
You know, we've we've had a go three games at
home here a few times as well on the right
end of it. So like at the end of the
day here, that's the parody in our league and how
competitive it is, and got to try to win in two,
(01:10):
but if it has to be in three, well we'll
make it three.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Well you talk about you know, three games, three nights.
That brings me to the next question. Do you have
any news on the health situation of your team?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yeah, we got obviously the two long term injuries of
Caleb Johnson and Bennettaemola grew out for the whole season,
the rest of the season here. But e j Amory
is you know, I think that's probably like there's a
there's a chance he could get in the line up
here this weekend here. You know, obviously it's early in
the week here, and you know we're hoping that he
can he can get in the lineup.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
There's a few things you've got to clean up after
Saturday night's game, wouldn't you agree?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, Well, I think it's you know, when we were
starting to chase the game, when we got down two goals,
then we gave up some number chances and I think
just the patience with the game as far as they
with it. I mean, we had plenty of chances in
the first period to get up a couple of goals
right away. Their goaltending was outstanding early on, gave them
a chance to get their feet on the ground, and
then we just chase it. And by chasing it, we
(02:13):
you know, we gave up out number of chances where
usually we have numbers above the puck and and you know,
we kind of let TJ high and dry there a
couple of times.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah, is it tougher to play the same opponent for
the third, fourth, maybe fifth straight games or does it
make it a little easier to prepare?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Now? You know what at the end of the day,
Like I mean, there's a ton of familiarity in our
league when you talk about you know, the teams that
we play each and every year up to four times
a year. So I don't think it matters on that
side of it. Like, you know, as far as preparation,
we do our job regardless, you know, as far as
who we play and how many times we play. And
it's it's one of those things about you know, making
sure that we play to our identity and making sure
(02:53):
we play with our structure to give us an opportunity
to win a sixty minute games. So no, it doesn't.
It doesn't matter how many times you play, who you're playing.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Thereesn't many difference. They know you, You know them, right, yes, exactly.
The uh, well, the bottom line is, and I know
you guys aren't looking forward or ahead, you're just looking
to Friday night. But you got to win this playoff
tournament to move on in the NCAA tournament. The guys
(03:22):
have that in their back of their heads at all.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Oh for sure, absolutely, yeah, yeah, we talked about where
we're at, and you know what we have to do
and what's in front of us, and you know the
short term in the long termament. You know, you're right,
it's short termam. It's Friday night. You win the first
game and then you take care of the second step.
But at the end of the day, they do know
absolutely how we have to get in the national tournament.
And it's one of those things whereas of right now,
(03:46):
I think it's only Western in Arizona State are guaranteed
to get into the national tournament of our nine team league,
which normally we put four or five in every year.
So there's gonna be a lot of work to do.
And we're all about that as well as other teams
know that as well as their chance to get in
and what they have to do.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Nice little celebration on Saturday for the seniors on your team.
That's always, uh, one of those situations where it's emotional,
but you're kind of happy that the guys made it.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Through, right, Yeah, you know what, absolutely, you know, it's
one of those things where it's always tough, you know,
that night, you know, and and you know, we've been
raising Penrose Cups, so usually when that happens and this
year we haven't. But at the end of the day,
you know, it's an emotional time because you know, that
(04:33):
was the last opportunity for those seniors to play on
this sheet of ice in front of our great fans
here and uh and uh and again you know, it's
one of those things where they've done a lot to
our program here to to make them proud and make
us proud here. So at the end of the day,
we're going to continue that on now on the road
and and keep playing hockey.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
So I did have one quick question. I know we're
going to see it tonight. I just couldn't rolled off.
But you know, Northcote has had a good approach on
the road for many of its series this season. Is
there anything that I guess, any mystery as to why
hockey is okay doing well on the road or how
it goes goes about its business. Is there any secret formula?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
No, I just think you know, each and every year
is different, and you know, normally at the relp here
where you know, last year, I don't think we maybe
lost one or two games, not very many, and I
know that we we dominated at home and on the
road we're very good as well. But at the end
of the day, I think this year, for whatever reason,
I think it's a you know, we play a simple
road style game, you know, one where you know, it's
(05:37):
not a flashy game. It's one of those things where
you know everybody's on the same page, you get the
job done. And I think at home here I think
we get a little tendency, a little trying to get
a little too fancy or too cute. And I think
maybe a situation where you know, you know, puck management
is a big deal, and you know sometimes when you're
simple and you move pucks north and you have an
opportunity to put to press the other team with them
(05:59):
and uncomfortable spots. That's when you have a chance to capitalize.
And I think, you know, when we were on the
road this year, I think we just simplified our game
a lot more. And you know we've talked about that
at home here too. But like I said, at the
end of the day, it's big when you score the
first goal or get an opportunity to dictate play because
I think you know, in this year, and especially when
(06:20):
when we score the first goal, things happen, you know,
pretty consistently, and things good things happen. But when we
get down a goal, I think it's a situation where
sometimes there's a little bit of impatience and I think
that's playoff hockey. And that's what we're talking about this week,
that you've got to be patient, strong, defensively and make
sure that you capitalize on your opportunities when you have them.
(06:40):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Coach. We'll see you tonight, Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, we'll see us
Morning, coach, Morning, guys, good morning, Well here we go.
It didn't go your way Saturday night. But I think
you've pointed it out as others have. The slate is
clean for everybody. It's a whole different situation now, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
For sure, it's you know, playoff hockey. There's the standings
are a reset again here and now it's the second
season and guys are excited about it. I know, obviously
we wanted to be at home here, but it's on
the road. It is what it is, and we're gonna
go down and make sure that we have a great
weekend in Omaha here. And you know we did a
(00:37):
few years ago down there. We had to go on
the road and came out with a couple of wins.
So we plan on doing that as well.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Yeah, I think if I remember, right, didn't you lose
the first game and then won the next two? Right?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah? Correct? We won Saturday and then Sunday, three game
of three nights, And that's gonna be a big thing
here because you know a lot of times in our
league at the NAC it does go to three games.
You know, we've we've had a go three games at
home here a few times as well on the right
end of it. So like at the end of the
day here, that's the parody in our league and how
competitive it is, and got to try to win in two,
(01:10):
but if it has to be in three, well we'll
make it three.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Well you talk about you know, three games, three nights.
That brings me to the next question. Do you have
any news on the health situation of your team?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yeah, we got obviously the two long term injuries of
Caleb Johnson and Bennettaemola grew out for the whole season,
the rest of the season here. But e j Amory
is you know, I think that's probably like there's a
there's a chance he could get in the line up
here this weekend here. You know, obviously it's early in
the week here, and you know we're hoping that he
can he can get in the lineup.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
There's a few things you've got to clean up after
Saturday night's game, wouldn't you agree?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, Well, I think it's you know, when we were
starting to chase the game, when we got down two goals,
then we gave up some number chances and I think
just the patience with the game as far as they
with it. I mean, we had plenty of chances in
the first period to get up a couple of goals
right away. Their goaltending was outstanding early on, gave them
a chance to get their feet on the ground, and
then we just chase it. And by chasing it, we
(02:13):
you know, we gave up out number of chances where
usually we have numbers above the puck and and you know,
we kind of let TJ high and dry there a
couple of times.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah, is it tougher to play the same opponent for
the third, fourth, maybe fifth straight games or does it
make it a little easier to prepare?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Now? You know what at the end of the day,
Like I mean, there's a ton of familiarity in our
league when you talk about you know, the teams that
we play each and every year up to four times
a year. So I don't think it matters on that
side of it. Like, you know, as far as preparation,
we do our job regardless, you know, as far as
who we play and how many times we play. And
it's it's one of those things about you know, making
sure that we play to our identity and making sure
(02:53):
we play with our structure to give us an opportunity
to win a sixty minute games. So no, it doesn't.
It doesn't matter how many times you play, who you're playing.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Thereesn't many difference. They know you, You know them, right, yes, exactly.
The uh, well, the bottom line is, and I know
you guys aren't looking forward or ahead, you're just looking
to Friday night. But you got to win this playoff
tournament to move on in the NCAA tournament. The guys
(03:22):
have that in their back of their heads at all.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Oh for sure, absolutely, yeah, yeah, we talked about where
we're at, and you know what we have to do
and what's in front of us, and you know the
short term in the long termament. You know, you're right,
it's short termam. It's Friday night. You win the first
game and then you take care of the second step.
But at the end of the day, they do know
absolutely how we have to get in the national tournament.
And it's one of those things whereas of right now,
(03:46):
I think it's only Western in Arizona State are guaranteed
to get into the national tournament of our nine team league,
which normally we put four or five in every year.
So there's gonna be a lot of work to do.
And we're all about that as well as other teams
know that as well as their chance to get in
and what they have to do.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Nice little celebration on Saturday for the seniors on your team.
That's always, uh, one of those situations where it's emotional,
but you're kind of happy that the guys made it.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Through, right, Yeah, you know what, absolutely, you know, it's
one of those things where it's always tough, you know,
that night, you know, and and you know, we've been
raising Penrose Cups, so usually when that happens and this
year we haven't. But at the end of the day,
you know, it's an emotional time because you know, that
(04:33):
was the last opportunity for those seniors to play on
this sheet of ice in front of our great fans
here and uh and uh and again you know, it's
one of those things where they've done a lot to
our program here to to make them proud and make
us proud here. So at the end of the day,
we're going to continue that on now on the road
and and keep playing hockey.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
So I did have one quick question. I know we're
going to see it tonight. I just couldn't rolled off.
But you know, Northcote has had a good approach on
the road for many of its series this season. Is
there anything that I guess, any mystery as to why
hockey is okay doing well on the road or how
it goes goes about its business. Is there any secret formula?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
No, I just think you know, each and every year
is different, and you know, normally at the relp here
where you know, last year, I don't think we maybe
lost one or two games, not very many, and I
know that we we dominated at home and on the
road we're very good as well. But at the end
of the day, I think this year, for whatever reason,
I think it's a you know, we play a simple
road style game, you know, one where you know, it's
(05:37):
not a flashy game. It's one of those things where
you know everybody's on the same page, you get the
job done. And I think at home here I think
we get a little tendency, a little trying to get
a little too fancy or too cute. And I think
maybe a situation where you know, you know, puck management
is a big deal, and you know sometimes when you're
simple and you move pucks north and you have an
opportunity to put to press the other team with them
(05:59):
and uncomfortable spots. That's when you have a chance to capitalize.
And I think, you know, when we were on the
road this year, I think we just simplified our game
a lot more. And you know we've talked about that
at home here too. But like I said, at the
end of the day, it's big when you score the
first goal or get an opportunity to dictate play because
I think you know, in this year, and especially when
(06:20):
when we score the first goal, things happen, you know,
pretty consistently, and things good things happen. But when we
get down a goal, I think it's a situation where
sometimes there's a little bit of impatience and I think
that's playoff hockey. And that's what we're talking about this week,
that you've got to be patient, strong, defensively and make
sure that you capitalize on your opportunities when you have them.
(06:40):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Coach. We'll see you tonight, Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, we'll see us
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