When you're driving through Grand Forks, North Dakota, on any given day or time, other than during a Fighting Hawks home game, it can be more frustrating than trying to scratch an itch on your middle back that neither hand can reach. Sometimes the lemon with a spare tire driving at school zone speeds in the left lane can be at fault. Other times it’s as if every stop light for blocks knows you’re coming and finds pleasure in watching you wait. Last weekend the Hawks were in town against Western Michigan, the streets emptied into the nest and every stop light turned green.

Friday night's game one was as ugly as an 8 a.m. wake-up after a long night of tequila at your local dive bar. The Broncos were all over the Hawks and kept goal scorers Jackson Blake, Riese Gaber, and Gavin Hain off the score sheet. Keeping the Hawks shut out is a hard thing to do, unlikely as it is to make a softball in the milk jug at the County Fair. It was a sight for sore eyes watching the Hawks lose 0-4, half the rink was on their way to the bar before the liquor sales were closed. The student section is always first to go as the upper deck seems to leave simultaneously, some students in the lower bowl stick around trying to keep hope or just for the clout of lower bowl seats. The Hawks needed to bounce back in game two on Saturday against their Conference opponent and prevent the series sweep.

In game two, the Hawks knew what they needed to do, they came out soaring to a quick lead, letting the Broncos know they stalked their prey. Cooper Moore, junior defenseman, and Jackson Kunz, sophomore forward, got the squad out to an early two-goal lead in the first before the Broncos rallied back and tied the game at two. Riese Gaber did what he does best and put the Hawks back in the lead before the buzzer sounded to end the first period. Scoring goals come as naturally to Gaber as swimming does to a seal. The Hawks increased their lead 5-2 in the second period with tallies from Chris Jandric, and Luke Bast on the power play. Just as the ice seemed to be tilted in the Hawk's favor the Broncos scored four unanswered goals silencing the arena. An all too familiar feeling of loss was falling over the crowd as fans watched with disappointment as their lead diminished. It was a nail-biting, bring-you-out-of-your-seat, back-and-forth game that ended with another Hawks loss to the Broncos 6-7. Carter Berger scored the game-winner for the Broncos with just under three minutes left of play, a surge from the Hawks with an empty net wasn’t enough to even the score and force overtime excitement.

Jackson Blake, the freshman phenom from Eden Prairie is making his name known in his first year with the Hawks scoring 9 goals, 15 assists, and leads the Hawks with 24 points in 23 games. The kid has championships in his blood, winning the Minnesota State Hockey Tournament in High School and Clark Cup in the USHL. Will he continue his streak at the Division 1 level and bring home a National Championship? You will have to wait and see.