(KNOX) – Fifth-year forward Louis Jamernik V has been named the 2024-25 University of North Dakota hockey captain in a vote by his peers, the program announced on Friday.
Joining him in the leadership group is senior forward Jake Schmaltz, who will wear a letter for the second straight season, as well as senior forward Cameron Berg, senior forward Jackson Kunz and junior defenseman Bennett Zmolek, who will all don the “A” on their sweaters for the first time in their careers.
Jamernik V, who served as an assistant captain in 2023-24, has been a model of consistency in the lineup over his entire career with North Dakota, appearing in 135 of the possible 137 games during his time – including a current streak of 89 consecutive contests. While he has reached double digit point totals in each of the last two campaigns, he also ranks second on the team in faceoff victories and near the top among forwards in blocked shots. Over his four seasons, the Calgary, Alberta, native has 21 goals and 33 assists for 54 points. He is a three-time AHCA Academic All-America Scholar, NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and NCHC All-Academic Team member as a commercial aviation major.
Schmaltz also returns to the leadership group for the second straight year, carving out a role as one of the top shutdown centers in the NCHC. The McFarland, Wis., native finished last season with one goal and 10 assists for 11 points, while also notching a plus-3 rating and winning nearly 150 draws. Over his career, Schmaltz has appeared in 109 games for the Fighting Hawks, scoring 14 goals and adding 33 assists for 47 points. He is a three-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and NCHC All-Academic Team selection as a management major.
Berg begins his second season with the program in 2024-25 and enters the leadership group for the first time after a strong junior campaign with UND. The West Fargo, N.D., native exploded for career highs in goals (20), assists (17) and points (37) to become the first player since Brock Boeser (2015-16) to score at least 20 goals in their first year with the program while also ranking third on the team in points. His nine power play goals were also the best on the squad and never went consecutive games without a point. Berg was named to the All-NCHC Honorable Mention squad and was a finalist for the NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year honor after leading the squad with 394 faceoff victories last season. He is believed to be the first West Fargo, N.D., native to wear a letter at UND.
Kunz also put together his best offensive season as a collegiate player in 2023-24 and is set to join the leadership group for the first time in the green and white. The Grand Forks, N.D., native also set career highs in goals (9), assists (10) and points (19) while playing in a career-best 37 games. He became an important part of a lethal power play last season, often using his big body to screen the goaltender, helping the Hawks finish top-10 nationally with the man advantage. He was crucial in helping NoDak get back to the national tournament, scoring a point in all four postseason games and potting a goal in the final three. Kunz is a three-time NCHC All-Academic Team honoree as a management major.
Kunz and Berg are believed to be the first pair of North Dakotans to serve as captains together for the first time since 1987-88 (Steve Johnson, Scott Dub).
Zmolek also enters his second season with the program in 2024-25 and is the final member of the leadership group. The Rochester, Minn., native returned to the lineup last year following a season-ending injury in 2022-23, appearing in 33 games and tallying eight points. Zmolek was a dominant defensive player, finishing with a whopping 91 blocked shots to pace the team, the NCHC and record the most blocks by a UND player since Gage Ausmus in 2015-16. He also paced the squad with a plus-17 rating and is expected to compete for the NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year Award in 2024-25.
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!
