For Ben Strinden, the journey back to the Frozen Four is a story a decade in the making. As a 13-year-old fan in 2016, he watched from three rows up at Amalie Arena in Tampa as his beloved North Dakota Fighting Hawks clinched the national championship with a 5-1 victory over Quinnipiac. The memory is etched with both joy and a touch of youthful frustration: when defenseman Troy Stecher tried to toss him a piece of the championship net, another fan snatched it away. "I was just so pissed," Strinden recalls. "That's why we've got to win one ourselves, so I can have a little bit of the net."

Now, the senior forward has his chance to create his own legacy. This Thursday in Las Vegas, Strinden and the Hawks will face Wisconsin in the Frozen Four semifinals, marking the program's first return to college hockey's biggest stage since that 2016 triumph. For Strinden, this trip is deeply personal, blending family history with a lifelong dream. Hockey runs in his blood; his grandfather, Earl, was a close friend of legendary benefactor Ralph Engelstad and a pillar of the UND community, while his mother, North Dakota Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden, is also an alum.

"This program has been a part of my blood ever since I was born," Strinden said, reflecting on the surreal experience. "It means that much more, it's everything to me... Sometimes you've just got to pinch yourself." He vividly remembers the electric atmosphere of the 2016 Frozen Four, where the traveling UND faithful created an unforgettable environment. "UND fans just travel so great. Seeing that personally in 2016, it was incredible," he said, noting he even attended the traditional team red carpet event, idolizing the players from the crowd.

A decade later, the roles have reversed. Ben Strinden is no longer a spectator in the stands; he's one of the players walking that red carpet, ready to write the next chapter for North Dakota. His mission is clear: to help his team capture a title and, this time, secure his own piece of the net.