Herald’s most-read sports stories of 2024: Major League Hockey, UND football changes lead the way

GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks Herald’s sports staff published more than 3,000 stories in 2024.

Out of those stories, these were the 10 most-read this year, based on online readership data.

Brad Elliott Schlossman spent weeks diving into

Max Chambers, the man behind Major League Hockey,

a three-on-three hockey league that was supposed to launch in the fall.

Readers across the nation were introduced to Chambers, who has a history of promising big-money startup teams and leagues but not delivering.

After five years as UND’s offensive coordinator,

Danny Freund joined two-time defending national champion South Dakota State

in January as the Jackrabbits’ co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Freund was on UND football’s staff for 13 years.

In May, the Herald learned that

St. Thomas men’s hockey will join the National Collegiate Hockey Conference

in 2026-2027.

The Tommies, who moved to the Division I level three years ago, will become the NCHC’s 10th member after Arizona State officially joined the conference this season.

The next day, Grand Forks native Bauer Berry, son of UND hockey coach Brad Berry,

announced his commitment

to St. Thomas.

In 2015,

Jake Brandt, a former UND goaltender,

stepped into the booth to serve as Midco’s lead analyst for UND hockey games with no previous broadcasting experience.

Brandt became a staple of Midco broadcasts, driving seven-hour roundtrips to Ralph Engelstad Arena to call games. Brandt said in March that the 2023-2024 season would be his last as a full-time analyst, though he would still be open to filling in when needed.

Bubba Schweigert took over UND football in 2013, reigniting a fan base and lifting the Fighting Hawks to a consistent Top-25 program.

In November,

Schweigert stepped down as head coach.

He will transition into a new role as UND’s Senior Associate Athletic Director for Engagement and Mentorship in January.

There was a time when Riese Gaber, who was voted UND hockey’s captain for his final year in Grand Forks, didn’t know if he wanted to be a professional hockey player or professional bull rider.

The Gilbert Plains, Man., native spent his childhood on his grandparents’ farm,

helping shape Gaber into one of college hockey’s best players.

Submitted photo

Grafton native Chad Demers

died in October

after a six-year battle with brain cancer.

Demers was diagnosed with Grade 4 Glioblastoma in September 2018 but continued to work full-time in hockey.

Demers started as an assistant coach at Division I Augustana University in August 2023.

Eric Schmidt, who was announced as UND’s next football coach on Dec. 8,

will make $300,000 in his first year

of a five-year deal.

Nine bonus opportunities were included in Schmidt’s contract, including a $10,000 bonus for sweeping North Dakota State, South Dakota State and South Dakota in a season.

The 1883 Collective, which launched in March,

aims to help UND athletes make money

through name, image and likeness deals.

The collective is headed by Jonathan Holth, the co-owner of Toasted Frog and Urban Stampede, and Matt Bonzer, the owner of Bonzer’s Sandwich Pub and a former UND swimmer.

Submitted photo.

In February, the Herald

requested the most recently available coaching contracts for head coaches and coordinators

at Missouri Valley Football Conference schools.

The salary data collected showed that UND lagged behind peers in coaches’ pay.

Schweigert’s base salary last season ranked 10th of 11 schools.

Schmidt’s contract, though, elevates UND into the middle of the pack.