NCHC to review Adam Benák's slash on Cody Croal

Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald By Brad Elliott Schlossman Today at 1:44 AM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? GRAND FORKS — The National Collegiate Hockey Conference will review Adam Benák's slash on UND forward Cody Croal late in Saturday night's game in Ralph Engelstad Arena — part of the league's standard procedure. The slash occurred as Croal put the puck into an empty net with 2:03 remaining to solidify UND's 4-1 win over Western Michigan. ADVERTISEMENT Benák, Western Michigan's top-line center and the national rookie of the month for October, took a one-handed swing at Croal with his stick. Benák's stick caught Croal in the neck and the UND junior forward immediately dropped behind the net. A melee ensued. Croal eventually got up, skated to Benák, locked up with him and yelled at him. NCHC officials Jake Jackson and Sterling Egan called a five-minute major and a game misconduct after video review. A game misconduct triggers an automatic ejection, but not a suspension. The league reviews all five-minute major penalties for potential supplemental discipline. NCHC commissioner Heather Weems and director of officiating Mike Schmitt attended Saturday night's game. Croal played on the ensuing power play, but was unable to attend the postgame press conference because he was receiving medical treatment. ADVERTISEMENT "He's ginger and sore," UND coach Dane Jackson said. Jackson said twice that he does not think Benák is a dirty player. "It's not a very smart play," Jackson said. "To me, the game is over and it's a reckless stick, but I don't think it was malicious. . . he's not a dirty player. "The way it happened, it worked out bad and unfortunately Cody got hurt. I don't think he's a dirty player and was trying to do it. I think he was sweeping at the puck. I personally didn't feel it was a malicious play." Croal had a career-best three-point night. He scored twice and tallied an assist. He is now tied as UND's second-leading scorer (eight points in nine games) behind captain Cole Reschny. In the second period, Croal leveled Benák along the boards, forcing a turnover that led to Croal's first goal of the night. Reschny kept the puck in the zone after the turnover and passed it to Gavin Lindberg, who fed Croal in the slot. Croal flipped a backhand past Western Michigan goaltender Quentin Miller for his fourth goal of the season. ADVERTISEMENT "He's just a workhorse," UND senior forward Anthony Menghini said. "You see it every day in practice. He battles hard. He does all the little things right — team-first mentality, forecheck, backcheck, really solid, really reliable." Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald Croal's line also was responsible for matching Western Michigan's top line of Benák, William Whitelaw and Bobby Cowan. Benák, a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild, scored each night, but Whitelaw and Cowan were held without a point on the weekend. Whitelaw had tallied 14 points in Western Michigan's first seven games of the season. Benák passed Whitelaw as Western Michigan's leading scorer with 15 points. "(Croal) just plays hard all the time," linemate Gavin Lindberg said. "He's so consistent, always winning his battles. He's really fun to play with." After the game, Menghini awarded Croal the team's warrior helmet as player of the game. "Let's keep it going," Croal told his teammates. "Have fun tonight." ADVERTISEMENT Menghini said he was disappointed to see the slash at the end. "You get a little frustrated, because it's a cheap shot after he had already scored," Menghini said. "Sometimes, emotions get high, but to see our guys step in. . . I'm glad our teammates stepped up." pic.twitter.com/G3v12DmSB1 — Dave Berger (@DBergerHockey) November 8, 2026 Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags NORTH DAKOTA FIGHTING HAWKS UND SPORTS UND FIGHTING HAWKS HOCKEY SUBSCRIBERS ONLY By Brad Elliott Schlossman Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald's circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at [email protected]. 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