In 2018, UND brought back former captain and star player Jim Archibald for a new event called 'One Last Shift.'
Archibald, who played for UND from 1981-85, skated a couple of laps in full uniform before the game, gave the team fist bumps and stood on the blue line during the national anthem.
Then, UND's all-time penalty minute leader told the team they better get off to a fast start after his display, or they're going to hear from him. It worked.
UND scored less than four minutes into the game and beat Wisconsin that night, 5-0.
There was some significance to the opponent. UND beat the Badgers in the 1982 NCAA national championship game when Archibald was on the team.
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It took a few years, but UND is bringing the event back.
Three players will skate 'One Last Shift' this season.
Brandon Bochenski, the city's mayor and a former Hobey Baker Award finalist, will participate in the event on regular-season opening weekend against Niagara on Oct. 9.
Dave Christian, who won an Olympic gold medal with the Miracle on Ice team in 1980, will participate in the event when UND hosts rival Minnesota on Thanksgiving weekend.
And Ed Belfour, who backstopped UND to the 1987 NCAA national championship before embarking on a Hall of Fame career in the NHL, will participate on Jan. 28 against St. Cloud State. The 1982 national championship team also will be on hand that weekend to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their title.
Bochenski, Christian and Belfour all played in the NHL.
Bochenski played for the Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning before heading overseas, where he starred for Kazakhstan-based Barys Astana in the top Russian league.
Christian, who played for the Winnipeg Jets, Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks, was UND's all-time leader in NHL goals and points until he was recently passed by Zach Parise and Jonathan Toews.
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Belfour played 963 games in the NHL and racked up 484 wins, ranking in the top five all-time. He played for the Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers. Belfour brought the Stanley Cup back to Grand Forks after winning it in 1999 with Dallas.
'One Last Shift' is a concept UND took from the Chicago Blackhawks. Former UND forward Troy Murray was a participant in a 'One Last Shift' event in Chicago.
