NCHC suspends Western Michigan forward Adam Benák

Russell Hons / UND athletics By Brad Elliott Schlossman Today at 7:59 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 has suspended Western Michigan forward Adam Benák for one game for slashing UND's Cody Croal on Saturday night. The slash occurred as Croal scored an empty-net goal to seal a 4-1 UND victory in Ralph Engelstad Arena. ADVERTISEMENT Benák swung his stick with one hand at Croal as he released the puck. The blade of Benák's stick hit Croal in the throat. Croal immediately crumpled to the ice behind the net. A melee ensued in the corner. Croal eventually got up, found Benák, locked up with him and said a few words. NCHC officials Jake Jackson and Sterling Egan assessed Benák a five-minute major and a game misconduct, which carries an automatic ejection but not suspension. NCHC commissioner Heather Weems and director of officiating Mike Schmitt, who both attended the game, reviewed the play as part of the league's standard procedure. They review all major penalties. Benák will miss Western Michigan's home game against Colorado College on Friday night. He will be eligible to return for the series finale on Saturday. Benák, the national rookie of the month for October, scored in both games to take over as Western Michigan's leading scorer with 15 points in nine games. He's a fourth-round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild. In the summer of 2022, the NCAA changed its rulebook to say that suspensions should be reserved for "egregious" conduct. The coaches at the time felt too many suspensions were being handed out. ADVERTISEMENT Since then, there's been a notable decline in suspensions in the NCHC. Benák's is the NCHC's first in two seasons. Croal, a junior assistant captain, was the first star of the game on Saturday night, scoring two goals and tallying three points. It was his first three-point game at the NCAA level. On his first goal of the night, he leveled Benák near the boards, forcing a turnover. Cole Reschny kept the puck in the zone, passing it to Gavin Lindberg. Lindberg found Croal cutting to the slot. They connected and Croal flipped a backhand past Broncos goalie Quentin Miller. Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald Croal's line, along with Lindberg and Ollie Josephson, had the assignment of defending Western Michigan's top line of Benák, William Whitelaw and Bobby Cowan. That trio entered the weekend with a combined 35 points in seven games. They combined for two against UND. Croal played on the five-minute major power play after Benák's penalty, 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." After the game, UND forward Anthony Menghini awarded Croal the team's warrior helmet as player of the game. "He's just a workhorse," 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." Menghini said he was disappointed to see the slash at the end. ADVERTISEMENT "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." Ugh. pic.twitter.com/fP6u4lW7mt — 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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