The league office gave the Northern Horde a warm welcome to D2 by scheduling their opener against the defending champion Chaos. These teams squared off in a pre-season scrimmage where Chaos completely controlled the play. However, the Horde stepped up to the challenge on Sunday night and in an evenly played game drew 2-2. The Horde gave up the first goal at 2:18 of the first period, but the Horde responded at 16:47 in the second period when Dan Bolles picked the puck up from behind the net and fed Jeff Nelson who beat the Chaos goalie to tie the game. The pace of play picked up and Chaos scored again at 7:57 of the second. However, a scant four minutes later, Bolles again found Nelson, this time in the slot, and the Horde evened the score. In the third period and the overtime, each team had some good chances, but neither could beat the goalies, who both played tough all night. Pete Morrow played his best game for the Horde to date, facing 25 Chaos shots and allowing only two goals.
The Horde scrimmage the Ice Sages on Monday, November 2 at 10:10 pm at Hopkins Pavilion and then face the Puck Hounds at 6:00 pm on Saturday, November 7 at St. Louis Park (west rink).
