GRAND FORKS — There's a sign in Grand Forks Central's locker room to remind the players of this season's challenge.

It says, "The hardest thing to do is to do what is expected."

"Every day, we go over it," junior forward Ryder Rivard said. "Again and again."

Grand Forks Central returns nearly 70% of its offense from a team that went 21-5-1 last season and won the North Dakota state boys hockey championship.

All-state forward Cooper Deziel is back. All-state goaltender Westin Nielsen is back. And the Knights are mixing in four sophomores, including Nolan Marto, who starred at the bantam level.

It means the Knights will be major favorites to hold the trophy on Feb. 28 at Fargo's Scheels Arena.

"There's a really big target on our back," senior captain Wyatt Blake said. "We can't just th

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