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It was the first intermission Jan. 21 at Minnesota State-Mankato and UNO, already short-handed at center, had lost Brock Montpetit to a game misconduct.

Archibald, you're in. ... And you're centering the top line.

"It was kind of a shock," said Josh Archibald, one of the top freshman wingers in the WCHA. "I figured (Jayson) Megna, playing center all year, would get put up on the first line. But I guess they wanted to spread things out."

Archibald, who had already scored his ninth goal of the season in the first period, added his 10th early in the second in one of his first shifts alongside Terry Broadhurst and Matt White.

The Mavericks haven't played a game since, but the 5-foot-10, 170-pounder from Brainerd, Minn., is expected to center the University of Nebraska at Omaha's top line — which coach Dean Blais prefers to call the Blue Line — for this weekend's home series with Bemidji State.

Archibald's suspicion is right — his inclusion on the top line should provide depth to the Mavs' forward lines.

Montpetit will center a line with Ryan Walters and Zahn Raubenheimer, reuniting a grouping that clicked at times last season. And Megna adds punch to a third line with Johnnie Searfoss and Andrew Schmit. Brent Gwidt, the assistant captain playing out of position at center, would lead a fourth line expected to produce more quality minutes.

"Hopefully we've got two centers (Montpetit and Megna) who are solid, and if Josh can do the job, it's just a bonus," Blais said.

Though he's been only a winger at UNO, Archibald is no stranger to the position.

"I've played center most of my life," he said. "In bigger tournaments, I'd go on the wing with — I don't know about better centers, but maybe more confident centers. But I'm pretty confident in myself.

"I've just got to get better at winning draws, and get better defensively. I've been a winger all year, so I'm more used to that. But it should be good."

Broadhurst, the Mavs' captain who has a team-high 14 goals, offered a favorable review of Archibald's baptism.

"I thought he, Whitey and myself played pretty well together," Broadhurst said. "Josh is a fast player like we are, and he can think the game, so that brings another element to it. You have to play a little differently, but he's capable of doing it."

Having an off week, and an extra five practices, before skating together against Bemidji State should help the line's chemistry, Archibald said.

"We're having a little fun out there, but we're working at it and not slacking off," he said. "It's given us the opportunity to understand each other and get used to each other's moves, and to try to think what the other person is thinking before the play is actually made."

Archibald, who is third on the team in goals and fifth with 15 points, said not too much changes on offense when moving to center. It's the defensive responsibility that increases.

"I've got to come back more defensively," he said. "I may have to be more cautious off draws, and in the defensive zone picking up their guy down low so that they don't get more scoring opportunities. But other than that the game doesn't really change."

A sixth-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins last year, Archibald is happy about skating with Broadhurst and White and is ready to see what happens as the season progresses.

"They needed someone to step up and I got put in that place," he said. "I figured I'd make the best of it and I had a really good game, and I guess Blais was pleased with it, so he decided to keep me there for a little bit. We'll see how things go from here.

"It's not a permanent position by any means, but hopefully I can do something with this opportunity."

Blais gave Archibald an opportunity earlier this season and Archibald cashed it in, earning his way onto the U.S. team coached by Blais in the World Juniors tournament in December and early January.

After going 1-3 in pool play, the U.S. rallied to finish seventh with two wins in the relegation round.

"It was a really good experience," Archibald said. "It wasn't exactly the ending we'd hoped. But to be able to play against all those top guys — first- and second-round draft picks, top-10 picks for next year — to play against all these other countries for Team USA, to have that jersey on, it was definitely a dream come true. It was a great opportunity."

Though he missed the Mavs' series against Quinnipiac while skating with Team USA, he came back feeling a little different.

"I think the experience gave me a little more confidence," Archibald said. "I'm a little more relaxed with my game, both defensively and offensively."

Contact the writer:

402-444-1027, rob.white@owh.com

twitter.com/RWhiteOWH

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