Former UND forward Jackson Keane now behind the bench at Bemidji State

Nov. 27—BEMIDJI, Minn. — Jackson Keane knew he wanted to get into coaching.

After winning back-to-back Penrose Cups at UND in 2020 and 2021, Keane played one year of pro hockey for the Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL.

Then, he touched base with UND coaches Brad Berry and Dane Jackson about his future.

"I remember Brad saying he thought I should go to the USHL and learn the recruiting side, learn the hockey side of coaching," Keane said. "When you're playing, you feel like you know what it's like to coach, but you really have no idea until you get into it."

Keane has picked it up quickly.

He spent one year as an assistant with the Winnipeg Blues in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in 2022-23. He was then hired as an assistant by the Fargo Force in the United States Hockey League and won a Clark Cup in his first season.

This summer, Bemidji State had an opening when assistant Andrew Magera left for Lindenwood. Beavers coach Tom Serratore hired Keane.

"Jackson Keane is just an unbelievable kid, a great hockey mind, an unbelievable person," Serratore said. "He has a great perspective on things. He's an even-keeled guy. I love him. I love having him be part of our program. He's fun to be around, and he's got a plethora of knowledge."

This weekend, Keane will be on the opposite bench of his alma mater and one of his mentors, Jackson, as UND takes on Bemidji State at 7:37 p.m. Friday in Bemidji and 6:07 p.m. Saturday in Ralph Engelstad Arena.

"It's going to be cool," Keane said. "It's going to be weird. But I've had it circled on my calendar for a long time."

Keane played three years at UND from 2018-21, tallying five goals and 14 points in 72 games. He was known as a loyal teammate. During his junior season,

he requested to be pulled from the lineup

so every senior could play.

"He was a great player for us," Jackson said. "Always one of the most selfless team guys. He put in a lot of time with Fargo, hitting the road a lot and doing a lot of recruiting. It was a great hire for Ernie (Serratore)."

Jackson said he exchanged texts with Keane on Wednesday morning.

"I'm just excited to go against him and he said he's fired up to be back in The Ralph, too," Jackson said. "I'm sure it will be a special weekend for him, and we couldn't be more proud of him."

Keane comes from a hockey family.

His father, Mike, played 1,161 NHL regular-season games for the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks, winning three Stanley Cups. He also played 443 professional games in the American Hockey League.

Mike has served as a development coach for the Winnipeg Jets since 2013.

"Being in player development, half of his job is being a psychologist and a guy players can talk to," Keane said. "I've learned a lot from him in terms of that. He doesn't do as much on the coaching side, but a big part of being a coach is being able to have those conversations and being a guy people can trust. I've enjoyed that aspect of it. Even when I was playing, guys like Jax and Brad were guys I could go talk to if I needed anything. They were always good about it."

Things have gone well early in Keane's coaching career.

Bemidji State enters this weekend's series with a 9-5-2 record. The Beavers haven't lost a regulation game in more than a month.

"It's been fun," he said. "It's been a lot of what I was doing in Fargo in terms of going and watching games and stuff. It's cool to watch juniors and know the kids are going to impact you sooner rather than later. A (junior hockey) draft, sometimes you're a couple years away.

"Tom, Wints (Travis Winter) and Joe (Wegwerth) have really helped me a lot in terms of getting ready and learning, but they've also let me coach as well."