GRAND FORKS — It was time to put Albrecht Field through some tests Friday night. First, the video board turned on. It played premade videos and showed a live shot of UND's new on-campus softball complex.
Then, it came time for the sound check. Jim Cornelison, the Chicago Blackhawks national anthem singer, grabbed the microphone. He walked a couple feet in front of home plate and belted out the national anthem.
His booming voice carried across University Avenue, where fraternity members paused their Friday night lawn activities to listen. They cheered in approval when he finished. Yes, the sound system works, too.
Albrecht Field opens to the public Saturday night, when UND takes on Northwest Missouri State in a fall softball contest at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.
m. Admission is free and parking is available at the Memorial Union ramp and the EERC building. The opening will have plenty of festivities around it.
The Pride of the North marching band and UND spirit squads will perform. There will be a flyover. And, yes, Cornelison will perform the national anthem.
The complex's lead donors, Dave and Alexa Albrecht, gave Cornelison a tour Friday after he flew in from Chicago. "I'll watch women's fastpitch on television sometimes — on the Big Ten Network," said Cornelison, who has two daughters. "I've always liked fast patch.
When I got the call about coming up here to do this, I thought, 'Oh wow, that's just awesome.' And then to see the field, it's beautiful and it just elevates the sport for the girls and for the fans who come here." Dave and Alexa Albrecht's daughter, Jackie, is UND's top pitcher.
Jackie was recruited to UND by former pitching coach Naomi Tellez, who is now the head coach at Northwest Missouri State — the opponent for Albrecht Field's opener. The venue is a mix of seats, bleachers and standing-room areas, including a party deck behind the left-field fence. "When I was in high school, girls sports was on a completely different level," Cornelison said.
"The country is getting excited now about women's sports. It's passionate. There's skill.
It's competitive. It's cool to be thought of to be part of this. I'd like to see women's sports continue as it has, because it's done so much for so many people.
" This is Cornelison's second time in North Dakota. He sang the national anthem at the Fargo Force's inaugural game at Scheels Arena in 2008. Friday marked his first time in Grand Forks, but he didn't need much of an introduction.
Cornelison wore his 2015 Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup champions ring. That team was captained by UND's Jonathan Toews. "The opportunity to come to the University of North Dakota — Jonathan Toews' old stomping grounds — it's a little hard to resist that," Cornelison said.
"This is a great hockey school. But there's more than hockey in the world, right? You can open up more opportunities for so many more people through sports. This stadium is part of it, creating that opportunity.
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