I Ranger

Wow I didn't realize he was so young. I knew he accelerated and committed at an early age but didn't think he was still 16. I would think based on the way this season has gone and his age that it should be a no brainer for both parties that he plays at least another year of junior.

I wonder how this came about? Was it like last year when Max Plante wasn't originally invited (although injury played a part) and then Sandelin called and said you'd be crazy to leave him off the team? Either way some of these picks are just crazy to me! How do you pick Kvasnicka not only over Zellers and Potter originally but over a player playing in the same league that is putting up way better numbers (JP Hurlbert). And like I've mentioned before, Potter not getting selected is crazy to me. Makes me believe USA hockey is almost blackballing both Potter and Hurlbert for leaving the Program early (although Potter was selected for the U18 world tourney last spring and was the best player in the games I watched).

I know this isn't UND related but Cullen Potter not being selected is ridiculous as well. Way better player than Kvansnicka and McMorrow for sure and I would say Mooney as well. It's crazy but true but if it was David Carle making these decisions I would have far less argument but it's not!

Pretty certain Ashton Schultz is coming in or he is gone.

Who are the players that age out and can't play another year of Junior? Schultz X2, and Pilgram? So those 3 have to come in and assuming Simpson comes for sure and I would think Williams there's 5 leaving little to no room for a high-end CHL guy (Preston or someone of the like). And this pushes McKamey back for another year so does he not want to wait. Could be interesting decisions with forwards especially now that Pilgram has really started to pick it up. With the CHL opening up, the theme seems to be most of the top dog schools leave 1 or 2 roster spots open much later than previously.

We must have been replying at the same time so UND did obviously put forth an effort to get Wyatt.

The question is did anyone other than Minnesota (and Mich St) really recruit Wyatt after the Brooks commit? As has been mentioned they are a 3 headed package deal and after Brooks committed to Mich St I wonder how many schools really went after Wyatt since it had to be pretty well recognized/assumed he would follow to Mich St.? Joey is supposedly the biggest prize of the 3 so are any schools really putting much effort into him or again just assuming he's already a Minnesota commit?

But also took a really dumb/unnecessary penalty with 6 minutes left in the third period of a 1-0 hockey game. Tough call! I think this team needs Kernan and Littler in the lineup and producing to be successful.

I think the one big thing with DuPont is him waiting to see how playing your draft year in college affects McKenna and Verhoeff's (more specifically probably Verhoeff as a D man) draft stock. These two (along with if there are any others playing college hockey from the CHL currently) I believe will be a case study for others moving forward. If one or both don't put up all that great numbers and they fall a little in the draft I think would have a lasting effect on others thinking of accelerating and leaving the CHL. For all the others that get drafted this summer, it certainly seems like a no brainer to take the jump to a higher level of play.

From what I've heard, Carels is supposedly the one who informed his agent/advisor that he wanted to come to UND right after the Verhoeff and Reschney commits that Schloss has mentioned on his Pod.

Certainly agree on Lin. I would think and like to see us get one of the WHL guys (Lin, Carels, Rudolph, Dupont). If would could get one of them and already would have Lindberg and Mackenzie coming, I think we would only have room for one unless like was mentioned if a guy like Jubenvil hits the portal. Would really like to add Preston to the forward group!

I think both Schultz's will be coming for sure. So that's 4. Lose James, Strinden, Rickwood, Young for sure as seniors and then only early departures and transfers. I agree I think we are certainly after a high end CHL forward for next year so will be interesting to watch. Could mean we lose a current recruit and/or someone or a few on the current roster.

I think he has about 700,000 reasons why he won't!

I really wish we did but I don't think so. Unfortunately I think our main big targets are going to be the CHL guys committing in the spring/summer again.

This is certainly no guarantee. Two of the worst recruiting classes we've had in years was the 2-3 years after the national title which still frustrates me to this day. How we never capitalized on that momentum like DU has is infuriating to me.