Kevin G

This year's UND team is already historic: it is the first UND team without a player born in the 1900s.

Berg

I’m pulling for Strinden to take a big step this year. He’s got size, strength, and a good motor. He’s always moving his feet. Let’s see if he can become a finisher around the net.

Every time someone mentions Wilkie, I think, “Chris Wilkie is back on UND?”

I think Wodon voted twice.

I’d bet all the pennies in my penny jar on who won the jumping tests.

I like it when the Force have at least one UND recruit on the team.

If Livanavage continues to produce, he's got a chance to get signed as a college free agent like Troy Stecher, who is suddenly on the cusp of 500 games played in the NHL. They're almost exactly the same size although Stecher had a pretty big advantage in being RHD while Jake is LHD. This could be a big year for Jake. I'm guessing that he will quarterback the first power play. He was at 0.76 pts/game last season; is a point-per-game out of reach this season? (There were only four defensemen in college hockey who made the point-per-game threshold last year. I could have named two of them for sure, maybe the third, but I would never have guessed the fourth.)

Both Boisvert and Emery were interviewed last night at the draft, and they both came across as humble, determined, and ready to work. Their attitude will make them easy to cheer for.

Three please! Emery’s development is going to be an interesting process to watch. Currently he’s seen as a defensive specialist and probably the best rush defender in this draft class. So he could step into a bottom-pairing role fairly soon. But if he can show any sign of offensive ability in his freshman season at UND, I wonder if the Rangers would have him stay in college an extra year or two to allow that side of his game to develop. Emery is raw but so athletic that it wouldn’t shock me if he turns into more than a defense-only defenseman.

That's so fitting. I've heard Nelson mentioned as a comp for Boisvert and Forbort for Emery.

What a great night for UND hockey. Two first-round draft picks in the same draft. When's the last time that happened?

If Emery hadn't gone to NYR, he probably wasn't getting past TOR at 31.

Emery still on the board. We'll see if he gets past Toronto at #23.

Wow, what a great day for Boisvert. #18 overall. That's higher than most mocks had him going.

When he makes an offer to a recruit, can the recruit refuse? Are there horse heads involved?

We need at least three forward lines that are a threat to score, in part because I don’t think the d-corps is going to provide much more offense than last year (would love to be wrong).

Player numbers? Projected lineups? Let’s go.

It's hard not to be excited about about this incoming group of commits, especially at the top end. Emery's combine testing was sensational. He is an athletic beast, a la Cole Smith. Boisvert is considered one of the ten best centers in the draft with very good skill and remarkable intangibles. Swanson gets on the scoresheet. And wins.

I reject these rankings on stylistic grounds. Descending order using alternating columns? You may as well publish the list in Sanskrit.

What was his dad's name? Didn't realize his dad played for CC.

+1 Looking forward to seeing Swanson in a UND sweater.

Caleb Heil traded from Sioux Falls to Madison.

First impressions: the defensive core has a chance to be special defensively. Special in a good way. will we have enough finishers? no idea what to expect from the goalie group.

UND has at least seven commits still playing in the the various USHL playoff series: Mac Swanson (Fargo Force) Cooper Simpson (Tri-City) Sacha Boisvert (Muskegon) Cody Croal, and David Klee (Muskegon) David Klee (Muskegon) Jayden Jubenville (Dubuque) Andrew Strathmann (Youngstown)