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More than 1 acquisition this off-season has raved about the REA. In their interviews this spring, the most frequent answers new players have given for choosing UND are the coaching staff, facilities & the track-record of getting guys to the next level.

Nice blog, Shayla.

Because Schlossman already named the most notable player who attended, RJ Thompson. If he can list him, it shouldn't be such a top secret question to ask who the other attendees were.

Is this invite-only camp held by UND just for regional American players from MN, ND & SD? Or are there some Canadian players who also got invited?

Who's this booger guy & why do you call him that?

He had only a partial laceration & he's for the most part healed now. He would start in early October with the rest of the team.

It takes a special group of determined players to succeed in Toronto come the playoffs. Players who are both physically talented & mentally strong, because having the former without the latter isn't enough in that city. That theory played out last night. Berube is more than competent, but it would probably take the coaching genius of a Scotty Bowman type on their bench to manage all those entitled personalities like Bowman did in Montreal. Outhustled & outgritted with a defenseman & an aging journeyman forward leading the way for Florida. Can imagine Smaby next year trying to get the defensemen to play like Seth Jones did in Game 7.

How do CHL players get "kick backs" from the NHL teams who draft them, or are you talking about their education packages? I thought CHL players only received a monthly stipend of around $250. Or perhaps you're referring to USHL players.

So if it continues to play out like this -- more talented American 16 & 17 yos preferring the CHL over the USHL -- it sounds like the CHL comes out the bigger winner in the long run..although the CHL currently doesn't see it that way because they think they're getting cheated by the NCAA of their talented 18 & 19 yos. They're only looking at one side of the equation, not realizing they will likely have it pretty good in a few years with more talented 16 & 17 yos.

I guess that shoots the hole in the theory, popular amongst some here, that it'll be next to impossible to bring any OHL studs west of Lake Michigan. There are far too many talented players in both the OHL & WHL to confine them all respectively to 1 NCAA conference.

If you start creating that kind of partnership/pipeline between the CHL & NCAA, it sounds like that would push the USHL more to the fringe & make it less relevant. Plus, what are the advantages for American guys of playing in the CHL over the USHL? Speaking strictly about the advantages for developing their game, not other factors like the location may be more scenic or they can be more independent & maybe get away from mom & dad.

Good catch. I think he injured himself in early March, so he's pretty much healed in just over 2 months. Bear's ranked anywhere from #8 to #22 overall and, if given the right linemates, could easily translate to having a 20g, 20a season here. Logic would dictate that the staff is pursuing 1 or 2 high-end scorers, because it doesn't make sense that if McKenna suddenly became unavailable that they wouldn't pursue any other high-end scorers. Go for McKenna & no one else? That dog don't hunt. The 25-26 jigsaw puzzle is missing 1 or 2 key pieces to make it a legitimate contender. The fact that they haven't announced any Fs lately for next year leads me to think that they're waiting until after the draft to see what NHL teams want (may have to eat crow if they announce now only to have one of their possible high-end recruits signing later after the draft instead).

CHL loyalists may be upset about losing top players like Williams, but I think most of their frustration & bitterness stem from the NCAA removing all doubts that it's the highest tier of non-professional hockey in NA. There's no escaping that fact now, & they don't want to admit it. It's an ego thing.

"I met a couple of guys on the team. They were awesome."- C. Williams Like someone else mentioned here, it's nice to have current players who are good ambassadors for the program. Makes it that much easier to sell UND to future recruits. A very nice start to establishling the WHL --> UND pipeline. Over a month ago, Jackson told Izzo on a podcast that 60-70% (if memory serves correct) of all CHL talent is in the WHL, which seemed like an exaggeration to me; but he should know, I guess.

Did pretty well his rookie season in the WHL. His numbers are quite a bit better than Zakreski's when comparing their rookie seasons in that league. Solid. Waiting on @nascar99's expert analysis on him since he's the resident expert of that league.

Does anyone know what he said his goals for the upcoming season were?

Sounds like Jackson is utilizing the former coaches as mentors more than anything.

Very big loss for them. You can't replace a first round D with 2 years of D1 experience just like that from the CHL. He was their anchor on the backend.

"North Dakota has gotten a depth player in winger Josh Zakreski and will now start taking swings at top prospects." Doesn't sound like if UND will get a biggie, but when. May have to wait until after the draft to find out whom.

You're quite the piece of work. What are you, 15 yo?

Because like @nascar99 pointed out, the USHL confectionery store has already been sold out of premium candies & no more will be available until they get their next shipment in the fall. I'm not saying to emulate MI & put all your hopes on some 1-year mercenaries, but it's nice to have that 20g/20a (at least) guy who can be a difference-maker in close games. I like the way Jackson is constructing the roster, but it seems to be lacking that 1 dynamo to take it to the next level. Plus pinning your first line on an unproven Zellers with no high scorers to complement him may not be the wisest of decisions.

Who says they would have even wanted to go to Michigan if there was room for them there? Plus if UND had a damaged reputation, there are plenty of other quality schools in all the major conferences that Homer, Morris, Menghini et al. could have played at instead of UND. But they chose UND, which means that UND's reputation isn't as tarnished as some think. Contrary to what many think here, the college hockey world doesn't revolve around Michigan. It's nauseating how some here put them on a pedestal. If anything, they've demonstrated over the last 25 yrs that 1-dimensional forwards don't win a team championships.

So a high-value portal transfer doesn't look at the reputation of a school like a drafted player does? Hmm, interesting take. If a program has a damaged reputation or is in shambles, chances are high it isn't getting any quality players, drafted or not.

Our reputation didn't seem very damaged in that we got some very good portal transfers this spring. We'll see where all these guys end up when the smoke clears. @RhettRingers stated that UND was currently in talks with a few blue chip western Canadians. Waiting for him to elaborate on what league(s) they play in.

Can you elaborate on what league(s) they currently play in?