brianvf

DuPont signing is certainly huge for Michigan. Have to think he stays for two years even if he goes #1 next summer, such a young dman and he's not overly big. Having him and Perron, both excellent puck handlers/carriers, on the PP this season is going to be absolutely lethal. They'll be fun to watch, but I'm hoping someone takes them out before they make it to the F4. Heck, I wouldn't mind if Spoons "pulls a Hunwick" on them in the NCAA's.

Mich, MSU, DU, UMD, UND…teams are loaded this year. I’d guess the F4 will have a few of those teams.

Yep, agreed. Also, as has been mentioned here many times before...chippahs LOVE to play with chippahs. And now we all of a sudden have a lot of studs scheduled to arrive on campus for 26/27 and 27/28. So, if any of our current guys have any doubt about making the jump from NCAA to NHL or have some things that they still need to work on...or just want one more year of "college fun" before becoming pro...then playing with the likes of Fitzhenry and the Rucks next fall would certainly be appealing.

Some nice quotes in there from the Ruck's and Dane/Bryn.

I’ve seen multiple comments about them needing to put on weight and work on their skating. Both things that can easily be worked on over 2-3 seasons in the NCAA.

Haha those Goof fans are hilarious. One subpar year and they’ve developed a bit of a Jan Brady syndrome.

Yeah, I think those five forwards have to be incoming as of now. I think Reschny will for sure be gone, but part of me thinks there is a decent chance that Zellers might stick around for his JR year. If that's the case, then we'd need to see at least one forward sign or portal out.

Updated Committed Recruits as of 6/22: Fun updating this list each week with new chippers. Welcome Liam and Markus! Bryn is on an absolute heater Forwards Sanderson (USHL Muskegon) - '07 Jundt (WHL Calgary) - '08 L Ruck (WHL Med Hat) - '08 M Ruck (WHL Med Hat) - '08 Williams (WHL Saskatoon) - '08 DeMars (WHL Penticton) - '09 Fitzhenry (U18 NTDP) - '09 Grubb (WHL Brandon) - '09 McKamey (WHL Victoria) - '09 Defensemen Klimpke (WHL Saskatoon) - '07 Penner (USHL Fargo) - '08 Scott (U18 NTDP) - '09 Thoreson (U18 NTDP) - '09 Goalies None Looking ahead to 27-28 season: F - Magnussen, Malinoski, Menghini for sure gone...Reschny, Zellers possible to depart -- Sanderson, 2x Ruck, Williams, Fitzhenry likely incoming D - Everyone eligible to return...Carels, Emery, Verhoeff possible to depart -- Klimpke incoming

A bit of an interesting mix: Almost wish they were coming in this fall so we'd get one more year of them. They haven't really been rushing their development, but we'll still be lucky to get 2 years of them in a UND jersey I'd guess.

It's so bananas, I'm expecting another BAT signal tomorrow to announce DuPont coming in for 27/28 now too.

Agreed.

Welcome aboard, Ruck twins! Massive, massive gets for next season.

BAM! That is so huge. As I mentioned in the other thread...offense is gonna be absolutely loaded for 27/28. We just need to retain 1-2 of our big D for another season plus Spoons and we're set.

Agreed. No way is he worth that. I'd take the picks.

It seems that most of the CHLer --> NCAA commits have been delaying the announcement of their NCAA commitment...don't want to upset their CHL teams...but the Ruck's are one (two) that I could see announcing this summer (like what MacKenzie did last year). Medicine Hat knows that they are returning for this fall, but would be expecting them to move on the following year. Might as well announce it right away and avoid dealing with all the speculation all season.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7342287/2026/06/20/2026-nhl-draft-prospects-skills-tools-traits/?unlocked_article_code=1.rlA.Lf0d.dxX6mKsIRTlA&smid=ta-android-share

I'd head back for that too. Timing worked out this past year when my son and I went back for a series during the Parise last shift. That was great to see.

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/jonathan-toews-reflects-on-the-und-part-of-his-career-as-he Probably about time to get scheduling a One More Shift with Toews this season or next.

I like this line, as would anyone on the UND staff: 27/28 is looking awesome offensively for UND...especially if Zellers sticks around for a JR season...add in the Ruck's and that's a really special year. Retaining one of the big gun dmen for an extra season (and Spoons as well) would be icing on the cake.

Some of the U18 NTDP guys play an extra year of juniors after their U18 year...but a lot of the top guys go straight to NCAA. Guys like Berchild (DU) and Plante (UMD) both are going straight to NCAA this fall. And neither of those two are expected to be drafted in the first round, let alone the top 10-15 like Fitzhenry is currently projected. If Fitzhenry has a good U18 year, I would guess he'll be at UND for 27/28 season. And an added bonus is that would give us an extra year of him in a UND sweater too...

Brad's article on Fitzhenry was updated with quotes from Nolan and his old Shattuck coach. This sounds awesome too: One scout told the Herald he's a Zach Parise-style winger, who scores around the net and plays in all situations. Another said he has a release comparable to Brock Boeser or Will Zellers.

Updated Committed Recruits as of 6/18: Removed Heil, Lindberg, MacKenzie, Simpson, A Schultz, B Schultz...as all will be on campus this fall Added a monster pickup in Fitzhenry! Forwards Sanderson (USHL Muskegon) - '07 Jundt (WHL Calgary) - '08 Williams (WHL Saskatoon) - '08 DeMars (WHL Penticton) - '09 Fitzhenry (U18 NTDP) - '09 Grubb (WHL Brandon) - '09 McKamey (WHL Victoria) - '09 Defensemen Klimpke (WHL Saskatoon) - '07 Penner (USHL Fargo) - '08 Scott (U18 NTDP) - '09 Thoreson (U18 NTDP) - '09 Goalies None Looking ahead to 27-28 season: F - Magnussen, Mainoski, Menghini for sure gone...Reschny, Zellers possible to depart D - Everyone eligible to return...Carels, Emery, Verhoeff possible to depart

Agreed. Massive get for the coaching staff. UMN fans really wanted him. For next year, I'm guessing Williams & Fitzhenry come in for sure. Sanderson prob too due to his age. McKamey...we'll see how this season goes for him. If he takes off, I could see him coming in 27/28...if not, wouldn't be shocked to see him the following fall instead. Plenty of room still for the Ruck's. That'd be one hell of a forward recruiting class.

Sounds like it was down to UND and UMN. Great recruiting battle win for the good guys!