brianvf

JPL now confirmed! I feel like Jax has been making all the right decisions since getting hired. Hopefully it translates on the ice.

Reschny officially signed this week, so Dane can finally comment on him: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/why-cole-reschny-is-on-track-to-become-unds-latest-first-round-nhl-draft-pick He interviewed with 27 teams and all of them asked about him leaving CHL to go NCAA. Also some analytics from this past season:

https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/royals-at-ground-zero-in-junior-hockeys-seismic-shift-10865314

Who do you think finishes in the cellar this year?

If Reschny & Verhoeff both stick around for their SO years, plus add in Williams and possibly Bear/Dupont duo for 26/27...that's looking like a heck of a team foundation right there.

Doesn't really shed much light on if there was bad blood between either Toews brother and UND after he left, but I found this article where he talks about why he left and how he didn't have regrets at UND: https://thehockeywriters.com/david-toews-speaks-out-about-leaving-the-ncaa-for-the-whl/

Coach responsibilities for next season: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/schlossman-unds-coaching-staff-hashes-out-duties Also said JPL getting close to being finalized:

From what I would guess, they will divide and conquer: Smaby @ Gage's wedding Simpson @ the draft to support Reschny & talk with other blue chippers that are close to finalizing decisions Bryn + Dane @ McKenna's house to make their pitch...why settle for a Zoom call like MSU, Mich, PSU, and DU when you can make it face-to-face?

Nice article on Laurila's development in the Herald: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/sam-laurilas-big-year-in-fargo-changed-how-nhl-scouts-viewed-him

I’d take that 1-2 punch in CHL signings for next season. Bryn is already on it.

It sure would be nice to land one more high end CHLer to fill that top 6 forward vacancy. Has to be nice bait for any potential recruit when they see the current group and who they could be playing with. Guys like Cootes, Kindel, McQueen...not hearing much buzz around them going the NCAA route. Will be interesting to see how many of these CHL 1st rounders stay in the CHL for another year.

Sure is a different world now...going to be weird as a team to meet a new team member possibly so late in the offseason when the rest of the players have been back at school working out together for a month or more.

Yeah, I'd bet that they have 4-5 potential targets that they've already been in contact with for a bit of time. The week after the draft should see quite a few NCAA teams finalize their rosters I would guess.

Yes, for sure.

Agreed. Can't wait to see who the final two pieces will be! Has the foundation already for being a very good team this fall.

Nice interview and article about Zellers: https://rinksiderhodeisland.com/2025/06/20/will-zellers-is-a-prospect-to-watch-at-bruins-development-camp/

I’d guess all schools will really delay announcements with all the CHL changes. Might be only a month before season starts.

Interested to see how Zakreski's game transfers over to NCAA: https://chl.ca/whl-winterhawks/article/2025-nhl-draft-profile-josh-zakreski/

The city of Boston would be a pretty big culture shock compared to his hometown or Medicine Hat. Maybe he prefers a smaller city feel. Hopefully at least if UND wants a shot.

First I’ve seen anywhere of DU being mentioned in the mix for McKenna.

More Laurila: https://www.inforum.com/sports/time-to-create-my-own-path-moorheads-sam-laurila-preps-for-nhl-draft-starting-und-hockey-career

Same with Spirko! Dang, can’t believe Sparky is still out there.

Schloss keeps a running tally of former UND players across all the pro leagues (even Europe) on the Herald website: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/a-list-of-where-und-hockey-players-have-signed-pro-contracts-for-2024-25-season

Jackson Smith to PSU is now confirmed. Seems like it's been in the works for a couple weeks now.