brianvf

If he's hoping to go somewhere and start, he's going to think WCHA or AHA would be my guess. His numbers haven't been exactly amazing in his two seasons.

I'm guessing that they are assuming Homer will only play one season at UND even though he has two years of eligibility left? Unless all three goalies (Homer, Spunar, and Heil) are ok fighting for the job in 26/27. Forwards (12): SR - Strinden, James, Rickwood JR - Menghini SO - Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew FR - Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, Kernan Defense (7): SR - JR - Zmolek, Livanavage, Wiebe SO - Emery, Strathmann, Jubenvill FR - Laurila Goalies (3): SR - Sandy (RS possibility) JR - Homer SO - FR - Spunar Other current committed recruits that could come in this fall: D - Lindberg, F - O'Neill, Schultz, Simpson

Maybe both?

Looks like wheels are in motion:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/clarkson-center-ellis-rickwood-to-transfer-to-und Forwards (12): SR - Strinden, James, Rickwood JR - Menghini SO - Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew FR - Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, Kernan Defense (7): SR - JR - Zmolek, Livanavage, Wiebe SO - Emery, Strathmann, Jubenvill FR - Laurila Goalies (3): SR - JR - Hedquist, Homer SO - FR - Huson (RS) Other current committed recruits that could come in this fall: D - Lindberg, F - O'Neill, Schultz, Simpson

UND plays at Clarkson for a series this upcoming season too. That should be fun for him. Seems like a solid pickup. Still hoping for 1 or 2 high end CHL players to light the lamp.

UND has 2 portal players so far this year. The lowest in the NCHC aside from DU and UNO. And of the three players in the quote you mentioned, McMorrow isn't a portal player. At this point, the portal is a requirement to stay relevant in the current age of NCAA hockey. If your team doesn't utilize the portal (and now, moving forward, the CHL), the team will get left behind.

Let's go!

The dmen, silly.

I like those two on a potential line. Assuming Zellers wins USHL FotY (and possibly USHL PotY), it would put the past two winners of those awards on the same line. And my guess is that they would produce nicely together.

Zellers a finalist for USHL Forward of the Year...Laurila a finalist for USHL Dman of the Year: https://ushl.com/news/2025/4/24/general-zellers-lee-and-martino-named-ushl-forward-of-the-year-finalists.aspx https://ushl.com/news/2025/4/22/general-osburn-laurila-and-compton-named-ushl-defenseman-of-the-year-finalists.aspx Would guess that Zellers wins the forward award and Compton (Northeastern commit) wins the dman.

Also...not sure how in the know the parents of current players are...but Dylan James' mom commented on Divver's post about Rickwood and said "NCHC bound" with a green heart. <shrugs>

Yep, four forward spots still available. If the rumors about Gordon, Rickwood, and McMorrow are true, we'd be one high end CHL player away from calling it a complete forward group. Still need a dman or two as well assuming Jax will be carrying 9 D.

I haven't seen much posted, which I guess isn't completely out of the ordinary for incoming recruits unless they change. Only two I've seen are Bumgarner, which sounds like it was Jax cutting him loose rather than him changing his mind...and then McKamey posted the story about Jax being hired on his IG story, so would assume he's still on board.

Sounds like BU and Michigan had been tampering with our players since February, so evidently the days of The Gentleman’s Agreement are long gone.

Lots of talk about both Rickwood and Gordon to UND. Both would be very nice additions and still leave room for a couple high end CHL guys as well.

Yeah he was mentioned in Schloss' article about potential candidates from last week. I think the only knock on Malone would be that maybe he lacks a bit more experience that they might be looking for as the associate HC. We'll see though. https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/who-could-be-candidates-for-unds-open-associate-head-coaching-position

Yep. EP mis-information strikes again! I was just looking at his page. https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/645885/isaac-gordon

Gordon from MTU could be intriguing as an upperclassman center that can put up some points/goals. Wener from Mich (and CC) is heading to Notre Dame.

Haha, make it happen Bryn!

Would be a nice pickup and add some experience up the middle. I still think we'd be on the lookout for a 1st line center. Thanks a lot, BU. Hard to say how much a good center from the ECAC will transfer over. So far we have Strinden, Littler, Klee, and Kernan that could play center. I still think Strinden is more effective at wing, but he could certainly fill a center spot if needed. Not sure if Jax will want 2+ center spots taken by FR guys, but maybe? He might be forced to and rely on the talented d-corps and goalie to handle any mistakes for the first half.

There are ways around the NIL stuff for the schools. Similar to how a big deal was made about WMU not paying any NIL this year, when some of their hockey players were for sure getting paid. As has been reported. Yes, NIL is going to many players. I doubt we'll ever know all the specifics about which players and how much. I'd love to see a high-end center too... Who knows on the Rydell's. Maybe they are? Or maybe they're good with just doing the arena reporting.

Excellent! Big news, need to keep it rolling and snag some high end CHL forwards for next season still. Hopefully the KEM NIL money is an annual thing...

+1 I'd put money down that Menghini will get more points next season than Wilkie got this season too. He's already up to speed with NCHC play.