brianvf

Three horse race for 1st place in the NCHC. After Friday night, UND now 5pts up on DU, but DU has played one more game. 7pts up on WMU, but WMU has played one less game. Would love to see UNO steal some points from WMU tomorrow, but that's doubtful. WMU's win tonight moved them into #3 in the NPI as well and pushed UND to #4. The 3rd and 4th spots are really tight. Decent jump up to #2 and down to #5.

The diving team will be out in full force.

Looks like OMac got demoted to extra skater.

OSU up 4-3 toward end of 2nd

MSU up 4-1 on PSU Mich and OSU tied at 3

PuckPreps article on Thoreson: https://puckpreps.com/beck-thoreson-commits-to-north-dakota/ Laurila played a part in the recruiting and Thoreson compares his game to a mix of Sanderson and Kleven.

Penalty fest for both teams.

MSU already up 3-0 on PSU in the 1st.

Really hoping that Latkoczy can play out of his mind and get UNO some points from WMU. Doubt it will happen, but we can hope. The bottom 5 of the NCHC is really tight. Playoff seedings might be a complete mystery until that last weekend is done.

Yes for sure!

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/will-he-go-no-1-will-he-go-no-6-keaton-verhoeff-putting-focus-on-winning-at-und

Lose Liver, Wiebe, Zmolek...maybe Jubs to the portal since he isn't playing? Hoping Verhoeff stays one more year. Add MacK and Lindberg from our current commits. D-corps of Strath, EJ, Laurila, Verhoeff, MacK, Lindberg, Carels*, DuPont*, and Engel would be insane. The starting 6 + 1 extra skater each night would all be elite. Agree with you though...it'd be hard to guarantee all those high-end players playing time unless Lindberg is ok going back for one more year in juniors.

Liver and Wiebe will be big skates to fill next season assuming both depart...but something tells me that our d-corps will be elite again next year. Retaining guys like Emery and Strath will be big to have some upperclass leadership from the D group.

Bye week loss: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-plays-annual-sled-hockey-game-against-hope-hurricanes

Flo Hockey article on Heil: https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/15270269-lightning-prospect-caleb-heil-continues-to-develop-and-impress-in-ushl

Pretty impressive stuff from Rickwood: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/5-und-hockey-notes-ellis-rickwood-is-ncaas-leading-scorer-since-return-from-injury Dominating 3rd periods:

That's the beauty of having Bryn. Coaching staff doesn't have to worry about this stuff during the season. They can concentrate on the current team while Bryn focuses on future seasons and players. I would guess that a couple of these current commits will either be pushed back a year in juniors or seek another school out. And I'm guessing Bryn is keeping them all in the loop.

Updated Commit Stats as of Jan 26th: Simpson 2nd in USHL points and 3rd in goals Heil is 4th in USHL GAA Forwards B. Schultz (USHL Sioux Falls) - '05: 37gp - 19g/13a Pilgrim (USHL Tri-City) - '06: 31gp - 12g/15a A. Schultz (USHL Chicago) - '06: 28gp - 9g/12a O'Neill (WHL Edmonton) - '07: 45gp - 18g/14a Sanderson (USHL Muskegon) - '07: 33gp - 10g/14a Simpson (USHL Youngstown) - '07: 40gp - 23g/30a Jundt (WHL Calgary) - '08: 39gp - 8g/5a Williams (WHL Saskatoon) - '08: 43gp - 16g/23a DeMars (WHL Penticton) - '09: 37gp - 5g/7a Grubb (SSM 18U Prep) - '09: 30gp - 6g/14a McKamey (WHL Victoria) - '09: 31gp - 2g/5a Defensemen MacKenzie (WHL Edmonton) - '06: 37gp - 13g/26a Klimpke (WHL Saskatoon) - '07: 45gp - 3g/28a Lindberg (USHL Fargo) - '07: 33gp - 4g/10a Penner (USHL Fargo) - '08: 18gp - 0g/0a Thoreson (U17 NTDP) - '09: 10gp - 0g/3a - injured Goalies Heil (USHL Madison) - '06: 22gp - 2.33 / .897 (14-5-3)

Nice.

Ryan

Lose Augustine, get Ravensbergen. They'll be a contender again next season. Reloading nicely.

Sounds like a NCAA school has a good goalie coming in next year:

I'm guessing he's got a few years of European pro contracts in front of him.

Yep. I would bet that they lose a good chunk of their top scorers to pro deals this offseason too...even though a few probably need another year. Hutson, OMac (sr), Eiserman, Boisvert, Harvey, Boumedienne are all flight risks.

NPI is crazy tight for 3-5 right now. If it holds this close toward the end of the season, that series against WMU will be huge for both NCHC standings and NPI.