brianvf

Can Verhoeff go #1? He accepts the challenge: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/can-keaton-verhoeff-chase-down-gavin-mckenna-for-top-pick-at-2026-nhl-draft/

I could see D-corps needing to replace Liv, Wiebe, and Zmolek. Maybe Emery if they want him in their system instead of playing a 3rd year here. Hopefully Reschny and Verhoeff stick around for 2 years. Like you said, not a ton of open spots so hopefully they are selective and can fill them with some blue chippers.

Heck, just adding DuPont and Preston, combined with what we already have incoming for next season...and we'd be set.

Does anyone have any info on what Mathis Preston might do for NCAA next season? All the write-ups on him talk about how fast he is. Would love to add some speed to the lineup next season after James departs.

I'd be ok with that if it means that we trade him for Plante.

Plante and Shags can transfer over, I’d be ok with that.

Standouts from Day 1 of Hlinka: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-hlinka-gretzky-cup-verhoeff-nordmark-highlight-standouts-on-day-1

UND roster complete: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-to-carry-nine-defensemen-in-2025-26

This Verhoeff kid seems like a decent player.

You're talking about two guys that will literally be the 14/15th forward (maybe last forward in?) and the 9th dman...95% of the games both of them will be in suits in the stands. And the players knew that coming in. Regarding the next recruiting cycle, has there been a single commit yet that was someone that UND was targeting or was potentially UND-bound? I don't see one. There's a huge pile of UND targets for the next cycle, including the potential #1 pick in 2027. Let's allow those guys to all do their official visits to campus and see where they end up. Because I have a feeling Bryn will pull in some big ones from that group. This staff has been doing all good things since being hired IMO. I'm not gonna toss them under the bus because they brought in an NAHL guy for the 9th D spot.

The line of DiCunzolo, Grubb, and Tang have been lights out the entire Four Nations tourney. I know we're in on Grubb...maybe he can convince his fellow SSM teammates to come to GF with him...

I feel that UNO can go one of two ways this season. Either all those USports kids work out ok (which might cause other NCAA schools to follow their lead), or it's gonna blow up in their faces. I feel like it'll be one of those two...no in between. But to say that UNO defense compares to UND's this year...that might be a bit of a reach.

Has to be a 9th dman, right? Last year they only carried 8 and it bit them in the butt when too many injuries happened. Still a head scratcher as you said. I'll just cross my fingers that it's just to fill that 9th spot and not due to any other injury or issue amongst the other 8 guys.

Yes! Seems like every commit has phrases like "200ft player" or "relentless" attached to them. I like it. Can't wait to see how they look on the ice and if they pass the all-important eye test.

We started this off-season with one returning center. Now we have like 6 on the roster. A good problem to have though. Some centers will be playing wing, but can take face-offs in case of players getting tossed, or PP/PK.

Brad's article now out too: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/seattle-kraken-draft-pick-ollie-josephson-commits-to-und

Roster is set! D-Corps is stacked. Goalies look solid. Forwards (15): SR - Strinden, James, Rickwood, Young JR - Menghini SO - Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew FR - Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, Kernan, Reschny, Josephson Defense (8): JR - Zmolek, Livanavage, Wiebe SO - Emery, Strathmann, Jubenvill FR - Laurila, Verhoeff Goalies (3): SR - Sandy (RS possibility) JR - Homer FR - Spunar

Meyer + Scantlebury is quite the start to the recruiting cycle for BU.

Yeah, Brad mentioned in his pod that he was on vacation...so maybe everything is delayed. Granted, he's still tweeting. Maybe Ollie and DuPont are committing together and UND is getting it lined up first before announcing.

Nice pickup for them but pretty much expected.

We're just assuming that it is Ollie Josephson from Red Deer in WHL, as the UND account started following him yesterday. Nothing official though yet.