brianvf

DU will be good on paper, for sure. They picked up a few excellent pieces on their backend after losing Pohlkamp and Buckberger. I'd still take our d-corps over theirs...I also like our forward skill and depth over theirs. UMD will be tough. They'll have the best forward group in the NCHC (and one of the best in the country too). Our goalie situation and d-corps is better though. WMU lost a lot but gets back their two best dmen. SCSU got decimated. ASU lost their three best players and brings in some AHL/ECHL experience on top of a solid recruiting class. I think it'll be a 3-horse race for the NCHC title between UND, UMD, and DU. Then a decent gap to the 4th place team.

Yes. He led the Memorial Cup champ Rangers in both points and goals this year. Finished ahead of UMN recruit Humphreys on the team. He was originally committed to BU but I'm not sure what happened there.

Then we better hope he goes back to Everett for another season.

It's gonna be pretty darn annoying if UMN ends up landing DuPont after their decades of saying how evil Canadian players are in the NCAA.

For sure on all of them. I have a feeling England is gonna have a monster year next season. Would be great to get his commitment before the season starts, like Bryn did with MacKenzie this year before he exploded.

Would be a massive get for next season.

Another farmer background, like Carels. Nice article on Dumanski from Schloss: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/bauer-dumanski-to-bring-some-bennett-zmolek-like-elements-to-unds-defensive-corps Also sounds like he is planning on rooming with Carels for his FR season.

I don't care what Powers says, this is still stupid: https://valleysunhockey.substack.com/p/inside-jack-obriens-unlikely-road

Yeah agreed. You know he had a good few years in PG, so he doesn't want to outright just say he's never playing for them again. And regardless of what NHL team drafts him, there would be no point in signing him and then just sending him back to the CHL lower level of play. Whoever drafts him is going to want to see how he'll do against a tougher level of competition and also go thru a full year of strength/conditioning from a proven NCAA program.

I’d say there’s a 1% chance he’s playing for PG next season. Just like the questions that the PG media asked right after their season ended, they’re putting him on the spot and framing the questions to try to get him to say he’s coming back. He'll be at UND this fall, I am pretty darn certain.

Also part of that CHN article was this: The one transfer and the limit of pro athletes rules would both be welcome IMO. That'd get rid of these ECHL pros that Powers loves to sign...get those guys out of college hockey. And also no more 2 or 3 school guys that just transfer to a new school after every season. I would like to see both of those rules go into effect, if they can be enforced, of course.

23 year old "freshman" Powers getting as many ECHL players as he can to try and not finish last again.

Haha, they probably had a mini heart attack for a second there.

Speaking of Plante...I think EP made a mistake...otherwise Max is playing for us next season: https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/597566/max-plante

Sounds like Max Heise may have flipped from MSU to DU:

Doesn't sound promising. Something tells me that some more lawsuits against the NCAA will be coming.

Another one way way too young. So sorry to hear. Rest in peace, @dakotadan

Yeah I was skeptical of the 15 school comment too. If they’re seriously thinking about any more than 5 schools, I’d be surprised.

Must have been during a weekday then. Yeah, if they return to WHL for one more season, I could see UND being in play for 27/28. Assuming Reschny signs at the end of this season, but part of me thinks Zellers returns for his JR season unless he absolutely explodes this year. Zellers, Simpson, Williams...Ruck's? Could be real fun to watch.

Regarding the Ruck's...this is from Grinnell so obviously not gospel by any stretch. By I could see them returning to WHL for one more season and then going NCAA. There were multiple comments in that thread that mentioned that the Ruck's visited UND last week...also no idea on SOURCES? for that. Haha.

That honestly wouldn't surprise me. PSU lost a ton this offseason (assuming McKenna signs as well).

Zero chance for this year, for sure. I could see them going back to CHL for another season though too unless there is a blue blood that has two open forward spots and some NIL to spare. Then maybe CHL for this fall, then NCAA for a season?

Free Athletic article on the Ruck twins: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7125603/2026/05/16/liam-markus-ruck-twins-2026-nhl-draft-sedins/?source=emp_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.i1A.Uzab.IYJyGtG9KHWg Not sure how many NCAA schools still have two forward spots remaining and the NIL resources to land them both this year if they move NCAA. I guess we'll see.

The latter. They start at 19, they get 5 years of eligibility. They start at 20, they get 4. And so on.