I have no firm knowledge of DJ and Herter's current relationship but they were teammates at UND for 3 years. The HC decision was not theirs to make. If Herter comes back I'd say the decision made by the powers-that-be would be a non-issue.
I think there is a "meaningful chance." I won't put a percentage on it but it's his if he wants it. Depends on if 1) he wants to make a so-called lateral move to come home after being passed up for the head job and 2) does he get a significant pay raise by doing so. Source I know spoke with Herter and he was under the impression after the interview process that he would have been offered UND HC job if WMU had been eliminated in the regionals. UND wanted to move quickly and WMU kept/keeps winning. I do think they haven't posted the associate HC position in the hope that he wants to come in. Would be a huge get. Very connected. Winner everywhere he goes.
I believe this is correct. Online articles indicate that *if* he decides to go the college route, NIL dollars are not important. Most important is development for the next level. Several sources indicate North Dakota and Michigan are the two in the running. Here's to hoping.
Honestly, his chances of playing are not greater if he enters the portal. A sub-.900 save percentage is not that attractive. Unless he goes lower half of CCHA or AHA he will be a back-up/competing for starts wherever (if) he goes. I’m very neutral on what he chooses to do.
I would say this is not true, at least in the MIAC and WIAC schools. I knew and played with several high-end NAHL guys who decided to hang up the skates due to the cost of school to play DIII.
Cam Berg was a portal pick-up as well. I would say a lot of the portal players that UND has historically picked up also have that "bleed green" attribute. Not every single portal pick-up is going to work out. But it's part of the process now.
You cannot play center in college hockey if you do not win face-offs or puck battles in the corner (especially in the d-zone). That's why he was playing wing. Puck possession is crucial and if you fail to be reliable in those two areas, you do not deserve to play center. He'll play wing soon enough at his next stop, too.
If/when he comes back, he should wear a letter. Heart and soul guy who dreamed of playing for the program since he was a little kid. I wouldn't wish what the kid has been going through outside of the rink on my worst enemies.
His dad is an ophthalmologist.* And a fantastic human being.