COMMITTED UND Recruits

[brianvf]

Updated as of 3/2

• Added Zakreski to the list!
• Klee has 101 PM this season.
• Zellers is 1st in goals in USHL, 11 goals ahead of 2nd despite playing 7 less games.
• Zellers also leads the USHL in shots with 189...next closest has 165.  Kid likes to shoot...and score.   

USHL (Forwards)

• Klee (Muskegon) - '05: 45gp - 16g/18a
• Pilgrim (Tri-City) - '06: 43gp - 6g/17a
• Schultz (Chicago) - '06: 44gp - 12g/17a
• Zellers (Green Bay) - '06: 40gp - 37g/21a
• O'Neill (NTDP U18) - '07: 47gp - 5g/7a
• Sanderson (Muskegon) - '07: 35gp - 3g/5a
• Bumgarner (Fargo) - '08: 47gp - 5g/6a

USHL (Defensemen)

• Laurila (Fargo) - '06: 45gp - 7g/24a
• Lindberg (NTDP U18) - '07: 42gp - 0g/7a

USHL (Goalies)

• Heil (Madison) - '06: 27gp - .894 / 2.74 (19-6-2)

Other

• Zakreski - WHL - '05: 57gp - 32g/27a
• Simpson - MN HS - '07: 28gp - 47g/30a
• Jundt - SF Power 16U - '08: 34gp - 20g/25a
• McKamey - BCHL - '09: 45gp - 10g/15a

[brianvf]

Schloss got his article up on Zakreski's commitment:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/josh-zakreski-is-first-chl-player-to-commit-to-und-hockey-since-rule-change

Quote

"North Dakota was the only school I knew about growing up," Zakreski said. "There are a couple of tournaments down in Grand Forks. I know a couple people who got to go through tours. I never did. But that's the only real school we've all known about. We know nothing else besides North Dakota."

Zakreski said other schools recruited him, but declined to say which ones.

Quote

"It's a hockey school," Zakreski said. "You're playing in front of big crowds. It's a hockey place. That's ultimately where I wanted to go — somewhere hockey is big.

"The facilities are phenomenal. I watched the Spittin' Chiclets video. The coaching staff is top-notch. I don't think you can have a much better coaching staff than Brad (Berry) and what he has going on there."

Spittin' Chiclets video paying dividends again.   

[90siouxfan]

He already knows being a B-Rad favorite equals top minutes for his career.

[Sodbuster]

So are recruits from that league supposed to be better than recruits from, let's say, the USHL?

[brianvf]

 

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

At the Winterhawks game; Zak___ski is good. Scored on a breakaway that he generated, plays net front on PP1 and and caused a turnover where he took a shot on the PK. Motor is noticable.

[brianvf]

42 minutes ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

At the Winterhawks game; Zak___ski is good. Scored on a breakaway that he generated, plays net front on PP1 and and caused a turnover where he took a shot on the PK. Motor is noticable.

Nice firsthand scouting!

Net front on PP1...he could take Kunz's spot and maybe add a bit more offense.

[Blackheart]

16 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Nice firsthand scouting!

Net front on PP1...he could take Kunz's spot and maybe add a bit more offense.

That wouldn't be too hard.

[stoneySIOUX]

Lots of former Sioux at the MN State Hockey tourney today. Simmer was there, too. My guess there's some people doing some looking!

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Nice dime by Simpson to get Shakopee on the board

[scpa0305]

On 3/5/2025 at 3:54 PM, Sodbuster said:

So are recruits from that league supposed to be better than recruits from, let's say, the USHL?

The answer is…it depends. WHL has a 20 year old cap, where the ushl doesn’t I don’t believe. The WHL has higher end prospects obviously (excluding ntdp) but their depth isn’t always as good. Players are generally a click younger. They focus more on development as they get kickbacks from the nhl for the players they develop…ushl is more about winning. They have no agreement with the NHL

[brianvf]

Yeah it'll be interesting to see how some of these WHL players pan out in the NCAA.
Most of the NCAA commits so far have been players aging out of WHL, so the the NCAA route is the natural progression for them now that they are allowed to go that route.
Still waiting for some of these uber-high-end talents to move from WHL --> NCAA.

Might be interesting for schools like Bowling Green that are going really heavy into WHL players...could work out or it might not.

[MGsioux]

So will zellers traded to the Boston  Bruins Goon you must  be happy

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

[TwamleyShuffle]

Cooper Simpson made all state team

[Goon]

On 3/7/2025 at 1:30 PM, MGsioux said:

So will zellers traded to the Boston  Bruins Goon you must  be happy

Speaking of Zellers.

 

 

[brianvf]

Scores with some filth and then talks the trash.
This kid is gonna piss of some NCHC teams and then score all over them.
Love it.  He's like a really offensively-talented Hextall.    

[SIOUXELEVENS]

39 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Scores with some filth and then talks the trash.
This kid is gonna piss of some NCHC teams and then score all over them.
Love it.  He's like a really offensively-talented Hextall.    

If he yaps like Hextall it will be fun. 

[tnt]

1 hour ago, brianvf said:

Scores with some filth and then talks the trash.
This kid is gonna piss of some NCHC teams and then score all over them.
Love it.  He's like a really offensively-talented Hextall.    

Might be able to actually see power play time with Kunz, Schmaltz and Jamernik gone. 

[brianvf]

Updated as of 3/9

USHL (Forwards)

• Klee (Muskegon) - '05: 47gp - 17g/18a
• Pilgrim (Tri-City) - '06: 45gp - 6g/17a
• Schultz (Chicago) - '06: 47gp - 13g/17a
• Zellers (Green Bay) - '06: 42gp - 38g/22a
• O'Neill (NTDP U18) - '07: 49gp - 5g/7a
• Sanderson (Muskegon) - '07: 36gp - 3g/5a
• Bumgarner (Fargo) - '08: 49gp - 7g/7a

USHL (Defensemen)

• Laurila (Fargo) - '06: 47gp - 7g/27a
• Lindberg (NTDP U18) - '07: 44gp - 0g/6a

USHL (Goalies)

• Heil (Madison) - '06: 29gp - .897 / 2.69 (20-7-2)

Other

• Zakreski - WHL - '05: 61gp - 34g/29a
• Simpson - MN HS - '07: 31gp - 49g/34a
• Jundt - SF Power 16U - '08: 36gp - 20g/26a
• McKamey - BCHL - '09: 46gp - 10g/15a