COMMITTED UND Recruits

[nascar99]

38 minutes ago, brianvf said:

 

Zellers and Simpson on the same PP for a year or two will be deadly

[brianvf]

It’ll be interesting to see how many freshmen forwards we bring in next season and how quickly they acclimate to the college game. 
Zellers, Klee, and Zakreski for sure. 
And then O’Neill, Schultz, and Simpson as possibilities too. Everything I’ve heard has Simpson playing full USHL season next year, but he’s certainly playing well there after his HS season ended. 

[.357]

1 hour ago, brianvf said:

 

It sounds like he's not coming in next year, but wow, he's looking like a stud already in that league. 4g, 1a through 5 gp already in the USHL after having shredded other teams at the h.s. level. This compared to Pilgrim, who currently has 7g, 19a through 56 gp & is almost a full year older than Simpson. 

It's going to be tough to leave him in the USHL all next year when this team could really use some scoring punch to go alongside Zellers, which it looks like he could possibly bring. Plus, if he tears it up in the USHL next year there's always a chance that other teams may try to flip him before he ever plays a game at UND.

 

[brianvf]

3 minutes ago, .357 said:

It's going to be tough to leave him in the USHL all next year when this team could really use some scoring punch to go alongside Zellers, which it looks like he could possibly bring. Plus, if he tears it up in the USHL next year there's always a chance that other teams may try to flip him before he ever plays a game at UND.

Agreed.  We'll see what happens...plans can always change. 
IIRC, Oshie was supposed to play a full year in the USHL as well, but then he played well there after his HS season ended and UND brought him in as a true freshman instead the following year.  Not many people can make that jump from HS to NCAA (successfully), but Simpson is certainly making the jump from HS --> USHL look easy.

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Not the greatest examples/comparisons, but I remember Christian Cakebread, Braden Costello and Carter Randklev all having good early showings in the USHL then flaming out before making it to campus. If he keeps it up in the playoffs, then we can rule out beginners luck, hopefully they succeed and provide a good sample size.

[siouxforce19]

4 hours ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

Not the greatest examples/comparisons, but I remember Christian Cakebread, Braden Costello and Carter Randklev all having good early showings in the USHL then flaming out before making it to campus. If he keeps it up in the playoffs, then we can rule out beginners luck, hopefully they succeed and provide a good sample size.

Simpson did play 31 USHL games last season and had 13 points in limited ice time. (Most of those points coming once he returned after the high school season last year.) So I’m not sure the sample size is that small. Just seems he has picked up where he left off to me, only now he is getting more ice time. 

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

6 hours ago, siouxforce19 said:

Simpson did play 31 USHL games last season and had 13 points in limited ice time. (Most of those points coming once he returned after the high school season last year.) So I’m not sure the sample size is that small. Just seems he has picked up where he left off to me, only now he is getting more ice time. 

Forgot about that, good point. If he doesn't arrive in the fall, it'd be interesting to know what Dane's preference for him is between USHL and WHL.

[nascar99]

Josh Zakreski GWG late in Game 7 to lead Portland past Prince George in the first round of the Dub Playoffs!!

 

[brianvf]

Kid can shoot. I like it. 

[stoneySIOUX]

29 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Josh Zakreski GWG late in Game 7 to lead Portland past Prince George in the first round of the Dub Playoffs!!

 

Clutch. I love it.

[brianvf]

Updated as of 4/7

• Jundt having a nice playoffs...3g/3a in 4gp
• A few are wrapping up their seasons, while others are in playoffs now
• Simpson continues to score goals back in the USHL
• Zakreski with some timely playoff goals, 3g in 7gp

USHL (Forwards)

• Klee (Muskegon) - '05: 57gp - 19g/26a
• Pilgrim (Tri-City) - '06: 54gp - 7g/18a
• Schultz (Chicago) - '06: 55gp - 14g/25a
• Zellers (Green Bay) - '06: 50gp - 44g/27a
• O'Neill (NTDP U18) - '07: 56gp - 5g/10a
• Sanderson (Muskegon) - '07: 46gp - 5g/6a
• Bumgarner (Fargo) - '08: 58gp - 7g/7a

USHL (Defensemen)

• Laurila (Fargo) - '06: 56gp - 7g/32a
• Lindberg (NTDP U18) - '07: 52gp - 1g/7a

USHL (Goalies)

• Heil (Madison) - '06: 37gp - .900 / 2.73 (24-10-3)

Other

• Zakreski - WHL - '05: 66gp - 39g/31a
• Simpson - MN HS - '07: 31gp - 49g/34a // USHL Tri-City 7gp - 5g/1a
• Jundt - SF Power 16U - '08: 39gp - 20g/32a
• McKamey - BCHL - '09: 52gp - 15g/16a

[bubbaball69]

19 hours ago, brianvf said:

Updated as of 4/7

• Jundt having a nice playoffs...3g/3a in 4gp
• A few are wrapping up their seasons, while others are in playoffs now
• Simpson continues to score goals back in the USHL
• Zakreski with some timely playoff goals, 3g in 7gp

USHL (Forwards)

• Klee (Muskegon) - '05: 57gp - 19g/26a
• Pilgrim (Tri-City) - '06: 54gp - 7g/18a
• Schultz (Chicago) - '06: 55gp - 14g/25a
• Zellers (Green Bay) - '06: 50gp - 44g/27a
• O'Neill (NTDP U18) - '07: 56gp - 5g/10a
• Sanderson (Muskegon) - '07: 46gp - 5g/6a
• Bumgarner (Fargo) - '08: 58gp - 7g/7a

USHL (Defensemen)

• Laurila (Fargo) - '06: 56gp - 7g/32a
• Lindberg (NTDP U18) - '07: 52gp - 1g/7a

USHL (Goalies)

• Heil (Madison) - '06: 37gp - .900 / 2.73 (24-10-3)

Other

• Zakreski - WHL - '05: 66gp - 39g/31a
• Simpson - MN HS - '07: 31gp - 49g/34a // USHL Tri-City 7gp - 5g/1a
• Jundt - SF Power 16U - '08: 39gp - 20g/32a
• McKamey - BCHL - '09: 52gp - 15g/16a

Of these kids who should we actually expect to play next yet vs look at a 2 year plan?

[ChadR]

Dumb question, but will Zakreski  come in as a freshman with 4 years of eligibility?

[RhettRingers]

2 minutes ago, ChadR said:

Dumb question, but will Zakreski  come in as a freshman with 4 years of eligibility?

Yes

[cberkas]

Cole Bumgarner decommitted

[nascar99]

 

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Fake-shocked.gif

[TwamleyShuffle]

Is it a big loss?

[brianvf]

On 4/9/2025 at 5:46 AM, bubbaball69 said:

Of these kids who should we actually expect to play next yet vs look at a 2 year plan?

For sure this fall: Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, Laurila
Maybe this fall: Schultz, O'Neill, Lindberg, Heil, Simpson

11 minutes ago, cberkas said:

Cole Bumgarner decommitted

I guess not surprising with how he went thru high schools.

[brianvf]

1 minute ago, TwamleyShuffle said:

Is it a big loss?

Meh.
He didn't put up many points, but he was by far the youngest player on the Force...probably one of the youngest in the entire USHL? 
Jax probably asked him if he was fully committed to UND and he couldn't answer, as he went to a different HS every single year.  He would have been a college player that you wouldn't be surprised if he portals to 3-4 different schools in his NCAA career.

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

4 minutes ago, TwamleyShuffle said:

Is it a big loss?

He played at three different high schools through his Soph season. Guaranteed to transfer during his college career. Not the kind of player DJ wants.

[Goon]

10 minutes ago, TwamleyShuffle said:

Is it a big loss?

I don't think so, he was the extra player and I watched him play for the Force last weekend. He didn't play a lot and was unnoticeable when he did. I'd say unless his game picks up he has written DIII on him. Maybe. 

[tnt]

So did he decommit, or did Jackson pull the offer?  The way Schlossman worded it, it could be either way.

[siouxforce19]

Just now, tnt said:

So did he decommit, or did Jackson pull the offer?  The way Schlossman worded it, it could be either way.

I thought it sounded like the offer was pulled to me.  

[ChadR]

Early to pull the offer since he had at least another year of juniors before college. Don’t hate the move though if it was Jax call.