COMMITTED UND Recruits

[nascar99]

27 minutes ago, .357 said:

They both came from junior organizations & are quite familiar with that style; so that shouldn't be a reason. Maybe it's either nerves from being on the big stage or a developmental issue (game hasn't slowed down for him yet). Will see tomorrow if Verhoeff looks more comfortable in the second exhibition game. 

 

They haven't played junior in awhile, thus the style transition adjustment

[beastandco]

Listening to “Called Up the Prospects Podcast” with Cam Robinson and Chris Peters and they project Ethan MacKenzie as 2nd/3rd round pick this year with 1st round upside if he has a good world juniors.

[scpa0305]

On 12/18/2025 at 1:03 PM, JakeLove said:

My theory? Team Canada will prioritize CHL players until they consistently get their ass kicked during international play. Thus, McKenzie and Carels over Verhoef 

Unfortunately this probably has a lot to do with it.

[brianvf]

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/ethan-mackenzie-is-a-big-story-in-canada-how-did-und-land-him-early

Quote

How did UND find him early?

General manager Bryn Chyzyk said the entire staff — head coach Dane Jackson, associate head coach Matt Smaby and assistant coach Dillon Simpson — was on board with MacKenzie.

"Our whole staff was part of that process, for sure," Chyzyk said. "It wasn't just my evaluation."

Quote

"We saw an elite-skating defenseman that was highly competitive on the ice," Chyzyk said. "Once we peeled back the layers and got to know the kid a little bit more, how he was a late-developing kid, just sitting down with his family and talking about who they are and what makes them tick, we realized it would be a really good fit for our program."

MacKenzie is expected to come to campus next season. "We're certainly not shocked to see the success he's had this year," Chyzyk said.

 

[SiouxFanatic]

 

[fightingsioux4life]

30 minutes ago, SiouxFanatic said:

[.357]

Interesting, in the article it stated that Cooper Williams & Klimpke, teammates in Saskatoon, will likely come to UND together in the fall of 2027. Thought previously that Williams was coming in next year.

[brianvf]

2 minutes ago, .357 said:

Interesting, in the article it stated that Cooper Williams & Klimke, teammates in Saskatoon, will likely come to UND together in the fall of 2027. Thought previously that Williams was coming in next year.

I think the decision on Williams will come down to how he finishes the season.  Right now he's just about the same pace as he was last year in the WHL.
I wouldn't be surprised if he came in next season, but am guessing that the staff might also be looking at some other high end CHL forwards to come in that might push him back for one more year in juniors.

[brianvf]

Klimpke seems like a solid prospect to add to the list!
Currently rated as a C prospect, so middle/late rounds.

Looks like we beat out DU. 

Quote

"It was a long process," Klimpke said. "I had a couple of calls with a couple of different teams. Just the staff and the culture they've built at North Dakota is something I wanted to be a part of. I ended up deciding on them."

Klimpke said his finalists were UND and Denver.

And this was an interesting tidbit about his brother saying that the Ralph was his favorite arena:

Quote

Klimpke's older brother, Tanner, is the captain at Robert Morris University. Tanner played in Raph Engelstad Arena against UND last year and scored an extra-attacker goal to send it into overtime.

"He said it was awesome," Klimpke said. "He said it was his favorite rink he's ever played at. My family had a chance to go down there and check it out, too. They said nothing but good things."

 

[.357]

Klimpke probably verballed before the season is over because it sounds like he'll be completing his 4-year commitment with Saskatoon; or until he ages out. Others, like Carels & Lin who are projected 1st-rounders & who will be leaving their CHL clubs early, will wait until their respective seasons are over.

[nascar99]

12 minutes ago, .357 said:

Klimpke probably verballed before the season is over because it sounds like he'll be completing his 4-year commitment with Saskatoon; or until he ages out. Others, like Carels & Lin who are projected 1st-rounders & who will be leaving their CHL clubs early, will wait until their respective seasons are over.

He probably needs another year of junior anyway to fully round out his game and dominate offensively in the Dub next year. He'll come in as a young 20 year old, but with plenty of high leverage experience at the junior level, more ready than Brent Johnson ever was when they brought him in too early.

This is a quality pickup, most definitely will fill voids left behind by those signing pro after this year or next.

[brianvf]

Updated Commit Stats as of Dec 21:

• Heil and MacKenzie both at WJC camps
• Welcome aboard to new D commit Brayden Klimpke!

Forwards

• B. Schultz (USHL Sioux Falls) - '05: 26gp - 12g/11a
• Pilgrim (USHL Tri-City) - '06: 22gp - 7g/8a
• A. Schultz (USHL Chicago) - '06: 17gp - 8g/6a
• O'Neill (WHL Edmonton) - '07: 32gp - 13g/8a
• Sanderson (USHL Muskegon) - '07: 22gp - 8g/11a
• Simpson (USHL Youngstown) - '07: 28gp - 13g/24a
• Jundt (WHL Calgary) - '08: 28gp - 5g/2a
• Williams (WHL Saskatoon) - '08: 32gp - 12g/17a
• DeMars (WHL Penticton) - '09: 28gp - 3g/5a
• Grubb (SSM 18U Prep) - '09: 26gp - 6g/12a
• McKamey (WHL Victoria) - '09: 17gp - 1g/3a

Defensemen

• MacKenzie (WHL Edmonton) - '06: 30gp - 10g/21a
• Klimpke (WHL Saskatoon) - '07: 34gp - 2g/23a
• Lindberg (USHL Fargo) - '07: 22gp - 3g/6a
• Penner (USHL Fargo) - '08: 14gp - 0g/0a

Goalies

• Heil (USHL Madison) - '06: 16gp - 2.60 / .891 (10-4-2)

[siouxfaninseattle]

55 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Klimpke seems like a solid prospect to add to the list!
Currently rated as a C prospect, so middle/late rounds.

Looks like we beat out DU. 

And this was an interesting tidbit about his brother saying that the Ralph was his favorite arena:

 

And he hasn't been to GF. I wonder if he visited Denver.

[.357]

1 hour ago, nascar99 said:

This is a quality pickup, most definitely will fill voids left behind by those signing pro after this year or next.

You know you've gotten a good player when you win a recruiting battle with DU, seeing as Carle has a knack for bringing in winners. Plus he's projected as a mid- to late-rounder, meaning there's a good chance he'll be around for 3-4 years & won't require a boatload of NIL money before he steps on campus. 

[scpa0305]

9 hours ago, SiouxFanatic said:

 

Really solid get, late bloomer. Needs to pack on some weight before heading to GF.

[atxsioux]

10 hours ago, brianvf said:

I think the decision on Williams will come down to how he finishes the season.  Right now he's just about the same pace as he was last year in the WHL.
I wouldn't be surprised if he came in next season, but am guessing that the staff might also be looking at some other high end CHL forwards to come in that might push him back for one more year in juniors.

With Rickwood graduating this year I'd lean towards them finding a center who's ready to contribute at that same level (play in alot of situations and win draws) . Similar player to what Reschny is this year (which doesn't narrow it down much haha could be a transfer, 2025 draftee / 2026 draftee).

 

Wouldn't be completely shocked if they're focused more on looking at players drafted in 2025 so the player isn't as raw. (IE, drafted players that haven't signed. Nesbitt and Desnoyers still haven't signed which possibly means they are looking at colleges for next year. The bummer is you get them for 1-2 years max likely)

[beastandco]

Solid addition. It seems like the new staff is really prioritizing elite skaters. Ollie, MacKenzie, and now Klimpke are all great skaters. He’s having a really solid year and will have another year of juniors to get better. 
 

Similar to MacKenzie, he stated that he will play another year of juniors before he comes to campus. This probably means that UND is still looking to add a defenseman for next season. Carels, DuPont, etc. will probably be gone before Klimpke gets to campus if they land one of them. Lots of flexibility still.

[nascar99]

2 hours ago, beastandco said:

Solid addition. It seems like the new staff is really prioritizing elite skaters. Ollie, MacKenzie, and now Klimpke are all great skaters. He’s having a really solid year and will have another year of junior to get better. 
 

Similar to MacKenzie, he stated that he will play another year of junior before he comes to campus. This probably means that UND is still looking to add a defenseman for next season. Carels, DuPont, etc. will probably be gone before Klimpke gets to campus if they land one of them. Lots of flexibility still.

Outside of the truly franchise level defensemen, most need 2 years in the NCAA, unless you produce (more than) dominant 2 way results as a freshman. We've seen Makar, Hughes, Werenski, McAvoy, Sanderson all go back to the NCAA for their sophomore year and it helped lead to elite NHL results sooner.

Not quite convinced Carels, DuPont, Lin, Rudolph, & even Verhoeff are elite enough to be 1 and done NCAA players, but DuPont's underlying numbers have suggested better results in the Dub than his raw numbers so far, so he could be in for a big jump moving forward.

[Sodbuster]

Dupont leaning UND's way?

[brianvf]

34 minutes ago, Sodbuster said:

Dupont leaning UND's way?

I think the rumors have pointed both Carels and DuPont as having UND be the frontrunner for them.
Highly doubt we'd end up with both, but who knows what Bryn has cooking.    
 

[beastandco]