COMMITTED UND Recruits

[nascar99]

11 hours ago, tnt said:

The opposing teams broadcast team said they were surprised Andrew O’Neill was only #126 on Central Scouting ranking because he has so much grit to his game.  He had 2 goals tonight in a loss.

It's not surprising he's further down the rankings: 2nd & 3rd time draft eligibles get pushed down because they were passed over in their first time draft eligible, which is the case with O'Neill. 

He'll go between the 5th & 7th rounds if he gets drafted in 2026, maybe in the 4th if a team really believes in his defensive acumen and truculence

[tnt]

32 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

It's not surprising he's further down the rankings: 2nd & 3rd time draft eligibles get pushed down because they were passed over in their first time draft eligible, which is the case with O'Neill. 

He'll go between the 5th & 7th rounds if he gets drafted in 2026, maybe in the 4th if a team really believes in his defensive acumen and truculence

Yeah, plenty of times guys ranked in that area don’t get taken at all.  Only takes one team to like your game that thinks your game would suit a certain role.  

[jk]

Big and can skate is a good place to start in getting drafted.  Klee is a good example.  I could see him working his way into an NHL lineup some day.  

[hockeytherapy13]

On 1/15/2026 at 8:14 PM, brianvf said:

My thoughts exactly. McKenna looked great against the weaker teams and didn’t do as much otherwise. I don’t think the WJC solidified his #1 status to most scouts. 

I really wouldn’t be surprised to see Stenberg go #1. 

[nascar99]

Beck Thoreson (2009, Moorhead MN, NTDP) commits to UND!!!

 

[Sioux90]

That’s a big one. Need get the local kids.

[beastandco]

27 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Beck Thoreson (2009, Moorhead MN, NTDP) commits to UND!!!

 

Maybe top 3-5 player in this cycle for Americans? Probably the best American defenseman

[nascar99]

20 minutes ago, beastandco said:

Maybe top 3-5 player in this cycle for Americans? Probably the best American defenseman

Depends on which cycle. He accelerated so he could commit with the normal 2009s instead of having to wait until August 1 2026. Haven't seen enough of him to know (he needs to get healthy and play), so we'll make that determination soon. Gutierrez and Prunty have probably been the best 2009 US defensemen so far

[scpa0305]

On 1/17/2026 at 9:51 AM, nascar99 said:

It's not surprising he's further down the rankings: 2nd & 3rd time draft eligibles get pushed down because they were passed over in their first time draft eligible, which is the case with O'Neill. 

He'll go between the 5th & 7th rounds if he gets drafted in 2026, maybe in the 4th if a team really believes in his defensive acumen and truculence

Super athletic, doesn’t have the highest IQ which really limits nhl potential 

[scpa0305]

1 hour ago, beastandco said:

Maybe top 3-5 player in this cycle for Americans? Probably the best American defenseman

No Diego has that…Thorson is more of a project. Great long term get though. Legacy kid 

[beastandco]

5 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

No Diego has that…Thorson is more of a project. Great long term get though. Legacy kid 

When looking at him as a sophomore, is he one of, if not, the best defenseman for this cycle?  He’s super young and two days from being a 2010. I don’t know how common or uncommon it is for a defenseman to be playing where he is at his age.

[scpa0305]

11 minutes ago, beastandco said:

When looking at him as a sophomore, is he one of, if not, the best defenseman for this cycle?  He’s super young and two days from being a 2010. I don’t know how common or uncommon it is for a defenseman to be playing where he is at his age.

Well when you frame it like that…as of today…sure he towards the top. 10s have a ways to go, but to your point he’s a day or 2 away from being a 10. Time will tell. But great get for us nonetheless. Andy Schneider’s nephew 

[Sioux90]

Pretty quiet on here for a commitment. What gives? Lol.

[SpudsSioux]

41 minutes ago, Sioux90 said:

Pretty quiet on here for a commitment. What gives? Lol.

Was thinking the same thing. Huge get. Maybe most felt it was a gimmie because of his UND bloodlines.

[nascar99]

54 minutes ago, Sioux90 said:

Pretty quiet on here for a commitment. What gives? Lol.

He hasn't played much this season, that's probably why

[SpudsSioux]

1 hour ago, nascar99 said:

He hasn't played much this season, that's probably why

True. That and since he accelerated and committed early it happened before Schloss’s annual “top targets” article. He would have been near the top of that list.

[brianvf]

2 hours ago, nascar99 said:

He hasn't played much this season, that's probably why

Yeah. 
Wonder how his timeline will work out…probably 2-3 more seasons before he’s at UND depending on how he progresses?

[beastandco]

13 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Yeah. 
Wonder how his timeline will work out…probably 2-3 more seasons before he’s at UND depending on how he progresses?

From Schloss’ article, it sounds like he is pushing for the 27/28 season. That would be his draft year and I doubt that UND will opt for him to come in that season. 
 

The best comp that I can find for him is Lincoln Kuehne of Arizona State. He probably should be playing juniors this season. 

[The Sicatoka]

So is he more Sanderson or more Kleven? 

[SpudsSioux]

57 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

So is he more Sanderson or more Kleven? 

I'm pretty hesitant to compare anyone to Sanderson...haha. Players like him just don't come around very often. Playing style though, I would say closer to Sanderson than Kleven. He's huge, but he's also a very good skater and has a ton of poise/calmness to his game. Prototypical two-way defenseman.

[brianvf]

Heard from a source close to the team today that a couple big name CHL guys have "silent commits" to UND that will be announced after their seasons are over.  

[nascar99]

10 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Heard from a source close to the team today that a couple big name CHL guys have "silent commits" to UND that will be announced after their seasons are over.  

Carson Carels has to be one of them. Would love Ryan Lin, Daxon Rudolph, Liam & Markus Ruck, Cameron Schmidt (2025 Dallas 3rd rounder, unsigned), Mathis Preston, even Chase Harrington.

Wouldn't assume North Dakota will be serious contenders for any high end OHLers or QMJHLers until it happens, but would love to add Ethan Belchetz, Xavier Villeneuve, Jack Nesbitt (2025 Philadelphia 1st rounder, unsigned)

[nodakgirl93]

34 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Heard from a source close to the team today that a couple big name CHL guys have "silent commits" to UND that will be announced after their seasons are over.  

Are they for 2026-27?

[brianvf]

31 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Carson Carels has to be one of them. Would love Ryan Lin, Daxon Rudolph, Liam & Markus Ruck, Cameron Schmidt (2025 Dallas 3rd rounder, unsigned), Mathis Preston, even Chase Harrington.

Wouldn't assume North Dakota will be serious contenders for any high end OHLers or QMJHLers until it happens, but would love to add Ethan Belchetz, Xavier Villeneuve, Jack Nesbitt (2025 Philadelphia 1st rounder, unsigned)

Carels was one that I mentioned specifically when he said that.  He just smiled but didn't confirm either way.
He knows, just didn't want to tell me names. 

10 minutes ago, nodakgirl93 said:

Are they for 2026-27?

Yes for this fall.

[tnt]

1 hour ago, nascar99 said:

Carson Carels has to be one of them. Would love Ryan Lin, Daxon Rudolph, Liam & Markus Ruck, Cameron Schmidt (2025 Dallas 3rd rounder, unsigned), Mathis Preston, even Chase Harrington.

Wouldn't assume North Dakota will be serious contenders for any high end OHLers or QMJHLers until it happens, but would love to add Ethan Belchetz, Xavier Villeneuve, Jack Nesbitt (2025 Philadelphia 1st rounder, unsigned)

Beyond Carels, don’t know how much room you have for another defenseman with MacKenzie and Lindberg coming in.  Assuming we lose Wiebe, Livanavage and Zmolek.  Emery could go, but would be wise to stay.  Need to keep some experience on the back end, as we know that there is a bigger learning curve for defensemen.