COMMITTED UND Recruits

[nascar99]

  On 4/6/2025 at 3:41 AM, brianvf said:

 

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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]

  On 4/6/2025 at 3:41 AM, brianvf said:

 

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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]

  On 4/6/2025 at 5:02 AM, .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.

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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]

  On 4/6/2025 at 8:16 AM, 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.

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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]

  On 4/6/2025 at 12:59 PM, 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. 

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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]

  On 4/8/2025 at 4:23 AM, nascar99 said:

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

 

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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]

  On 4/8/2025 at 5:40 PM, 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

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