2025-26 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[brianvf]

Not really sure that he was ready TBH, but as a free agent I understand that they wanted to get him into their system.

[fightingsioux4life]

3 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Not really sure that he was ready TBH, but as a free agent I understand that they wanted to get him into their system.

That is the risk you take when you leave early.

[brianvf]

Forwards (0):
SR -
JR -
SO -
FR -

Defense (1):
SR -
JR - Zmolek
SO -
FR -

Goalies (0):
SR -
JR -
SO -
FR -

Players with eligibility remaining:
F - Boisvert, McLaughlin, James, Perron, Swanson, Strinden, Littler, Croal, Andrew
D - Livanavage, Wiebe, MacDonald, Jubenvill, Strathmann, Emery, Komzak
G - Hedquist, Huson

Recruits that need confirmation:
Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, Laurila

[nodakgirl93]

MacDonald turning pro after 2 seasons is odd. But money talks. 

[Wilbur]

5 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Forwards (0):
SR -
JR -
SO -
FR -

Defense (1):
SR -
JR - Zmolek
SO -
FR -

Goalies (0):
SR -
JR -
SO -
FR -

Players with eligibility remaining:
F - Boisvert, McLaughlin, James, Perron, Swanson, Strinden, Littler, Croal, Andrew
D - Livanavage, Wiebe, MacDonald, Jubenvill, Strathmann, Emery, Komzak
G - Hedquist, Huson

Recruits that need confirmation:
Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, Laurila

Big turnover ahead, but after what we just watched since October, thats probably a good thing.  I haven't heard anything on Heil.  Hopefully he comes in ready to be the guy next year.

 

[fightingsioux4life]

5 minutes ago, nodakgirl93 said:

MacDonald turning pro after 2 seasons is odd. But money talks. 

If he gets buried in the AHL, he'll be making a lot less money than he was hoping for.

I wish him well. But it's a huge leap going from college sophomore to playing against fully grown men in the professional ranks.

[SJHovey]

I wish him well.  I would have liked to have seen him stay, but I still think we have some skill on the D line, and coming in.

By the way, did he get hurt in that WMU game?  I remember thinking that I hadn't seen him on the ice for awhile, and looking for him on the bench.  I'll admit that I didn't see what happened if he did get hurt.

[brianvf]

10 minutes ago, SJHovey said:

I wish him well.  I would have liked to have seen him stay, but I still think we have some skill on the D line, and coming in.

By the way, did he get hurt in that WMU game?  I remember thinking that I hadn't seen him on the ice for awhile, and looking for him on the bench.  I'll admit that I didn't see what happened if he did get hurt.

Yeah, he was out for the entire 3rd period...and maybe the 2nd?  I don't recall if the injury was during the 1st or 2nd.

[cberkas]

Instead of bringing in 2 defensemen they bring in 3 maybe 4

[AJS]

With Zmolek returning and Laurila coming in, something had to give. You weren't going to keep 10 D, with 9 expecting minutes. Wish him well, but looking at the numbers, not the worst thing. 

[Oxbow6]

Think you can pencil Ben in for next season. Don't see him leaving under any circumstances. 

[yzerman19]

30 minutes ago, fightingsioux4life said:

If he gets buried in the AHL, he'll be making a lot less money than he was hoping for.

I wish him well. But it's a huge leap going from college sophomore to playing against fully grown men in the professional ranks.

welcome to the jungle, we got fun and games....

[scpa0305]

3 hours ago, brianvf said:

Not really sure that he was ready TBH, but as a free agent I understand that they wanted to get him into their system.

If you’re talking Macdonald…it literally makes zero sense unless school “wasn’t his thing”. His D was dicey at best for a big dude. The A will eat him up. He’ll end up in the E and eventually low level Europe. It’s odd because Bubs played this guy a ton. Strange move.

[tnt]

22 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

If you’re talking Macdonald…it literally makes zero sense unless school “wasn’t his thing”. His D was dicey at best for a big dude. The A will eat him up. He’ll end up in the E and eventually low level Europe. It’s odd because Bubs played this guy a ton. Strange move.

He did take some very undisciplined penalties, but maybe Jackson could have cracked down on that.  Not going to be a make or break loss, especially if they can round up a talented replacement.  

[Langster019]

On 3/22/2025 at 10:18 AM, yzerman19 said:

I'm actually hoping that USA Hockey and Hockey Canada can figure out a way to link the USHL and CHL now...maybe just have the USHL champ play in the mem cup to start.  

Kinda how when it was Junior A and ushl and other teams would go for the national title. Would be good. 

[Langster019]

5 hours ago, fightingsioux4life said:

That is the risk you take when you leave early.

Hell even guys who stay and then sign don’t always make the show. Or do and every year get bumped down a level until ECHL then calling it a career. 

[NoDak Hockey Nation]

5 hours ago, Wilbur said:

Big turnover ahead, but after what we just watched since October, thats probably a good thing.  I haven't heard anything on Heil.  Hopefully he comes in ready to be the guy next year.

 

Heil will not be the starter next year, what are you smoking?

[Oxbow6]

Just now, NoDak Hockey Nation said:

Heil will not be the starter next year, what are you smoking?

#PortalGoalieU

[brianvf]

#Per @Oxbow6

 

Forwards (1):
SR - Strinden
JR -
SO -
FR -

Defense (1):
SR -
JR - Zmolek
SO -
FR -

Goalies (0):
SR -
JR -
SO -
FR -

Players with eligibility remaining:
F - Boisvert, McLaughlin, James, Perron, Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew
D - Livanavage, Wiebe, MacDonald, Jubenvill, Strathmann, Emery, Komzak
G - Hedquist, Huson

Recruits that need confirmation:
Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, Laurila

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Easy come, easy go. Nothing he did suggested he would get a two way contract, must be his size?

[Wilbur]

6 minutes ago, NoDak Hockey Nation said:

Heil will not be the starter next year, what are you smoking?

Sorry, ready to compete for time.  But if you've got a stash I'm game? 

[tnt]

6 hours ago, brianvf said:

Forwards (0):
SR -
JR -
SO -
FR -

Defense (1):
SR -
JR - Zmolek
SO -
FR -

Goalies (0):
SR -
JR -
SO -
FR -

Players with eligibility remaining:
F - Boisvert, McLaughlin, James, Perron, Swanson, Strinden, Littler, Croal, Andrew
D - Livanavage, Wiebe, MacDonald, Jubenvill, Strathmann, Emery, Komzak
G - Hedquist, Huson

Recruits that need confirmation:
Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, Laurila

Too bad Zmolek isn’t a forward, we could put him with Zellers and Zakreski, and call it the “Sleeper” line.   Also too bad Luke Toporowski who played for Spokane a few years ago wasn’t available to form the ZZTop line.

[yzerman19]

29 minutes ago, brianvf said:

#Per @Oxbow6

 

Forwards (1):
SR - Strinden
JR -
SO -
FR -

Defense (1):
SR -
JR - Zmolek
SO -
FR -

Goalies (0):
SR -
JR -
SO -
FR -

Players with eligibility remaining:
F - Boisvert, McLaughlin, James, Perron, Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew
D - Livanavage, Wiebe, MacDonald, Jubenvill, Strathmann, Emery, Komzak
G - Hedquist, Huson

Recruits that need confirmation:
Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, Laurila

elite prospects has Cooper Simpson coming 

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

James not signing yet means there's a chance he comes back? If he was gone regardless it'd be done by now. 

[brianvf]

1 hour ago, yzerman19 said:

elite prospects has Cooper Simpson coming 

I thought he was planning on playing a full USHL schedule next year then coming to UND the following year.
It's a big jump from MN HS to NCAA...