2025-26 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[AJS]

What I'd like to see. 

 

Forwards (15):
SR - Strinden, James, PORTAL, PORTAL
JR - PORTAL
SO - Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew
FR - Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, O'Neill, Schultz, CHL

[MGsioux]

4 minutes ago, AJS said:

What I'd like to see. 

 

Forwards (15):
SR - Strinden, James, PORTAL, PORTAL
JR - PORTAL
SO - Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew
FR - Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, O'Neill, Schultz, CHL

What love to see a CHL in the junior class and one less snr from the portal 

[nascar99]

11 minutes ago, AJS said:

What I'd like to see. 

 

Forwards (15):
SR - Strinden, James, PORTAL, PORTAL
JR - PORTAL
SO - Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew
FR - Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, O'Neill, Schultz, CHL

I'd like to see 2 more CHLers. High end ones

[Siouxdaddy]

Not sure if it has been discussed on the forum but hearing Dane Montgomery will not be returning next season.

[AJS]

6 minutes ago, MGsioux said:

What love to see a CHL in the junior class and one less snr from the portal 

 

1 minute ago, nascar99 said:

I'd like to see 2 more CHLers. High end ones

 

CHL players would all be FR. @nascar99 I don't disagree. When I talked optics, I think it's incredibly important right now. IMO, you cannot recruit a CHL player when you have an equivalent in O'Neill / Schultz. Both were mid-term in the 50s / 60s for upcoming draft (North American). I would agree, the CHL recruit needs to be very high-end. 

You need to try to balance your classes. That's why you need a handful of Portal guys. 

[cberkas]

1 minute ago, Siouxdaddy said:

Not sure if it has been discussed on the forum but hearing Dane Montgomery will not be returning next season.

He participated in senior day

[Siouxdaddy]

6 minutes ago, cberkas said:

He participated in senior day

Correct but he had an extra year, some guys participate in senior day and still return. That isn't unusual in this day and age.

[nascar99]

15 minutes ago, AJS said:

 

 

CHL players would all be FR. @nascar99 I don't disagree. When I talked optics, I think it's incredibly important right now. IMO, you cannot recruit a CHL player when you have an equivalent in O'Neill / Schultz. Both were mid-term in the 50s / 60s for upcoming draft (North American). I would agree, the CHL recruit needs to be very high-end. 

You need to try to balance your classes. That's why you need a handful of Portal guys. 

In terms of Dub guys, here are the high end draft eligibles who should be serious UND targets:

Jackson Smith (LHD)

Roger McQueen (C)

Carter Bear (C/LW, likely out 1st half of 2025-26 season due to injury)

Ben Kindel (RW)

Cole Reschny (LW)

Cameron Schmidt (RW)

Lynden Lakovic (LW)

Blake Fiddler (RHD)

Josh Ravensbergen (G)

Braeden Cootes (C)

Nathan Behm (C/W)

Everyone else in terms of the WHL draft eligibles are tiers below those I mentioned IMHO. Of course, you'd love to get high end guys from the O and the Q, but UND just doesn't get Ontario or Quebec/Maritimes kids very often and doesn't recruit those provinces/areas as much.

 

[Siouxdaddy]

I think that right away, with the portal or commits via the CHL/USHL, we might get some head scratchers. I really hope Jax does have a master plan for the guys they bring in. I think getting on GM working right away will be key to identify players that fit the new style of play. Idc how many points a dude has in his respective junior league, as long as he can come in and make an impact. 

That being said, it’s key that our returning players make a jump. James 30 to 40 + points — Strinden needs to go crazy. I think Mac will be elite next year. Things can go very well for our forward group assuming they just get better.

Our D should be rock solid, would love to see Emery take a step offensively. Strathman was a hard physical defenseman in the USHL, he took a few penalties because of that, but if he rounds out his D game, he can be a game changer on offense.

[Langster019]

They all could be playing with chips on their shoulder too. We stayed. We have something to prove and show out for the new HC. Hopefully they all do progress and can gel even better. 

[nascar99]

I'd be very surprised if both O'Neill and Lindberg come in for 2025-26. I actually think both need to go back to junior for another year before coming to UND

[SiouxScore]

8 hours ago, I Ranger said:

I would think based on numbers we will probably have to bring in one of or maybe two of Schultz, Simpson, Pilgram and O'Neil but I would say O'Neil would be the least ready at this point. Ideally they all play another year of juniors though. 

I may be in the minority but I would not be opposed at all to bringing in Schultz and Simpson.