2025-26 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[.357]

 

 

[brianvf]

That's good, Vegas has been signing everyone it seems.
Signing Connelly from Providence after he scored 4 goals as a FR was perplexing.

Quote

"I think we have all the pieces to the puzzle on the back end — guys that play the right way," Wiebe said. "You look at Livanavage, he's an unbelievable player. You've got Zmolek, who is an unbelievable penalty killer, maybe the best in college hockey. It's huge to have him back next season.

"The freshmen — Jubenvill, Strathmann and Emery — all had great seasons, especially in the second half. I'm really excited to work with all these guys next season and see those young guys take the next step and build confidence throughout the season."

Quote

"He's a great coach," Wiebe said. "I've worked with him for two years. He's a great guy, easy to get along with. All the guys love him. I'm super excited that North Dakota trusted him and gave him an opportunity to lead this team. Every guy in the room is pumped to play for him and put that jersey on and grind for each other.

"It starts now. We're grinding right now. We're super excited to prove to everyone that we're going to be very good next season. We have a lot of good players coming in and returning."

 

[siouxweet]

4 hours ago, ND_Texan said:

if Fersch leaves Western for the NHL, Herter will be offered the HC job. Sucks for us.

Are there rumors about this?

[brianvf]

1 minute ago, siouxweet said:

Are there rumors about this?

I've heard Carle rumors, but I'd think Fersch sticks around for the new arena.  He was very involved in the design process.

[brucespook]

6 hours ago, skateshattrick said:

Not true. He interviewed for UND head coach job driving up from Fargo during regionals. 

Hopefully that trip was to tell them to hire Dane and he’d come over as Asst for a bump in pay

[NoDak Hockey Nation]

10 minutes ago, brucespook said:

Hopefully that trip was to tell them to hire Dane and he’d come over as Asst for a bump in pay

Doubtful

[siouxfaninseattle]

Just my speculation - I think Fersch will stay put, at least for a few years. He has put a lot into the program and the new arena process.

[TwamleyShuffle]

At the same time no one knows the future. Whose to say the opportunities to coach in the NHL will be there in the future

[NoDak Hockey Nation]

Anyone heard from @RhettRingers? I’m scared the athletic department locked him in the secret chambers of the Ralph…

[petey23]

21 hours ago, 90siouxfan said:

I recall that being stated here too, but also not sure if it was bicycle babble or true

I had heard that shortly after he left the Fargo Force head coaching job.

Maybe time has changed his perspective. It seems he could have been a head coaching candidate in college years ago as well.

[NoDak Hockey Nation]

Sounds like UND will carry 9 D next year. I’d imagine they work under the 26 man roster limit regardless if they opt into the house settlement as they have for the past 10 years. I’m guessing they bring in Lindberg or a 1 year depth D transfer. 
 

With how limited options are in the portal, I think they get 1 more transfer and bring in 3 more freshman for the forward group.

[The Sicatoka]

9D makes sense given Zmolek's health history; but, running 27 (15F, 9D, 3G) seems necessary also.

[tnt]

6 minutes ago, NoDak Hockey Nation said:

Sounds like UND will carry 9 D next year. I’d imagine they work under the 26 man roster limit regardless if they opt into the house settlement as they have for the past 10 years. I’m guessing they bring in Lindberg or a 1 year depth D transfer. 
 

With how limited options are in the portal, I think they get 1 more transfer and bring in 3 more freshman for the forward group.

3 more freshmen, or 3 including Klee and Zellers?

[NoDak Hockey Nation]

2 minutes ago, tnt said:

3 more freshmen, or 3 including Klee and Zellers?

3 more. Probably from the CHL, but I’m wondering about Tate Pritchard too.

Unless something changes in the portal, you’re better off trying to find some high skilled guys from the CHL than what’s out there.

[brianvf]

Komzak enters portal, which probably makes sense for both him and the team.
Need 5 forwards and 1-2 Dmen...does Lindberg come in or do we pick up a portal/CHL commit(s)?

Forwards (10):
SR - Strinden, James
JR - Menghini
SO - Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew
FR - Zellers, Klee, Zakreski

Defense (7):
SR -
JR - Zmolek, Livanavage, Wiebe
SO - Emery, Strathmann, Jubenvill
FR - Laurila

Goalies (3):
SR -
JR - Hedquist, Homer
SO -
FR - Huson (RS)

Other current committed recruits that could come in this fall: G - Heil, D - Lindberg, F - O'Neill, Schultz, Simpson

[RhettRingers]

2 hours ago, NoDak Hockey Nation said:

3 more. Probably from the CHL, but I’m wondering about Tate Pritchard too.

Unless something changes in the portal, you’re better off trying to find some high skilled guys from the CHL than what’s out there.

Pritchard will be a gopher. Mason Kraft will soon be next to decommit from Mankato.

[BusinessSoot]

41 minutes ago, RhettRingers said:

Pritchard will be a gopher. Mason Kraft will soon be next to decommit from Mankato.

Pritchard will be a Hawk……

[brianvf]

With it being so quiet other than Menghini and Homer, it is looking like the bulk of our remaining additions will be coming from the CHL.
So hopefully we start hearing some more info as those player's seasons come to a close.

[The Sicatoka]

Jax was vociferous with the phrase "western Canada". 

[NoDak Hockey Nation]

5 minutes ago, brianvf said:

With it being so quiet other than Menghini and Homer, it is looking like the bulk of our remaining additions will be coming from the CHL.
So hopefully we start hearing some more info as those player's seasons come to a close.

That’s a tough sell to me when DJ says he wants to balance out classes and then brings in 7-8 freshman forwards. Wouldn’t make sense.

[nascar99]

3 minutes ago, NoDak Hockey Nation said:

That’s a tough sell to me when DJ says he wants to balance out classes and then brings in 7-8 freshman forwards. Wouldn’t make sense.

Could bring in some talented 2002s or 2003s from USports, in addition to CHLers. Also, you can balance out ages by bringing in blue chip 2006s and 2007s from the CHL, or the older culture guys that are 2004s and 2005s (Zakreski being a late 2005). 

[brianvf]

5 minutes ago, NoDak Hockey Nation said:

That’s a tough sell to me when DJ says he wants to balance out classes and then brings in 7-8 freshman forwards. Wouldn’t make sense.

There’s not a ton of high end talent remaining in the portal, especially not line 1/line 2 centers that we need. Unless some more players enter, I’m not sure who else they’d want to nab from the current portal crop. 

[NoDak Hockey Nation]

13 minutes ago, brianvf said:

There’s not a ton of high end talent remaining in the portal, especially not line 1/line 2 centers that we need. Unless some more players enter, I’m not sure who else they’d want to nab from the current portal crop. 

Yep. Gonna need to find a high end CHL guy to fill the 1st line center spot unless Chyzyk can pull some strings through 3rd party channels to get a transfer. As for the portal now, there’s still options for some depth veterans which I think they could use a couple of for the bottom 2 lines

[.357]

41 minutes ago, brianvf said:

So hopefully we start hearing some more info as those player's seasons come to a close.

Keep hearing that more CHL commitments will be announced once their season ends.

Curious why some CHL players like Zakreski & others, who are still playing, are committing, but others are not.

[RhettRingers]

3 minutes ago, .357 said:

Keep hearing that more CHL commitments will be announced once their season ends.

Curious why some CHL players like Zakreski & others, who are still playing, are committing, but others are not.

I think the bigger name CHL guys are waiting until after the season, lot of the older ones who are aging out are doing it quicker because there are obviously less options for them next year.