2025-26 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[nascar99]

1 minute ago, scpa0305 said:

True…but I had higher hopes for Swanson too. Just playing devils advocate. 

Swanson being moderately underwhelming was all the more justification to get Berry out of there & start anew.

[RhettRingers]

1 hour ago, .357 said:

Agreed. Seems like UND is structured a little like Mankato was last year: a heavy, older team that was solid defensively & had good goaltending. But they lacked an elite scorer & never made it past the first round of regionals.

They took the eventual National Champs to overtime.

[scpa0305]

Just now, nascar99 said:

Swanson being moderately underwhelming was all the more justification to get Berry out of there & start anew.

I’m hoping they play a more possession style game. It will really let swanson’s skillset to show.

[hockeytherapy13]

Just now, scpa0305 said:

I’m hoping they play a more possession style game. It will really let swanson’s skillset to show.

That combined with him working on his foot speed should allow us to see the Mac we were hoping for. 

[fightingsioux4life]

2 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Swanson being moderately underwhelming was all the more justification to get Berry out of there & start anew.

1 minute ago, scpa0305 said:

I’m hoping they play a more possession style game. It will really let swanson’s skillset to show.

I don't think Berry was getting the most out of his players. If Jackson can do that, we'll have a lot more success in 2025-2026.

[beastandco]

2 minutes ago, hockeytherapy13 said:

That combined with him working on his foot speed should allow us to see the Mac we were hoping for. 

Mac was always going to be a 4 year guy. Hes too small to leave college early for the NHL. 
 

I would be shocked if he wasn’t a point per game player by the time he’s an upperclassman

[dden3]

1 hour ago, beastandco said:

Money, relationships, roles on the team, advisors, and so much more. 
 

I cannot imagine the hurdles the Bryn and the staff have to deal with 

Most hockey kids have been hauled off to practice and games by their parents for many years and it's important for parents to be able to see their games often. I know the guys go off to play away from home and have billet arrangements also, but the regional factor is real IMO. Just my 2 cents as hockey dad and grandpa. 

[nascar99]

1 minute ago, beastandco said:

Mac was always going to be a 4 year guy. Hes too small to leave college early for the NHL. 
 

I would be shocked if he wasn’t a point per game player by the time he’s an upperclassman

All the scouts seem to think Mac will follow his dad's career arc of being an elite NCAA player but not elite enough to make the NHL but still have an elite minor pro/European Pro career. Although Brian Swanson would have played more in today's NHL as opposed to the clutch & grab, two line pass NHL pre 2004-05 lockout.

[fightingsioux4life]

Just now, nascar99 said:

All the scouts seem to think Mac will follow his dad's career arc of being an elite NCAA player but not elite enough to make the NHL but still have an elite minor pro/European Pro career. Although Brian Swanson would have played more in today's NHL as opposed to the clutch & grab, two line pass NHL pre 2004-05 lockout.

So would Jeff Panzer.

[beastandco]

Honestly, if our back end is as good as advertised and we get a top 6 center, what would we realistically be ranked before our first game?

I think we would be a top 10 team for sure. 

[fightingsioux4life]

1 minute ago, beastandco said:

Honestly, if our back end is as good as advertised and we get a top 6 center, what would we realistically be ranked before our first game?

I think we would be a top 10 team for sure. 

We will have some bumps in the road early in the season. But I think we'll get better as the season goes on.

[nascar99]

2 minutes ago, beastandco said:

Honestly, if our back end is as good as advertised and we get a top 6 center, what would we realistically be ranked before our first game?

I think we would be a top 10 team for sure. 

Get consistent goaltending and there's no reason why the team shouldn't be in the 7-10 range in the Pairwise

[beastandco]

2 minutes ago, fightingsioux4life said:

We will have some bumps in the road early in the season. But I think we'll get better as the season goes on.

Looking at our schedule for the first half of the season, the only weekends where we might be overmatched is the Minnesota weekend and ASU weekend.

As of now, it looks like it will be a down year for Minnesota next year. I am not impressed with their offseason

[fightingsioux4life]

Just now, beastandco said:

Looking at our schedule for the first half of the season, the only weekends where we might be overmatched is the Minnesota weekend and ASU weekend.

As of now, it looks like it will be a down year for Minnesota next year. I am not impressed with their offseason

The Goofs lost a lot of players from 2024-2025. They'll be figuring it out like we will.

[scpa0305]

9 minutes ago, beastandco said:

Honestly, if our back end is as good as advertised and we get a top 6 center, what would we realistically be ranked before our first game?

I think we would be a top 10 team for sure. 

Thats reaching a bit (as it stands right now). Not saying that wouldn’t come to fruition, but preseason top 10 given how last year played out? Coupled with the fact we lack higher end offensive skill up front? Again I don’t see it. Maybe if Boisvert would have stayed.

[beastandco]

1 minute ago, scpa0305 said:

Thats reaching a bit (as it stands right now). Not saying that wouldn’t come to fruition, but preseason top 10 given how last year played out? Coupled with the fact we lack higher end offensive skill up front? Again I don’t see it. Maybe if Boisvert would have stayed.

Yeah you might be right. Hopefully a big weekend against Minnesota in October sets the tone for the rest of the season. I think this team has potential. I am much more optimistic than I was about a month ago.

[NoDak Hockey Nation]

1 hour ago, .357 said:

I think most people here are nuanced enough to know the intricacies of modern-day recruiting. 

It's not like UND has the stature of a team in the AHA. The fact that UND has a long history of being a feeder program for the NHL is but 1 of many baits that it can use to lure a top talent.  If there are 15 high-profile CHLers going the NCAA route, don't see why UND couldn't land at least 1 of them.

If you read Schlossman’s article, some of them are not going to be eligible for NCAA play because of high school classes. Others are driven by agents who are gearing them towards top dollar deals. It’s not as easy as just showing a top 15 CHLer the Ralph and Dane Jackson’s vision and expecting them to commit. There are probably over 25 factors or more in every recruiting battle.

[NoDak Hockey Nation]

1 hour ago, beastandco said:

I think Zellers can have a season similar to Jackson Blake’s freshman season. Is it unfair of me to say anything less than 25/30 points from him would be disappointing? He was by far the best forward in the USHL last year offensively 

Zellers is a more versatile goal scorer than Boisvert IMO. I think he gets 15 goals pretty easily. Wouldn’t be surprised if he has a Blake like freshman year.

[fightingsioux4life]

2 minutes ago, NoDak Hockey Nation said:

If you read Schlossman’s article, some of them are not going to be eligible for NCAA play because of high school classes. Others are driven by agents who are gearing them towards top dollar deals. It’s not as easy as just showing a top 15 CHLer the Ralph and Dane Jackson’s vision and expecting them to commit. There are probably over 25 factors or more in every recruiting battle.

And that is what separates the successful coaches from the ones that don't work out.

[NoDak Hockey Nation]

43 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

True…but I had higher hopes for Swanson too. Just playing devils advocate. 

Swanson is a pass first, undersized forward. He was destined to have a rough freshman year.

[beastandco]

2 minutes ago, NoDak Hockey Nation said:

If you read Schlossman’s article, some of them are not going to be eligible for NCAA play because of high school classes. Others are driven by agents who are gearing them towards top dollar deals. It’s not as easy as just showing a top 15 CHLer the Ralph and Dane Jackson’s vision and expecting them to commit. There are probably over 25 factors or more in every recruiting battle.

The agent factor is something that I haven’t really thought about. Every agent will want them to chase a bag because they’ll get a cut of it.

[NoDak Hockey Nation]

Just now, beastandco said:

The agent factor is something that I haven’t really thought about. Every agent will want them to chase a bag because they’ll get a cut of it.

Yep. They’ll be in their ear for the entire process. Ultimately the player makes the final call, but if someone is telling you what’s best for you that you trust the whole way, you’ll probably have that as a heavy factor.

[scpa0305]

6 minutes ago, beastandco said:

The agent factor is something that I haven’t really thought about. Every agent will want them to chase a bag because they’ll get a cut of it.

Beyond that…they want their players to play. Skilled guys playing a depth role may be more infrequent. They’ll go where the can play….and get payed a bit.

[beastandco]

9 minutes ago, NoDak Hockey Nation said:

If you read Schlossman’s article, some of them are not going to be eligible for NCAA play because of high school classes. Others are driven by agents who are gearing them towards top dollar deals. It’s not as easy as just showing a top 15 CHLer the Ralph and Dane Jackson’s vision and expecting them to commit. There are probably over 25 factors or more in every recruiting battle.

I wonder if UND is heavily recruiting Carter Bear even though he might not play most of the year next year. He's close to home, he can rehab in some of the nicest facilities in college hockey, and play on a competitive team once he’s ready.

I don’t think a lot of teams would be throwing a bunch of money at him because of his injury but who knows. He would be a huge spark for this team in the 2nd half.

[NoDak Hockey Nation]

9 minutes ago, beastandco said:

I wonder if UND is heavily recruiting Carter Bear even though he might not play most of the year next year. He's close to home, he can rehab in some of the nicest facilities in college hockey, and play on a competitive team once he’s ready.

I don’t think a lot of teams would be throwing a bunch of money at him because of his injury but who knows. He would be a huge spark for this team in the 2nd half.

@RhettRingers mentioned he may be in the ineligible boat the other day