2025-26 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

Went this May, Northern Ireland is incredible.  Ironically, Belfast was about the least exciting part of the trip but seeing the sea of green there will be awesome. 

Giants Causeway, Dunluce Castle, the town of Portrush, Portstewart Golf Course, all added up to an incredible trip.  Dark Hedges a bit overrated.  Also, the Guinness tastes 10x better than stateside. 

[cowboys5xsbs]

Sounds fun I want to go if i can

[brianvf]

Dane and Liver spoke during NCHC Media day.  Jake already rocking the sweet stache.

 

[beastandco]

4 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Dane and Liver spoke during NCHC Media day.  Jake already rocking the sweet stache.

 

Anyone know where to find their full press conference?

[brianvf]

33 minutes ago, beastandco said:

Anyone know where to find their full press conference?

NCHC.tv has the full comments from the Commissioner but not any of the coaches...I'm hoping they add those later as well. 

[Sioux90]

On 9/22/2025 at 10:36 AM, Siouxdaddy said:

For media day. What questions should I ask HC Jackson. Drop them below or DM me.

How aggressive will the Defensemen be this year? Will the defense set the tone on the forecheck?

[Sioux90]

6 hours ago, brianvf said:

Anyone up for a trip to Ireland in 2027 to watch their favorite hockey team?

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-hockey-to-play-in-belfast-northern-ireland-in-2027

 

I might actually make that trip. What’s it cost to fly to Ireland these days?

[Brett0909]

1 hour ago, brianvf said:

Dane and Liver spoke during NCHC Media day.  Jake already rocking the sweet stache.

 

Pretty telling how much they’ve collectively emphasized a new era of hockey / moving on with accountability and “nobody’s bigger than the program”.

Hopefully it translates to wins on the ice (and better effort/continuity). I read it as nobody in that locker room seems to think things were going well before and they’re just making some adjustments to Jax’s style of coaching... 

[The Sicatoka]

I guess I hadn't done the math: 15 new of 27 

All new goaltending. 

I think that breaks Bub's records (14 new; 2 of 3).. 

[Esoteric]

On 9/22/2025 at 7:37 AM, burd said:

If you’re truly old school Sioux, you want leather helmets.   And since it’s probably required, I’m sure theres a way to hang some mamby pamby face guards on them.   Also leather.  

Natural leather—not dyed some fake color.  It’s time to become the men we once were.  

 

 

The first games I went to at UND, the goalie wore a face hugging type of mask. That early goaltender face-mask was, I believe a fiberglass shell, directly molded to the face. The absence of a cage and likely minimal eye protection created a high-risk environment for significant eye injuries from direct impact.  

[siouxfan512]

On 9/18/2025 at 4:05 PM, Siouxdaddy said:

Allegedly the team will be able to wear bubble masks this season. 

Forget Reschny and Verhoeff ... this may be the single most important addition.

[nascar99]

 

[brianvf]

Preseason All-CHN teams:

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2025/09/24_2025-26-All-CHN-Preseason.php

1st Team

F Cole Eiserman, So., Boston University
F Joey Muldowney, Jr., Connecticut
F Gavin McKenna, Fr., Penn State
D Jake Livanavage, Jr., North Dakota
D Cole Hutson, So., Boston University
G Trey Augustine, Jr., Michigan State

2nd Team

F James Hagens, So., Boston College
F Aiden Fink, Jr., Penn State
F Sam Harris, Jr., Denver
D Eric Pohlkamp, Jr., Denver
D C.J. Foley, Jr., Dartmouth
G Mikhail Yegorov, So., Boston University

All-Rookie

F Gavin McKenna, Penn State
F Cole Reschny, North Dakota
F Porter Martone, Michigan State
D Jackson Smith, Penn State
D Keaton Verhoeff, North Dakota
G Jack Ivankovich, Michigan

[siouxfaninseattle]

25 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Preseason All-CHN teams:

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2025/09/24_2025-26-All-CHN-Preseason.php

1st Team

F Cole Eiserman, So., Boston University
F Joey Muldowney, Jr., Connecticut
F Gavin McKenna, Fr., Penn State
D Jake Livanavage, Jr., North Dakota
D Cole Hutson, So., Boston University
G Trey Augustine, Jr., Michigan State

2nd Team

F James Hagens, So., Boston College
F Aiden Fink, Jr., Penn State
F Sam Harris, Jr., Denver
D Eric Pohlkamp, Jr., Denver
D C.J. Foley, Jr., Dartmouth
G Mikhail Yegorov, So., Boston University

All-Rookie

F Gavin McKenna, Penn State
F Cole Reschny, North Dakota
F Porter Martone, Michigan State
D Jackson Smith, Penn State
D Keaton Verhoeff, North Dakota
G Jack Ivankovich, Michigan

Not a senior in the bunch.

[Blackheart]

2 hours ago, brianvf said:

Preseason All-CHN teams:

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2025/09/24_2025-26-All-CHN-Preseason.php

1st Team

F Cole Eiserman, So., Boston University
F Joey Muldowney, Jr., Connecticut
F Gavin McKenna, Fr., Penn State
D Jake Livanavage, Jr., North Dakota
D Cole Hutson, So., Boston University
G Trey Augustine, Jr., Michigan State

2nd Team

F James Hagens, So., Boston College
F Aiden Fink, Jr., Penn State
F Sam Harris, Jr., Denver
D Eric Pohlkamp, Jr., Denver
D C.J. Foley, Jr., Dartmouth
G Mikhail Yegorov, So., Boston University

All-Rookie

F Gavin McKenna, Penn State
F Cole Reschny, North Dakota
F Porter Martone, Michigan State
D Jackson Smith, Penn State
D Keaton Verhoeff, North Dakota
G Jack Ivankovich, Michigan

McKenna makes the first team roster despite not playing a minute of NCAA puck?  Must be the NIL talking.

[brianvf]

14 minutes ago, Blackheart said:

McKenna makes the first team roster despite not playing a minute of NCAA puck?  Must be the NIL talking.

Ha, noticed that as well.  Here was their reasoning:

Quote

In a lot of cases, this is projecting from many unknowns. There's no better example of that than putting Gavin McKenna, the projected No. 1 overall pick in next year's NHL Draft, on the First Team. We did the same with Macklin Celebrini two years ago, and that worked out, so we'll see.

I have no doubt that he'll put up a pile of points.  It'll be interesting to track all these CHL, USports players to see how all of them do at the NCAA level.  ECHL and AHL guys too, I guess.  

[atxsioux]

4 hours ago, brianvf said:

Preseason All-CHN teams:

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2025/09/24_2025-26-All-CHN-Preseason.php

1st Team

F Cole Eiserman, So., Boston University
F Joey Muldowney, Jr., Connecticut
F Gavin McKenna, Fr., Penn State
D Jake Livanavage, Jr., North Dakota
D Cole Hutson, So., Boston University
G Trey Augustine, Jr., Michigan State

2nd Team

F James Hagens, So., Boston College
F Aiden Fink, Jr., Penn State
F Sam Harris, Jr., Denver
D Eric Pohlkamp, Jr., Denver
D C.J. Foley, Jr., Dartmouth
G Mikhail Yegorov, So., Boston University

All-Rookie

F Gavin McKenna, Penn State
F Cole Reschny, North Dakota
F Porter Martone, Michigan State
D Jackson Smith, Penn State
D Keaton Verhoeff, North Dakota
G Jack Ivankovich, Michigan

If you’re just picking 3 forwards for first team (and not filling out 2 wings with a center) I personally don’t think it’s crazy to put Boisvert in over Eiserman. If he takes the anticipated step in his game I think he’s bringing a lot more to the table than Eiserman

Also wouldn’t be surprised to see Jackson Smith not make the all rookie team. Have heard some comments on pods that he’s gona have some adjusting to get up to speed with the college game.

[Sweethockey]

need a little advice, which end at Lawson arena does the visitor shoot twice? Going to Kalamazoo this year. Thanks in advance!

[cberkas]

31 minutes ago, Sweethockey said:

need a little advice, which end at Lawson arena does the visitor shoot twice? Going to Kalamazoo this year. Thanks in advance!

When looking at the penalty box (from the bench side), the left end is WMU.

[Godsmack]

45 minutes ago, Sweethockey said:

need a little advice, which end at Lawson arena does the visitor shoot twice? Going to Kalamazoo this year. Thanks in advance!

I had a blast when I went to Kalamazoo last season! If you can, hit Lawson a few hours early and go visit with the Lunatics that will be standing outside. They were all really cool but they will have to haze you just a little bit!

[Wilbur]

Caleb Heil plays in an NHL game before a college game.  Its officially the wild west in collegiate athletics.

Good experience for him though.  This definitely will become the new norm. 

[.357]

3 hours ago, atxsioux said:

Also wouldn’t be surprised to see Jackson Smith not make the all rookie team. Have heard some comments on pods that he’s gona have some adjusting to get up to speed with the college game.

Wondering why Verhoeff is rated so much higher in his draft class than Smith was in his. Smith drafted #14 overall in '25 but Verhoeff likely projected to go #2-#3 overall in '26. Both are very mobile D, comparable in size & both had high offensive outputs when they were in the WHL. Besides Verhoeff being a RD which adds more value, not sure what other traits distinguish him from Smith to make him projected that much higher. Add the fact that the '26 class is much more loaded than '25's was, it makes Verhoeff's much higher projection even more impressive.

[beastandco]

20 minutes ago, .357 said:

Wondering why Verhoeff is rated so much higher in his draft class than Smith was in his. Smith drafted #14 overall in '25 but Verhoeff likely projected to go #2-#3 overall in '26. Both are very mobile D, comparable in size & both had high offensive outputs when they were in the WHL. Besides Verhoeff being a RD which adds more value, not sure what other traits distinguish him from Smith to make him projected that much higher. Add the fact that the '26 class is much more loaded than '25's was, it makes Verhoeff's much higher projection even more impressive.

I would say Smith being over a full year older than Verhoeff and having similar production is the main reason why Verhoeff is rated so high compared to Smith. Also, as you said, being a right shot boosts his stock a little more. I also think he outperformed Smith on the same u18 team this year as an underager.

[George M. Bluth]

On 8/16/2025 at 4:57 PM, Sweethockey said:

108-112 is the end where UND will shoot twice

Is there a good way to confirm this? I was just in Ticketmaster to buy tickets and at checkout it told me 106 was where St Thomas would shoot twice and 101 was where “opponent” would shoot twice. 

[Green Banner]

What's the cutoff for guys that play pro and can come back to NCAA? Hypothetically speaking could a TJ Oshie or Parise come back and finish there eligibility? I know thats not happening but what's the hardline on this one