2025-26 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[.357]

6 hours ago, Green Banner said:

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

There are currently two rules which would make both ineligible. 1) Players lose NCAA eligibility when they sign a pro contract. 2) A player has a maximum of 4 years of NCAA eligibility once he turns 21 yo or when he is first rostered, whichever comes first.

So (I think) the oldest player one could have on a college team would be 26 yo (5 calender years to complete 4 years of play if he started at 21 yo); if he's a grad student, maybe 27 yo would be the max oldest college hockey player allowed. 

But who knows, maybe some 35 yo will one day sue the NCAA because he feels discriminated against due to his age. Seems very unlikely that this would ever happen, but NIL & the transfer portal also felt like an impossibility 10 years ago. 

[atxsioux]

9 hours ago, George M. Bluth said:

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. 

I confirmed with the st Thomas ticket office

 

108-112 is the end UND will shooot at twice

 

the Ticketmaster note is incorrect 

[Frozen4sioux]

8 hours ago, .357 said:

 

But who knows, maybe some 35 yo will one day sue the NCAA because he feels discriminated against due to his age. Seems very unlikely that this would ever happen, but NIL & the transfer portal also felt like an impossibility 10 years ago. 

With the way the NCAA is capitulating to basically everything these days. A scenario where former CHL player who was "marginalized and restricted from participating in NCAA athletics due to the former rules banning them to do so"........ that scenario is basically just a matter of time until it shows up.

[George M. Bluth]

50 minutes ago, atxsioux said:

I confirmed with the st Thomas ticket office

 

108-112 is the end UND will shooot at twice

 

the Ticketmaster note is incorrect 

Thank you!  Funny that I trusted people here more than the Ticketmaster site.

[iramurphy]

9 hours ago, .357 said:

There are currently two rules which would make both ineligible. 1) Players lose NCAA eligibility when they sign a pro contract. 2) A player has a maximum of 4 years of NCAA eligibility once he turns 21 yo or when he is first rostered, whichever comes first.

So (I think) the oldest player one could have on a college team would be 26 yo (5 calender years to complete 4 years of play if he started at 21 yo); if he's a grad student, maybe 27 yo would be the max oldest college hockey player allowed. 

But who knows, maybe some 35 yo will one day sue the NCAA because he feels discriminated against due to his age. Seems very unlikely that this would ever happen, but NIL & the transfer portal also felt like an impossibility 10 years ago. 

I didn’t review so it could have changed, but there was also an exemption to the age 21 rule for anyone serving in the military before their eligibility expires. Not sure if you can start, leave for military and return but those who joined directly out of HS were eligible when they got out of the military. I wouldn’t think a hockey player could maintain skills while serving in the military but guys have done it in FB and BB. 

[brianvf]

8 Days until UND Hockey Returns!!

[DamStrait]

7 hours ago, brianvf said:

8 Days until UND Hockey Returns!!

Was in Tampa for that - right in front of me from the edge of the 2nd level balcony - huge freaking goal - biggest goal of that year and likely since!

[stoneySIOUX]

8 hours ago, DamStrait said:

Was in Tampa for that - right in front of me from the edge of the 2nd level balcony - huge freaking goal - biggest goal of that year and likely since!

Biggest goal in UND hockey history since 2000, IMO.

[TwamleyShuffle]

24 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

Biggest goal in UND hockey history since 2000, IMO.

Yeah! Up to that point it looked like UND was about to choke in the NCAAs again, but they scored the goal and left no doubt the next game

[siouxfaninseattle]

5 hours ago, stoneySIOUX said:

Biggest goal in UND hockey history since 2000, IMO.

Absolutely.

[Sweethockey]

On 9/25/2025 at 7:35 AM, atxsioux said:

I confirmed with the st Thomas ticket office

 

108-112 is the end UND will shooot at twice

 

the Ticketmaster note is incorrect 

[brianvf]

CHN Ranks UND's recruiting class as #2 in the nation behind just MSU.
They also have Verhoeff at #3 and Zellers at #5 in their top 10 freshmen list as well.
Can't believe Reschny didn't make that list too...especially over someone like Ryder Ritchie...Reschny put up 30+ more points in the WHL last season than Ritchie, and is also a year younger.
Either way, good news for UND. 

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2025/09/28_Freshman-Focus-Analyzing.php

Quote

Keaton Verhoeff already ranks among the nation’s top blue line prospects and the 17-year-old is yet to make his NCAA debut. Verhoeff, who just turned 17 in June, stands at 6-foot-4 and can seemingly do it all at both ends of the rink. He put up 45 points over 63 games last season for Victoria (WHL) and is projected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 NHL Draft. Cole Reschny also joins UND from Victoria after a 92-point (26-66—92) season and was taken 18th overall by Calgary.

UND’s class features multiple familiar USHL faces too in Jack Kernan, David Klee, Sam Laurila, Jan Spunar and Will Zellers. Zellers set Green Bay's franchise record with 44 goals and was named both the USHL Forward and Player of the Year, and the USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year. Zellers’ rights were traded to Boston last March and he’s been one of the Bruins’ top prospects ever since.

 

[scpa0305]

3 hours ago, brianvf said:

CHN Ranks UND's recruiting class as #2 in the nation behind just MSU.
They also have Verhoeff at #3 and Zellers at #5 in their top 10 freshmen list as well.
Can't believe Reschny didn't make that list too...especially over someone like Ryder Ritchie...Reschny put up 30+ more points in the WHL last season than Ritchie, and is also a year younger.
Either way, good news for UND. 

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2025/09/28_Freshman-Focus-Analyzing.php

 

If Reschny isn’t in there it isn’t a real ranking. Clearly they don’t know what they’re doing.

[ND_Texan]

 

I haven’t yet seen an NCHC prediction on this board for 2025-26, so here goes:

1. 1 North Dakota
2. 2 Western Michigan
3. 3 Denver
4. 4 Arizona State
5. 5 Colorado College
6. 6 Minnesota Duluth
7. 7 Omaha
8. 8 St. Cloud State
9. 9 Miami

ND may struggle early with scoring as lines are shuffled around but defense will be strong, with it all coming together in second half. Only question at this point is goaltending. 

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Lots of UND talk in this

 

 

[FSSD]

19 hours ago, brianvf said:

CHN Ranks UND's recruiting class as #2 in the nation behind just MSU.
They also have Verhoeff at #3 and Zellers at #5 in their top 10 freshmen list as well.
Can't believe Reschny didn't make that list too...especially over someone like Ryder Ritchie...Reschny put up 30+ more points in the WHL last season than Ritchie, and is also a year younger.
Either way, good news for UND. 

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2025/09/28_Freshman-Focus-Analyzing.php

 

The note that caught my eye was about SCSU:

St. Cloud State

....  overall, SCSU’s class sits near the bottom of the NCHC. And it’ll be interesting to see what their upcoming classes hold. As the university itself continues to struggle, some wonder what the future looks like in St. Cloud.

 

[beastandco]

I cannot wait for Saturday nights exhibition game. It’ll be interesting to see what the line chart looks like. I am honestly more curious about what they do with the bottom six forwards than any part of the lineup. Also, out of Livanavage, Verhoeff, and Wiebe, who gets to play on the power play units?

[scpa0305]

3 hours ago, beastandco said:

I cannot wait for Saturday nights exhibition game. It’ll be interesting to see what the line chart looks like. I am honestly more curious about what they do with the bottom six forwards than any part of the lineup. Also, out of Livanavage, Verhoeff, and Wiebe, who gets to play on the power play units?

There is a scenario where maybe Liv and Verhoeff play on PP1…he’s a righty with a huge one timer. I’m sure Liv will be up top 

[Sodbuster]

3 hours ago, beastandco said:

I cannot wait for Saturday nights exhibition game. It’ll be interesting to see what the line chart looks like. I am honestly more curious about what they do with the bottom six forwards than any part of the lineup. Also, out of Livanavage, Verhoeff, and Wiebe, who gets to play on the power play units?

Looks like we'll have to wait till Saturday for any info at all. Things are pretty tight lipped from the UND practices so far.

[fightingsioux4life]

Just now, Sodbuster said:

Looks like we'll have to wait till Saturday for any info at all. Things are pretty tight lipped from the UND practices so far.

Maybe Jax is implementing a team wide attitude adjustment and doesn't want any distractions? Just a thought.

[brianvf]

5 minutes ago, Sodbuster said:

Looks like we'll have to wait till Saturday for any info at all. Things are pretty tight lipped from the UND practices so far.

Wonder if they'll still be doing the Through These Doors episodes?  Those were always pretty cool to follow.

[nodakgirl93]

47 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Wonder if they'll still be doing the Through These Doors episodes?  Those were always pretty cool to follow.

I don't see why they wouldn't. The first episode should drop this Thursday. 

[skateshattrick]

20 hours ago, ND_Texan said:

 

I haven’t yet seen an NCHC prediction on this board for 2025-26, so here goes:

1. 1 North Dakota
2. 2 Western Michigan
3. 3 Denver
4. 4 Arizona State
5. 5 Colorado College
6. 6 Minnesota Duluth
7. 7 Omaha
8. 8 St. Cloud State
9. 9 Miami

ND may struggle early with scoring as lines are shuffled around but defense will be strong, with it all coming together in second half. Only question at this point is goaltending. 

I like your picks. I would DU at 2, WMU at 3 and Omaha 6.

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Back from hiatus

 

[brianvf]

Scrimmage and FanFest is tomorrow.  Good first look at the squad:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-hockey-to-hold-scrimmage-and-fan-fest-tuesday

Quote

Admission is free. The scrimmage will not be streamed.

Doors open at 4:30. The scrimmage begins at 5 p.m. Players will sign autographs on the concourse from about 7-7:45 p.m.