2025-26 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[brianvf]

4 hours ago, sioux rube said:

 

I don't think the importance of this hire can be expressed enough.
With how much has been said about how UND has somewhat lost their way on the recruiting front, to hire a guy like Chyzyk who is so plugged into that world...I feel that this hire will have an immediate impact on the program.
And to have him out essentially scouting and recruiting full time will be massive to get the UND name back out on the front lines, where we've been notably absent for a few years.

[The Sicatoka]

6 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

Chyzyk knows all the top plays all the way down to 12 years old.

But does The Chyzyk know the chippahs? 

[nascar99]

On 4/1/2025 at 11:42 PM, brianvf said:

Who knows, we may see some more movement on this with current players, but hopefully the rest of these boys are committed after yesterday (Black Monday).
Working from the back to the front:

Still need at least one goalie, assuming Huson stays on.  Does Heil come in or does he go back to the USHL for another year?

That d-corps is legit, probably one of the best --if not the best-- in the NCHC.  Still need one more though, would rather go recruit than portal...if so, is Lindberg ready or do we bring in a talented CHL kid?  Only reason to go portal is if they're worried about Zmolek being 100% so they want some more experience to get a good SR guy.

Forward group is still light of course but the thing that pops out at me is that the vast majority of them are skaters.  Guys like Strinden, James, Littler, Croal...even Andrew in the limited time that we saw him...they hustle, move, and bring energy.  Some of the 'slowness' of our departing class will be gone.  James took a monster step as a JR, another jump from him and Strinden would be huge as the two forward SR leaders.  Swanson can dish the puck, Zellers & Zakreski can for sure bury it.  Very interested to see how those two adapt to the college game.  They'll certainly get some playing time.  Still need at least 6 forwards...hoping for a mix of CHL & portal...maybe even a JR or two from the portal to even out the classes a bit.  Some centers would be nice.

Forwards (9):
SR - Strinden, James
JR -
SO - Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew
FR - Zellers, Klee, Zakreski

Defense (8):
SR -
JR - Zmolek, Livanavage, Wiebe, Komzak
SO - Emery, Strathmann, Jubenvill
FR - Laurila

Goalies (2):
SR -
JR - Hedquist
SO -
FR - Huson (RS)

Add Gibson Homer to the goalie list!

[Godsmack]

12 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Add Gibson Homer to the goalie list!

Schloss just posted an article to that effect. 
 

 

[.357]

Wonder if Homer's coming in with the expectation of being the starter; wouldn't expect a goalie of his caliber to transfer only to split duties like he did last year. But who knows. Perhaps TJ played a part in getting him here, seeing that he couldn't stop gushing about UND.

[brianvf]

UND sure likes their "H" goalies.  Still unsure of Hobie's intentions, as well as if Heil comes in this year or next.  But Homer looks to be a solid pickup...he played well when we played ASU in January.

Forwards (9):
SR - Strinden, James
JR -
SO - Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew
FR - Zellers, Klee, Zakreski

Defense (8):
SR -
JR - Zmolek, Livanavage, Wiebe, Komzak
SO - Emery, Strathmann, Jubenvill
FR - Laurila

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

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

[scpa0305]

7 hours ago, .357 said:

Wonder if Homer's coming in with the expectation of being the starter; wouldn't expect a goalie of his caliber to transfer only to split duties like he did last year. But who knows. Perhaps TJ played a part in getting him here, seeing that he couldn't stop gushing about UND.

He hasn’t actually played that much. Didn’t he lose his crease each of the last two years?

[tnt]

2 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

He hasn’t actually played that much. Didn’t he lose his crease each of the last two years?

It shows 14 games his first year with a .931 save percentage, and 16 games this past year with .919, so a little under half the games. 

[scpa0305]

12 minutes ago, tnt said:

It shows 14 games his first year with a .931 save percentage, and 16 games this past year with .919, so a little under half the games. 

I saw that, I remember him losing his share a bit during the season. Numbers look good though.

[cberkas]

33 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

He hasn’t actually played that much. Didn’t he lose his crease each of the last two years?

This year he was supposed to be the starter. 

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

I remember thinking he looked formidable against us. Excited to have a big goalie in net.

[AJS]

6 hours ago, brianvf said:

Defense (8):
SR -
JR - Zmolek, Livanavage, Wiebe, Komzak
SO - Emery, Strathmann, Jubenvill
FR - Laurila

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

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

I like it, let's lock it in. Every off-season I'll be consistent, 15F, 8D, 3G. The 6 guys in bold need to play every day if healthy. If you think they need 9D, then I'd first question if you think Jubenvill is an every dayer as a sophomore. You need that 7th D to be someone who could be an everyday type of guy. 0 worries when there's an injury and he jumps in. 

 

Edit: let's lock it in... was thinking more of the Goalie situation. I'd prefer going with Homer / Heil next year unless Homer has indicated he's only planning on one year and then signing. Timing isn't great. IMO, Heil is ready and if not this year, absolutely he'd have to come in after next. Flow better next year and the year after if they went with Homer / Heil.

[SIOUXELEVENS]

With our defense his numbers should be good. 

[scpa0305]

19 minutes ago, AJS said:

I like it, let's lock it in. Every off-season I'll be consistent, 15F, 8D, 3G. The 6 guys in bold need to play every day if healthy. If you think they need 9D, then I'd first question if you think Jubenvill is an every dayer as a sophomore. You need that 7th D to be someone who could be an everyday type of guy. 0 worries when there's an injury and he jumps in. 

 

Edit: let's lock it in... was thinking more of the Goalie situation. I'd prefer going with Homer / Heil next year unless Homer has indicated he's only planning on one year and then signing. Timing isn't great. IMO, Heil is ready and if not this year, absolutely he'd have to come in after next. Flow better next year and the year after if they went with Homer / Heil.

Our current F group does not look great.

[SIOUXELEVENS]

Because there is not many ?

[78 und grad]

8 hours ago, brianvf said:

Forwards (9):
SR - Strinden, James
JR -
SO - Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew
FR - Zellers, Klee, Zakreski

With better talent, strinden would be lucky to be a fourth line player. Or maybe wouldnt have a roster spot @ und. He should play DII      Go sioux!!

 

[RhettRingers]

1 minute ago, 78 und grad said:

With better talent, strinden would be lucky to be a fourth line player. Or maybe wouldnt have a roster spot @ und. He should play DII      Go sioux!!

 

LOL you clearly don't watch/know hockey.

[tnt]

4 minutes ago, 78 und grad said:

With better talent, strinden would be lucky to be a fourth line player. Or maybe wouldnt have a roster spot @ und. He should play DII      Go sioux!!

 

Me thinks you are suffering from dementia. 

[UNDDOM]

21 hours ago, brianvf said:

I don't think the importance of this hire can be expressed enough.
With how much has been said about how UND has somewhat lost their way on the recruiting front, to hire a guy like Chyzyk who is so plugged into that world...I feel that this hire will have an immediate impact on the program.
And to have him out essentially scouting and recruiting full time will be massive to get the UND name back out on the front lines, where we've been notably absent for a few years.

Unless he is carrying bags of NIL cash, it’s still going to be an uphill road to land the high end talent with the amount of money being thrown around by bigger schools 

[AJS]

@scpa0305 my concern with the F group is more around portal adds and balancing the classes. Is the best bet hoping for the two Duluth F’s and a player that hasn’t entered yet? Other teams need players too. Doesn’t seem like an ideal situation needing multiple players from the current portal group. Especially if a target goes elsewhere. 

[SJHovey]

Just my take, but I think having “balanced” classes is less important because of the portal.  I have no problem grabbing a kid or two out of the portal if they are a quality player, but I don’t need someone who is going to play third or fourth line minutes, just because they are a junior or senior. Having 8-10 freshmen isn’t the end of the world. If those 10 make it to their senior year, some will enter the portal when they see quality underclassmen coming behind.

[hky]

Menghini  F from UMD seems likely

Conmy from UNH another F target? 

Both will be juniors I think 

 

 

[siouxfaninseattle]

Just me speculating - I think Hobie will leave with the addition of Homer. Homer has two years of eligibility left and it's not likely Hobie is going to be content to get limited ice time.

[90siouxfan]

Why is Bryn considered a coach, why is the GM position not outside the coaching staff? I suppose the short answer is NC$$, but wouldn't the same role be just as effective without that title?

[siouxforce19]

Just now, 90siouxfan said:

Why is Bryn considered a coach, why is the GM position not outside the coaching staff? I suppose the short answer is NC$$, but wouldn't the same role be just as effective without that title?

You aren’t allowed to go off campus to recruit if you are not designated as a coach.