2025-26 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

When do Sioux Falls tickets go on sale? Asking for a friend since I'm planning for Vegas instead...

[The Sicatoka]

On 4/29/2025 at 11:29 AM, brianvf said:

Gordon is a solid forward addition.  Jax and Bryn have made some good moves in the portal and recruiting trail.
Now I'd just love to see a high end CHL forward prospect to tie it all together.  Add in a SR and/or FR dman to balance out the d-corps a bit and we'll be set.

Forwards (13):
SR - Strinden, James, Rickwood
JR - Menghini, Gordon
SO - Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew
FR - Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, Kernan

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

Goalies (3):
SR - Sandy (RS possibility)
JR - Homer
SO -
FR - Spunar

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

Feel free to update this.  

[brianvf]

Two huge pieces today and all of a sudden this lineup looks much much better.
Down to just two more guys needed to finalize this fall's roster...one F and one D.
That D-corps will be the best in the NCHC, probably one of the best in the NCAA.

Forwards (14):
SR - Strinden, James, Rickwood
JR - Menghini, Gordon
SO - Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew
FR - Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, Kernan, Reschny

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

Goalies (3):
SR - Sandy (RS possibility)
JR - Homer
SO -
FR - Spunar

Quote

Reschny is expected to immediately center one of UND's top two lines. He visited UND earlier this month. Although he spoke to other college programs, UND was his lone college visit.

"Cole Reschny has a chance to be a top-15 pick in this year's draft thanks to high-end hockey sense, excellent puck skills and an ability to make plays all over the ice," said FloHockey prospect expert Chris Peters. "He doesn't have the best size and he's not a natural burner with his skating, but his offensive capabilities put him among the upper-tier players in his draft class."

Quote

Verhoeff is 16 years old. He will turn 17 next month and be one of the youngest players to ever suit up at UND. The highest-drafted players to ever play at UND are Jonathan Toews (No. 3) and Jake Sanderson (No. 5).

Verhoeff visited UND and Michigan. "For me, North Dakota was top-of-the-line," Verhoeff said. "It's professional in every aspect of the training, the day-to-day, and the opportunity I was given there was too good to pass up."

Quote

The Fighting Hawks also landed Verhoeff's Victoria teammate, center Cole Reschny, earlier Friday. Reschny is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

"We talked a lot about our future," Verhoeff said. "We were thinking about going in together and that would be the best thing for us. We kind of already have that person we know going in."

 

[brianvf]

8 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Feel free to update this.  

Haha, I was literally typing it up during your post. 

[Brett0909]

Hindsight is always an interesting thing. There’s probably a lesson here for many of us… it wasn’t that long ago when some were wholeheartedly defending Barry and challenging anyone who suggested that recruiting, team morale, and effort weren’t where they needed to be. The forum was divisive and split. That whole debate about whether UND was sinking toward mediocrity and if anyone else could lead the team in a better direction. And just earlier today, some were still arguing against landing these recruits or them coming in this year. Not calling others out for this, just something we’ve all been guilty of from time to time and can learn from.

We certainly don’t know what the product on the ice will look like, but it’s been very energizing to see how quickly UND could bounce back into being a national player again. This staff definitely has edge and drive that seemed lacking, and I’m relieved the damage was short term. I can’t wait to see how all of this builds into the product on the ice and future rosters. Look out!

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

How long until another blue blood hires a GM? I'm guessing Denver is next.

[scpa0305]

40 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Two huge pieces today and all of a sudden this lineup looks much much better.
Down to just two more guys needed to finalize this fall's roster...one F and one D.
That D-corps will be the best in the NCHC, probably one of the best in the NCAA.

Forwards (14):
SR - Strinden, James, Rickwood
JR - Menghini, Gordon
SO - Swanson, Littler, Croal, Andrew
FR - Zellers, Klee, Zakreski, Kernan, Reschny

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

Goalies (3):
SR - Sandy (RS possibility)
JR - Homer
SO -
FR - Spunar

 

What is going to be really interesting is who will run PP1 and PP2. We obviously have Liv and Wiebe…but this is Verhoeff’s draft year and many expect him to go 2. At the very least, he’s probably taking Wiebe’s spot on pp2. Good problems to have I suppose.

[scpa0305]

2 minutes ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

How long until another blue blood hires a GM? I'm guessing Denver is next.

They already have one…they just don’t call it a gm. It’s carles right hand man…can’t remember the name though. If someone said it I would know it.

[tnt]

On 5/5/2025 at 9:41 AM, RhettRingers said:

We aren't getting a "decent" CHL guy...

No, you’re right, we’re getting at least 2, and way better than decent!

 

[SiouxForever]

Do we get Ethan Bear to complete the roster or do we have a target on someone that hasn’t been mentioned yet? 

[cberkas]

17 minutes ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

How long until another blue blood hires a GM? I'm guessing Denver is next.

Borges at Arizona State is kind of one 

 

15 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

They already have one…they just don’t call it a gm. It’s carles right hand man…can’t remember the name though. If someone said it I would know it.

MacMillan 

To piggyback on this, if you have competent leadership in the coaching staff, you don't really need a "GM" role the assistants can take care of the job

[tnt]

3 minutes ago, SiouxForever said:

Do we get Ethan Bear to complete the roster or do we have a target on someone that hasn’t been mentioned yet? 

Carter, yeah that would be nice if the eligibility issue could be resolved.

[scpa0305]

30 minutes ago, cberkas said:

Borges at Arizona State is kind of one 

 

MacMillan 

To piggyback on this, if you have competent leadership in the coaching staff, you don't really need a "GM" role the assistants can take care of the job

That’s him Tavis 

[TM7]

Non-sequitur but what is the story with Dalton Andrew? Don’t know or have heard much about him. 

[Oxbow6]

Who's on the top line and 2nd line?

Zellers, Reschney, James, Swanson, Menghini and xxx? are your top 6.

[beastandco]

2 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

Who's on the top line and 2nd line?

Zellers, Reschney, James, Swanson, Menghini and xxx? are your top 6.

Rickwood

[brianvf]

1 minute ago, Oxbow6 said:

Who's on the top line and 2nd line?

Zellers, Reschney, James, Swanson, Menghini and xxx? are your top 6.

James-Rickwood-Zellers
Menghini-Reschny-Swanson
Strinden-Littler-Gordon
Croal-Kernan-Klee

Andrew-Zakreski

[nascar99]

15 minutes ago, brianvf said:

James-Rickwood-Zellers
Menghini-Reschny-Swanson
Strinden-Littler-Gordon
Croal-Kernan-Klee

Andrew-Zakreski

When Zakreski is not guaranteed a top 12 spot, you know that this coaching staff has retooled extremely well after losing guys to graduation, pro, & transfers. That's a damn competitive forward group, hope it meshes together

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

23 minutes ago, brianvf said:

James-Rickwood-Zellers
Menghini-Reschny-Swanson
Strinden-Littler-Gordon
Croal-Kernan-Klee

Andrew-Zakreski

I'm guessing Klee is this year's draft pick in a suit up front.

[tnt]

3 minutes ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

I'm guessing Klee is this year's draft pick in a suit up front.

Could come down to who is responsible both ways. Probably be some rotation as well until they get a feel for who can handle different roles, and their learning curve.

[scpa0305]

1 hour ago, brianvf said:

James-Rickwood-Zellers
Menghini-Reschny-Swanson
Strinden-Littler-Gordon
Croal-Kernan-Klee

Andrew-Zakreski

I’m not sure I entirely agree with the makeup of these lines….but it’ll be interesting to see how it all comes together. I’m thinking menghini will be bottom 6….hes never been a consistent point producer. But I’m hearing he works super hard and is tough to play against. Which teams need obviously.

[nodakgirl93]

Hopefully Verheoff can be to us what Zeev Buium was to Denver. 

[nascar99]

10 minutes ago, nodakgirl93 said:

Hopefully Verheoff can be to us what Zeev Buium was to Denver. 

Verhoeff coming into the NCAA for his 17 year old season, last notable defensemen to do that were Hanifin and Werenski. If Verhoeff can be a right shot version of that, that would be nice. You'd hope he stays for 2 years like Werenski did at Michigan.

[brianvf]

4 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Verhoeff coming into the NCAA for his 17 year old season, last notable defensemen to do that were Hanifin and Werenski. If Verhoeff can be a right shot version of that, that would be nice. You'd hope he stays for 2 years like Werenski did at Michigan.

Yeah if Recheny and Verhoeff both stick around for 2 years, then add McKamey and Williams to the group as well… 

[beastandco]

1 hour ago, brianvf said:

James-Rickwood-Zellers
Menghini-Reschny-Swanson
Strinden-Littler-Gordon
Croal-Kernan-Klee

Andrew-Zakreski

UND will probably add one more CHL player up front. I could see them adding a top 6 winger and moving James down.  James and Menghini seem like a great third line pairing at wing. 

It would not shock me if UND was able to land another blue chip to play alongside Reschny. You have to think UND’s last forward spot is going to be attractive.