Prospective Recruits

[scpa0305]

34 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

He missed half the season before being traded to Barrie. That's a really solid addition for State, should be an instant contributor in the middle 6, provide scoring depth. 

MSU will be absolutely juiced next year.

i just read….141 CHL to ncaa commits so far. We have 1 (so far).

[beastandco]

 

[dustnyou]

3 hours ago, scpa0305 said:

MSU will be absolutely juiced next year.

i just read….141 CHL to ncaa commits so far. We have 1 (so far).

So if we get one more we’ll be in the average of 2 per team. 

[beastandco]

4 hours ago, scpa0305 said:

MSU will be absolutely juiced next year.

i just read….141 CHL to ncaa commits so far. We have 1 (so far).

Only a handful of these guys were on UND’s radar. I hope I’m wrong but Zakreski is a guy that won’t see a lot of ice time until he’s an upperclassman and he’s a better recruit than most of these guys. It will be interesting to see how a team like Bowling Green does. The CHL more so helps teams like Bowling Green because instead of getting aged out NAHL players, they are getting aged out CHL players. 

[siouxweet]

6 hours ago, scpa0305 said:

MSU will be absolutely juiced next year.

i just read….141 CHL to ncaa commits so far. We have 1 (so far).

Who is our CHL commit?

[brianvf]

42 minutes ago, siouxweet said:

Who is our CHL commit?

Zakreski

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

I'm not getting as high on CHL recruits as everyone else until I see them produce.  I believe there's been comparison to guys that have played USHL and CHL generally being able to produce at a much higher rate in the CHL after struggling in the USHL.

[nascar99]

8 minutes ago, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

I'm not getting as high on CHL recruits as everyone else until I see them produce.  I believe there's been comparison to guys that have played USHL and CHL generally being able to produce at a much higher rate in the CHL after struggling in the USHL.

Defensive structure is typically better in the USHL than most of the CHL, there's no question about that. The difference is the CHL generally leans younger & more skill (the USHL's young skill is unevenly distributed, as most of it is on the NTDP u17 & u18 Teams). Most non NTDP USHL teams don't play their 16 and 17 year olds a significant amount for a couple reasons: those guys aren't that skilled and/or they have an overwhelming amount of 19 year olds coming out of AAA/MN HS/New England Prep School, many of whom really aren't that good, but they're older and typically more defensively responsible.

In addition, because the USHL has always been an NCAA feeder league, NCAA teams park their recruits extra years in the USHL to play another year of junior to get older/more ready for the jump to the NCAA, so this contributes to the older distribution IMHO.

Maybe I'm overstating the statistical skews, but I'm not the first to observe the differences between the USHL versus the CHL (and all 3 CHL leagues are slightly different in players, quality, structure).

[tnt]

28 minutes ago, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

I'm not getting as high on CHL recruits as everyone else until I see them produce.  I believe there's been comparison to guys that have played USHL and CHL generally being able to produce at a much higher rate in the CHL after struggling in the USHL.

I think a lot of the really high end guys will make the jump fine, much like some of the 1st round talent that comes in from the NTDP, but after that your 2nd round talent and below will probably be hit and miss as to who can make an impact right away, if at all. 

If they stay long enough like Dylan James, they should progress gradually, but the thing with CHL guys is they be more apt to bolt if they aren't seeing ice time or their stats aren't what they are used to playing in the wide open CHL. 

Most guys are probably career oriented, but maybe guys from the CHL might be a little less interested in the schooling that goes along with it, as they could merely be using it as a stepping stone. 

[yzerman19]

The key here is to be forward thinking...establish the relationship/pipeline with top talent and several teams in the CHL (WHL mostly) because downstream, that league is going to just get better with top US talent as well (due to the NCAA rule change).  Chippaz are going to go up there for their draft year, even those that go in the first two rounds in the NHL draft most likely won't be ready for the NHL at 18.  Many of them will decide to come down for a year or two to play bigger/stronger/older guys before signing.

[SiouxFanatic]

Big news if true. I hope Chyzk & Jax are still trying to recruit him to UND.

[brianvf]

13 minutes ago, SiouxFanatic said:

Big news if true. I hope Chyzk & Jax are still trying to recruit him to UND.

Adding a player like Bear to the team this fall would be a monster boost.
Defense should be a huge strength, goaltending looks solid...just need a couple offensive players to join up to piece it together.

[.357]

32 minutes ago, SiouxFanatic said:

Big news if true. I hope Chyzk & Jax are still trying to recruit him to UND.

Good catch. I think he injured himself in early March, so he's pretty much healed in just over 2 months. Bear's ranked anywhere from #8 to #22 overall and, if given the right linemates, could easily translate to having a 20g, 20a season here.

Logic would dictate that the staff is pursuing 1 or 2 high-end scorers, because it doesn't make sense that if McKenna suddenly became unavailable that they wouldn't pursue any other high-end scorers. Go for McKenna & no one else? That dog don't hunt. 

The 25-26 jigsaw puzzle is missing 1 or 2 key pieces to make it a legitimate contender. The fact that they haven't announced any Fs lately for next year leads me to think that they're waiting until after the draft to see what NHL teams want (may have to eat crow if they announce now only to have one of their possible high-end recruits signing later after the draft instead).

[jdub27]

On 5/12/2025 at 11:54 AM, beastandco said:

The Big Ten has revenue sharing, which we don’t, and that is a factor. Minnesota’s NIL budget is much closer to UND’s, if not very similar. UND will likely have to opt into revenue sharing in a year or two and that will give them a boost, in my opinion. They never will come near what the Michigans and Bostons are offering kids though.

In hockey, exactly what revenue do schools have to share outside of the the B1G schools? Everyone else operates at a deficit and throw in the potential Title IX implications that were being floated around and i the numbers work even less. A lot of it depends on the final language in the settlement but within the NCAA, the realistic schools that have revenue to share are going to be the P4 and even then, not all of them. I don't see the legislature taking a favorable look at UND/NDSU asking for additional state support for the schools while increasing the deficits within the athletic departments. 

[nascar99]

Kristian Epperson to Denver

 

[.357]

8 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Kristian Epperson to Denver

 

I guess that shoots the hole in the theory, popular amongst some here, that it'll be next to impossible to bring any OHL studs west of Lake Michigan.

There are far too many talented players in both the OHL & WHL to confine them all respectively to 1 NCAA conference. 

[nascar99]

4 minutes ago, .357 said:

I guess that shoots the hole in the theory, popular amongst some here, that it'll be next to impossible to bring any OHL studs west of Lake Michigan.

There are far too many talented players in both the OHL & WHL to confine them all respectively to 1 NCAA conference. 

Epperson is from Mequon Wisconsin, west of Lake Michigan. I think the David Carle Factor is likely what drew Epperson to them. Credit to the Pioneers here.

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Google News knows me well enough to recommend this:

https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2025/5/19/24426712/2k25-draft-profiles-carter-bear-is-a-tenacious-crowd-pleasing-goal-getter

[brianvf]

2 hours ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

Google News knows me well enough to recommend this:

https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2025/5/19/24426712/2k25-draft-profiles-carter-bear-is-a-tenacious-crowd-pleasing-goal-getter

Kid sounds exactly like the type of player that Chyz and Jax would be looking for...kid was born to be a Sioux.
Get him signed up!

Quote

While he’s only 6’0, Bear absolutely loves getting involved physically and initiating forechecking through the body; all the while constantly moving his feet. Bear’s sheer willingness to be engaged and stay engaged stands out because frankly, it stands out against a number of players who seem to have higher skill ceilings than he does end up with at least one allusion that they sometimes cheat for something; skating, shooting, defense, you get the picture. Bear on the other hand, goes at 110% and 110 miles per hour no matter what he’s doing.

 

[siouxweet]

With Bear, next year would be a waste.  Wouldn't be cleared until at least mid season the by the time he would be up to game speed season would be over.

[scpa0305]

Ryder ritchie to BU….wowzers. Now I know why boisvert went there haha 

[nascar99]

1 minute ago, scpa0305 said:

Ryder ritchie to BU….wowzers. Now I know why boogers went there haha 

That’s a big time get for the Terriers. Good to see that the Minnesota Wild aren’t rushing him to pro & understand the benefits of the NCAA route. Wonder if Ritchie is getting some solid NIL money.

Additionally, this allows for BU to defer some of their meh recruits another year, send em back to junior to develop. This new world is crazy, but fun & intriguing too.

[scpa0305]

40 minutes ago, siouxweet said:

With Bear, next year would be a waste.  Wouldn't be cleared until at least mid season the by the time he would be up to game speed season would be over.

No he’s already skating and folks have projected he’d maybe be able to play in the WJSS….you take him with open arms everytime.

[.357]

41 minutes ago, siouxweet said:

With Bear, next year would be a waste.  Wouldn't be cleared until at least mid season the by the time he would be up to game speed season would be over.

He had only a partial laceration & he's for the most part healed now. He would start in early October with the rest of the team.

[.357]

12 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

Ryder ritchie to BU….wowzers. Now I know why boogers went there haha 

Who's this booger guy & why do you call him that?