Prospective Recruits

[dustnyou]

3 hours ago, SiouxFanatic said:

That's my guess as well.

Michigan State, Michigan, North Dakota 

[brianvf]

35 minutes ago, dustnyou said:

Michigan State, Michigan, North Dakota 

+1

Hope so.  I can't see McKenna considering PSU, even if they throw a pile of Pegula money at him.

[scpa0305]

5 minutes ago, brianvf said:

+1

Hope so.  I can't see McKenna considering PSU, even if they throw a pile of Pegula money at him.

It really depends who else is there. If he’s got a line and $ I’m sure he’d play there. If I were him I’d choose UND  

[scpa0305]

21 hours ago, cberkas said:

Bryn needs to be on Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue on the Regina Pats. 

Haha I’m sure he’s aware of those two  

[nascar99]

9 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

Haha I’m sure he’s aware of those two  

Chyzyk is aware of every high end player coming up in minor/prep/HS hockey because he's had to do that as the Waterloo Black Hawks GM in the USHL. This gives North Dakota a massive advantage moving forward. Chyzyk knew who Cole Reschny was back in 2022 at minimum, he knew who Keaton Verhoeff was back in 2023 at minimum. It's very likely that Motzko, Sandelin, and Hastings had no idea who Reschny and Verhoeff were until some point in late 2024 or early 2025 after the rules changed. Plus, those guys don't strike me as the types to follow Canadian minor/major junior hockey much.

[beastandco]

14 minutes ago, brianvf said:

+1

Hope so.  I can't see McKenna considering PSU, even if they throw a pile of Pegula money at him.

I wouldn’t be surprised if McKenna toured UND. Penn State is a weird fit because they aren’t a traditional program. Schloss said there isn’t any movement between McKenna and UND a couple of weeks ago but he also said McKenna was focused on the remainder of the CHL season. He probably will play at a Boston or Michigan school. I do not think anyone really knows where he’s going and any information about it is just to get clicks online. 

[nodakgirl93]

1 hour ago, dustnyou said:

Michigan State, Michigan, North Dakota 

I like your optimism.

[nascar99]

1 hour ago, dustnyou said:

Michigan State, Michigan, North Dakota 

Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State until proven otherwise IMHO. Unless we can confirm he's on campus for a visit, I don't think North Dakota is in the race

[atxsioux]

Not sure if the recruitment is actually down to 3 teams. Mike McMahon wrote this just yesterday.

I do agree on the Penn State comments, feels like a weird fit. Michigan state is maybe the one exception, but if he does do any tours I'd only expect to see him tour blue bloods.

 

[NoDak Hockey Nation]

Sounds like UND will not add a 9th D and only will add 1 more forward before the season

[scpa0305]

19 minutes ago, NoDak Hockey Nation said:

Sounds like UND will not add a 9th D and only will add 1 more forward before the season

Makes sense. 

[SiouxFanatic]

Quote

McKenna won't rush things, though. No decision has been made, and he will take his time and visit several of the large-recruiting schools in July. “Gavin is going to visit and speak to schools after the draft,” Ritchie shared. “He won't decide until July.” 

The University of Michigan, Penn State, and Michigan State have all been linked to the young phenom and are expected to be on his campus tour list. 

Link: https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/ncaa/gavin-mckenna-playing-the-long-game-top-prospect-taking-his-time-on-ncaa-decision

Got some waiting to do to see which school he ends up at.

[nodakgirl93]

He was linked to Michigan for awhile. Then suddenly Michigan St and Penn State. And now some saying he will visit Michigan state this month. And now he will take visits in July and hasn't decided at all. Lol so which is it.

[brianvf]

34 minutes ago, NoDak Hockey Nation said:

Sounds like UND will not add a 9th D and only will add 1 more forward before the season

15 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

Makes sense. 

Agreed.  If they think Zmolek is back to 100% and the boys can remain mostly injury-free, then 8D (especially with the 8 we have) should be ok.

Regarding McKenna...we'll know if UND is in the mix if they add another forward prior to him making his decision.

[Brett0909]

The speculation is fun and as someone mentioned obviously great for clickbait and excitement. But seems to me all signs are pointing at him being very much undecided. I’ll take some comfort in UND having been linked early on as a top contender, and no reason to believe he’s ruled it out. Even if the recent mention of two more schools to visit is true, that doesn’t mean he didn’t already visit some schools who are still in the running as well.

Should be fun to watch, but definitely feeling better about UND’s chances after recently loading up with some top talent. And also feeling better that we’ll be fine either way even if McKenna does land somewhere else.

[yzerman19]

Its already happening...the pipeline for chippas is going to be 2 years in the CHL, 1-2 years of top end NCAA, then NHL.

The CHL will get younger and more skilled, the USHL will get older and more gritty...some teams already played by that ethos.  

The only part still in question is the NTDP...

 

[beastandco]

37 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Agreed.  If they think Zmolek is back to 100% and the boys can remain mostly injury-free, then 8D (especially with the 8 we have) should be ok.

Regarding McKenna...we'll know if UND is in the mix if they add another forward prior to him making his decision.

I would love to add a top 6 winger and move James down to the third line with Littler and Menghini.

Reschny is a great playmaker but needs to play with a “shot first” winger imo. I think Bryn is still big fish hunting and will use the remaining forward spot to make the group better instead of backloading it. 
 

xx - Reschny - Gordon

Swanson - Rickwood - Zellers

James - Littler - Menghini

Croal - Kernan - Klee/Andrew

 

 

[cberkas]

Mathis Rousseau to Maine

[scpa0305]

1 hour ago, yzerman19 said:

Its already happening...the pipeline for chippas is going to be 2 years in the CHL, 1-2 years of top end NCAA, then NHL.

The CHL will get younger and more skilled, the USHL will get older and more gritty...some teams already played by that ethos.  

The only part still in question is the NTDP...

 

Agreed curious how the ntdp will factor into all this. I was really hoping the USHL would cap the number of 20 year olds like the CHL leagues. Overagers still developing would need to spend some time in the NA….which is fine.

[scpa0305]

If we aren’t able to grab another blue chip F, they should be after Oasiz Weisblatt out of Medicine Hat. Heart and soul guy, captain, and seemed to have put up big numbers as an overager. Academics may be an issue.

[siouxforce19]

3 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

If we aren’t able to grab another blue chip F, they should be after Oasiz Weisblatt out of Medicine Hat. Heart and soul guy, captain, and seemed to have put up big numbers as an overager.

 He’s not eligible- signed an AHL contract a few months ago 

[cberkas]

5 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

If we aren’t able to grab another blue chip F, they should be after Oasiz Weisblatt out of Medicine Hat. Heart and soul guy, captain, and seemed to have put up big numbers as an overager. Academics may be an issue.

Looks to be going to the AHL next year

[Kevin G]

4 hours ago, beastandco said:

xx - Reschny - Gordon

Swanson - Rickwood - Zellers

James - Littler - Menghini

Croal - Kernan - Klee/Andrew

 

 

Strinden?

[ChadR]

4 minutes ago, siouxforce19 said:

 He’s not eligible- signed an AHL contract a few months ago 

Interesting. I've never seen someone sign a 3-year AHL only contract...

 

https://chl.ca/whl/article/tigers-captain-wiesblatt-signs-three-year-deal-with-predators-ahl-affiliate-milwaukee-admirals/

[cberkas]

Outside McKenna on Medicine Hat:

Ryder Ritchie Unsigned Wild pick

Liam and Markus Ruck big drop in points after Liam on the team

Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll