2026-27 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[cberkas]

Verhoeff is off to the U18s?

[cberkas]

2 minutes ago, brianvf said:

I bet he uses it and stays too. 

In 4 years played 6 games with a 2-2 record 

[hockeytherapy13]

1 hour ago, cberkas said:

In 4 years played 6 games with a 2-2 record 

If he doesn’t graduate and move on with life, He won’t transfer to go looking for playing time elsewhere. He knew what his role would be when he came in so if he’s going to be on a roster it’ll be at UND 

[hockeytherapy13]

Feels a heck of a lot less stressful this off-season (this is Captain Obvious speaking).

It’ll be nice having a roster that is probably nearly complete by the end of spring, give or take a few pieces. Slightly different than a roster rounded out in August by Ollie last year 

[It aint easy]

23 hours ago, UND69er said:

If I still lived in GF I wouldn't walk across the street for BSU, Bentley, or Lindenwood. What a crap bunch of non nchc games.

Definitely a soft noncon schedule. The NCHC is the best league and arguably the most physical league in college hockey. Are we willing to allow a cream puff or two to allow the boys a weekend without all the pressure, have some fun, try new things, pad the odd stat, heal up a bit? 
Of course a loss to a puff can be devastating. 

[Sioux90]

3 hours ago, cberkas said:

In 4 years played 6 games with a 2-2 record 

Sandy bleeds green. 

[atxsioux]

58 minutes ago, It aint easy said:

Definitely a soft noncon schedule. The NCHC is the best league and arguably the most physical league in college hockey. Are we willing to allow a cream puff or two to allow the boys a weekend without all the pressure, have some fun, try new things, pad the odd stat, heal up a bit? 
Of course a loss to a puff can be devastating. 

Gona say this while we can but BU would’ve been a nice series to heal up on this year with how soft those guys played

[Dustin]

Wasn't someone on here talking about a Blue Bloods invitational tournament?  That would be a fun way to fill out the non-conference schedule.  Could have 2 hosts, with 4 teams going to each site.  Switch up the host and the which teams go where every year.  Avoid conference matchups.  Someone would have to decide who the 8th blue blood is.

[BigGreyAnt41]

On 4/11/2026 at 9:55 PM, Big A HG said:

 

Was there as well for that trip....but if they do that, I hope they at least get three whole periods out of their opponents unlike at Conte.

Was that the game where the arena got fogged out?

[brianvf]

Updated after portal entrants.
Strath is the only one that is a bit surprising and would have been nice to see him & Emery as upperclass Dmen.  But I get it...he was destined to be in the same role next season playing 11-12 min/gm...he could go to SCSU or similar and play 20+ and be their D leader.  Best of luck to him and the others departing!

Forwards (12 of 15):
SR - Menghini
JR - Croal, Littler, Swanson
SO - Josephson, Kernan, Reschny, Zakreski, Zellers
FR - A.Schultz, B.Schultz, Simpson

Defense (5 of 8):
SR -
JR - Emery
SO - Laurila, Verhoeff
FR - Lindberg, MacKenzie

Goalies (3 of 3):
SR - Sandy
JR -
SO - Spunar
FR - Heil

For us next season.  I wouldn't be surprised if we added a couple SR forward & D from the portal to get some more experience back there and even out the classes.
Then the rest filled in with CHL studs would be my guess.

For portal D - Bushy from LSSU, Loftus from SCSU, and Neumeier from Colgate seem like nice targets.
For portal F - Hall from SCSU, Magnussen from BSU, Wiebusch from PSU, and Muthersbaugh from Union would be excellent.

[brianvf]

18 minutes ago, BigGreyAnt41 said:

Was that the game where the arena got fogged out?

Yep!

[The Sicatoka]

45 minutes ago, brianvf said:

...

For portal D - Bushy from LSSU, Loftus from SCSU, and Neumeier from Colgate seem like nice targets.
 

Why not Murr from Purple Mankow? 

[SIOUXELEVENS]

5 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Why not Murr from Purple Mankow? 

I think he is a gopher now. 

[brianvf]

5 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Why not Murr from Purple Mankow? 

He's headed to UMN from what Schloss reported.

[cberkas]

54 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Updated after portal entrants.
Strath is the only one that is a bit surprising and would have been nice to see him & Emery as upperclass Dmen.  But I get it...he was destined to be in the same role next season playing 11-12 min/gm...he could go to SCSU or similar and play 20+ and be their D leader.  Best of luck to him and the others departing!

Forwards (12 of 15):
SR - Menghini
JR - Croal, Littler, Swanson
SO - Josephson, Kernan, Reschny, Zakreski, Zellers
FR - A.Schultz, B.Schultz, Simpson

Defense (5 of 8):
SR -
JR - Emery
SO - Laurila, Verhoeff
FR - Lindberg, MacKenzie

Goalies (3 of 3):
SR - Sandy
JR -
SO - Spunar
FR - Heil

For us next season.  I wouldn't be surprised if we added a couple SR forward & D from the portal to get some more experience back there and even out the classes.
Then the rest filled in with CHL studs would be my guess.

For portal D - Bushy from LSSU, Loftus from SCSU, and Neumeier from Colgate seem like nice targets.
For portal F - Hall from SCSU, Magnussen from BSU, Wiebusch from PSU, and Muthersbaugh from Union would be excellent.

Remove Littler

[SIOUXELEVENS]

Like I said what a tight knit group. 

[SiouxForever]

With Klee and Littler gone, UND is going to need to add some height and muscle up front. 

Littler was an ok player, seemed too slow at times to be productive to play at UND. 

Klee was decent. Probably realized he’s not getting top 6 minutes next year, so would be a 3rd to 4th liner. Didn’t think he’d leave. 

[beastandco]

4 forward spots open right now without counting Magnussen. Bemidji circles believe he is headed to UND. 
 

I believe 3 defenseman spots are open. 

[cberkas]

Klee and Littler are 4th liners and they could have been a good line. I do agree Littler had games where he was just slow. 

[brianvf]

3 minutes ago, SIOUXELEVENS said:

Like I said what a tight knit group. 

I believe the talk of them being a tight-knit group.  Some of these guys are just wanting more playing time and larger roles, which UND couldn't offer due to players already here or lined up.
Strath, Littler, and Klee are all drafted guys that will probably be heading to smaller schools where they can play up in the lineup and get more minutes.
Both can be true.  The talk of them being a good group + players needing to leave for larger roles.

[brianvf]

Need four forwards and three dmen.
Would be great to fill some of those spots with talented SR/JR portal guys to add experience.

Forwards (11 of 15):
SR - Menghini
JR - Croal, Swanson
SO - Josephson, Kernan, Reschny, Zakreski, Zellers
FR - A.Schultz, B.Schultz, Simpson

Defense (5 of 8):
SR -
JR - Emery
SO - Laurila, Verhoeff
FR - Lindberg, MacKenzie

Goalies (3 of 3):
SR - Sandy
JR -
SO - Spunar
FR - Heil

[dden3]

4 minutes ago, cberkas said:

Klee and Littler are 4th liners and they could have been a good line. I do agree Littler had games where he was just slow. 

Klee looks like the kind of player who could develop at DU. 

[cberkas]

1 minute ago, brianvf said:

I believe the talk of them being a tight-knit group.  Some of these guys are just wanting more playing time and larger roles, which UND couldn't offer due to players already here or lined up.
Strath, Littler, and Klee are all drafted guys that will probably be heading to smaller schools where they can play up in the lineup and get more minutes.
Both can be true.  The talk of them being a good group + players needing to leave for larger roles.

Good luck to them in finding more playing time. This isn’t like the last 3 that checked out once the puck dropped to start the year. They knew what their roles would be and the option is take the role or look some where else. 

[cberkas]

Just now, dden3 said:

Klee looks like the kind of player who could develop at DU. 

I think he goes to St. Thomas since his dad is coaching the Frost 

[cowboys5xsbs]

Really hate the portal