2026-27 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[as15]

4 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

It's literally impossible to suppose this BEFORE THE SEASON STARTS.

You can compare production/profiles of incoming players with past players right now.  Not a single one of the acquisitions for next year so far has been anything out of the ordinary.  My point is that the program has a dedicated GM that's sole purpose is roster building, and so far it appears that the roster building has been more or less at the same level as before a GM.  No CHL forwards for next year is very questionable to me.  Not bashing Chyz by any means, just purely making an observation.

[hockeytherapy13]

3 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

So, did Jax lose those puck battles? The players just got beat. This happens in hockey. Playing it off as a Hastings outcoached Jax is silly.

None of us like to lose, but we didn't do it very much this season. Just settle down. 

I've actually been trying to remind myself how little we actually lost this year. As painful as the Frozen 4 loss was along with the Duluth game a few weeks prior, it was crazy how well this team played. There were some games where we were discombobulated and played dumb, but they never played lazy or apathetic. Only 7 regulation losses and at least 3  of the games we lost we were still the better team.

[petey23]

1 hour ago, Scratch said:

This cherry picked stat invented by schloss is meaningless. Of all the first rounders playing in the ncaa over the last 5 years more have played in the frozen four than missed it. I hope I’m wrong but everything I’ve seen since the regionals screams Berry 2.0. Out worked and severely outcoached in the frozen four, no adjustments to a power play that had been figured out since February, and now the only positive word anyone can come up with about next years commits is depth which really means we don’t have a first line and watching is gonna be not fun

[stoneySIOUX]

6 minutes ago, as15 said:

You can compare production/profiles of incoming players with past players right now.  Not a single one of the acquisitions for next year so far has been anything out of the ordinary.  My point is that the program has a dedicated GM that's sole purpose is roster building, and so far it appears that the roster building has been more or less at the same level as before a GM.  No CHL forwards for next year is very questionable to me.  Not bashing Chyz by any means, just purely making an observation.

Of course you can, but the job of a GM is to predict. Predict future results. When you say things like the bolded part, you're assuming Chyz picked the wrong guy without seeing the result. 

[hockeytherapy13]

5 minutes ago, Scratch said:

To be sure, the returning team is more talented than an average Berry team. What I'm saying is the first line is unlikely to be an area of strength compared to say Duluth. As as15 eloquently mentioned above, Chyz was supposed to bring in players that gave us a talent advantage (at least I think that's why he was brought in). None of these new forwards appear to do that. It seems almost certain we lost or didn't participate in the battles for high end forwards, identical to Berry

The way this staff coaches is nothing like Berry's style. Jax puts guys in the lineup based on merit, not based on just their seniority and the fact they are a glue guy. Never in a million years would Jax have given Albrecht or Hain a 5th year. Even Senden would have been iffy but we had missed opportunities where older players with bottom 6 talent were playing in top 6 roles. 

Sure some of the forward additions so far have been good but not flashy but we will have 6 guys that had 10 or more goals last year which makes me feel like our lower lines will beat other teams up again. We will have an obvious top line with Reschny (who will make a big sophomore jump) and Zellers.  If we are getting a few high end recruits at F and D combined with a bunch of guys that are good and play a 200-foot game, then we have just described how Denver has won some of their championships. Although replicating video game goaltending like DU can do at the right time is hard no matter what 

[The Sicatoka]

2 minutes ago, hockeytherapy13 said:

Although replicating video game goaltending like DU can do at the right time is hard no matter what 

Does DU build a special pocket in the goalie glove to hold the lucky rabbit's foot? 

[stoneySIOUX]

14 minutes ago, Scratch said:

To be sure, the returning team is more talented than an average Berry team. What I'm saying is the first line is unlikely to be an area of strength compared to say Duluth. As as15 eloquently mentioned above, Chyz was supposed to bring in players that gave us a talent advantage (at least I think that's why he was brought in). None of these new forwards appear to do that. It seems almost certain we lost or didn't participate in the battles for high end forwards, identical to Berry

What about the remaining three lines and the 9 defensemen? A GM brings in talent for the entirety of the team, not to better one line. The players that left in relation to the players that are being brought in seem to be at minimum, replacements. They all seem to be improvements over the ones they are replacing.

It's a wild take to believe we didn't participate or aren't participating in battle for high end forwards. Actually, it's not just wild -- it's incorrect.

You still haven't commented on how Hastings outcoached Jax. Would love to hear that.

[RhettRingers]

14 minutes ago, Scratch said:

To be sure, the returning team is more talented than an average Berry team. What I'm saying is the first line is unlikely to be an area of strength compared to say Duluth. As as15 eloquently mentioned above, Chyz was supposed to bring in players that gave us a talent advantage (at least I think that's why he was brought in). None of these new forwards appear to do that. It seems almost certain we lost or didn't participate in the battles for high end forwards, identical to Berry

You know Duluth's top line will be the best in college hockey right?

[AJS]

1 minute ago, RhettRingers said:

You know Duluth's top line will be the best in college hockey right?

Waiting for a @RhettRingers bomb in the committed recruits section!

[The Sicatoka]

2 minutes ago, RhettRingers said:

You know Duluth's top line will be the best in college hockey right?

It may rival Kariya's at Maine (1991?) and "The Circus".

[as15]

10 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

Of course you can, but the job of a GM is to predict. Predict future results. When you say things like the bolded part, you're assuming Chyz picked the wrong guy without seeing the result. 

No.  I'm not saying he picked the wrong guy without seeing the result.  I'm saying that the player's that Chyz has brought are in line with ordinary offseason's and don't seem to be a marked improvement even with an added GM.  That is my entire point with the multiple posts.  With or without a GM, UND can add what they have in the last month.

[SIOUXELEVENS]

One line does not a team make. 

[stoneySIOUX]

1 minute ago, as15 said:

No.  I'm not saying he picked the wrong guy without seeing the result.  I'm saying that the player's that Chyz has brought are in line with ordinary offseason's and don't seem to be a marked improvement even with an added GM.  That is my entire point with the multiple posts.  With or without a GM, UND can add what they have in the last month.

I don't agree with your logic. Chyz picked these players for a reason -- he likes them. You're basing your logic on players that have been picked by a previous coaching staff. You have to, logically, wait until the results occur to see if they are "in line with ordinary offseasons"... I see where you're going with this, but it doesn't make sense. 

[skateshattrick]

2 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

I don't agree with your logic. Chyz picked these players for a reason -- he likes them. You're basing your logic on players that have been picked by a previous coaching staff. You have to, logically, wait until the results occur to see if they are "in line with ordinary offseasons"... I see where you're going with this, but it doesn't make sense. 

I don't necessarily agree with as15, but his point is not without logic or non-sensical. I believe he is alluding to the fact that we have yet to receive commitments from any of the high end CHL or even high end NTDP players who are projected to be 1st round picks or very high picks. Last year, we got 2 very high end recruits, so perhaps his expectation is that this trend would continue??

[AJS]

13 hours ago, siouxfaninseattle said:

I'm a little concerned about Carels since his season ended a few days ago and no word.

Always felt that two weeks after the completion of the season would seem to be what would feel right for an announcement. Nothing under a week. Not only would you want to take a few days to decompress, plus visit, still so early in this CHL to NCAA (maybe I’m off here), you wouldn’t want the perception this was a done deal all along.

[Walsh Hall]

11 minutes ago, as15 said:

No.  I'm not saying he picked the wrong guy without seeing the result.  I'm saying that the player's that Chyz has brought are in line with ordinary offseason's and don't seem to be a marked improvement even with an added GM.  That is my entire point with the multiple posts.  With or without a GM, UND can add what they have in the last month.

The same could be said for some of the late commits last year, namely Ollie and Kernan.  In my opinion they were huge additions and not the typical types with their more modest expectations coming in. 

[as15]

2 minutes ago, skateshattrick said:

I don't necessarily agree with as15, but his point is not without logic or non-sensical. I believe he is alluding to the fact that we have yet to receive commitments from any of the high end CHL or even high end NTDP players who are projected to be 1st round picks or very high picks. Last year, we got 2 very high end recruits, so perhaps his expectation is that this trend would continue??

Yes, you're pretty much spot on.  If we are devoting 25% of our salaried coaching staff to purely roster building and talent identification (when very few, if any, other programs are doing that), I would anticipate that the level of commits should generally increase as well.  Especially with the additional talent pool from the CHL.

[Scratch]

2 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

What about the remaining three lines and the 9 defensemen? A GM brings in talent for the entirety of the team, not to better one line. The players that left in relation to the players that are being brought in seem to be at minimum, replacements. They all seem to be improvements over the ones they are replacing.

It's a wild take to believe we didn't participate or aren't participating in battle for high end forwards. Actually, it's not just wild -- it's incorrect.

You still haven't commented on how Hastings outcoached Jax. Would love to hear that.

I get what your saying. Next year's team could be made of the right stuff. Wins and loses aside I just enjoy watching Sioux teams that have dazzling players. 

I suppose I'd point to the 5-3 PP as the best evidence of a poor coaching job, but like you said sometimes that's just how it goes. 

What battles for high end forwards did we participate for 2026 forwards? 

Just now, RhettRingers said:

You know Duluth's top line will be the best in college hockey right?

Ya probably and I expect our top line to be in that discussion from time to time. 

[Speed_Kills]

Connor Davis put up very similar numbers to DJ in junior and will be competing for 4th line ice time with a super deep forward group... deepest I can remember. The portal guys are all really solid additions who are heavy, experienced and can contribute 10+ goals. They have a 1st round pick who I expect to break out in a big way in Reschny. Back-to-back top 5 goal scorers in the USHL (Zellers, Cooper).  Back-to-back USHL POY winners (Zeller, Swanson). Hard as nails to play against guys who also contribute on the scoresheet in Croal and Kernan. Enjoy the ride. Not sure where the concern is. This team should be very good again! Excited for it, enjoy the ride. 

[as15]

4 minutes ago, Walsh Hall said:

The same could be said for some of the late commits last year, namely Ollie and Kernan.  In my opinion they were huge additions and not the typical types with their more modest expectations coming in. 

Agree with you here in the sense that they were huge additions as much as middle of the lineup players could.  Don't have to squint very hard to see Kernan being a 20 goal guy soon.

[NoDak Hockey Nation]

2 hours ago, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

This would have been a nice pickup. 18 G 11 A last season

Smells like Big Ten

[stoneySIOUX]

12 minutes ago, skateshattrick said:

I don't necessarily agree with as15, but his point is not without logic or non-sensical. I believe he is alluding to the fact that we have yet to receive commitments from any of the high end CHL or even high end NTDP players who are projected to be 1st round picks or very high picks. Last year, we got 2 very high end recruits, so perhaps his expectation is that this trend would continue??

I'm not saying it's nonsense, because it's not, but he's using a comparison from a different group of staff that were recruiting for different reasons that I believe Chyz is.

[stoneySIOUX]

5 minutes ago, Scratch said:

I get what your saying. Next year's team could be made of the right stuff. Wins and loses aside I just enjoy watching Sioux teams that have dazzling players. 

I suppose I'd point to the 5-3 PP as the best evidence of a poor coaching job, but like you said sometimes that's just how it goes. 

What battles for high end forwards did we participate for 2026 forwards? 

Ya probably and I expect our top line to be in that discussion from time to time. 

They clearly had a plan they thought they'd be able to execute and didn't do it. Certainly can say that Jax could have pivoted to a different type of PP or to try and set up a different look at it, but they knew how Wisconsin would play against our PP and they tried to create that. The boys didn't get it done. 

I can absolutely tell you we were in on top CHL forwards. There are many reasons that teams don't get recruits. 

[as15]

7 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

I'm not saying it's nonsense, because it's not, but he's using a comparison from a different group of staff that were recruiting for different reasons that I believe Chyz is.

I'm not comparing anything between coaching staff to coaching staff.  Purely profile/production and understanding what type of player that usually becomes based on following Junior A and NCAA hockey for 30+ years.  I'm obviously not a scout and there are always outliers, but age related production by league is a pretty good predictor.

[stoneySIOUX]

11 minutes ago, as15 said:

I'm not comparing anything between coaching staff to coaching staff.  Purely profile/production and understanding what type of player that usually becomes based on following Junior A and NCAA hockey for 30+ years.  I'm obviously not a scout and there are always outliers, but age related production by league is a pretty good predictor.

Yes, and that's very fair and that's why I don't think it's nonsense. I disagree because based on what kind of player Chyz has recruited the past year, he's absolutely not looking just at their numbers. He's bringing in a type. Favoring intangibles and predicting their growth. That's why I don't think comparing stats from other seasons is valuable as much, in this scenario. You're hoping for top flight production. Chyz seems to be bringing in guys where production isn't the only factor.