2026-27 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[Walsh Hall]

Personally, while I hope the staff can land more blue chippers than in the past, our GM is going to earn his keep by adding high quality pieces from the remaining pool of recruits.  So far, I don't see any swings and misses in that regard.  

[skateshattrick]

13 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. 

I get your point. I think next year's team is going to be very good, but I am really hoping that we can add a high end defenseman like Carson Carels, Landon DuPont, etc. It is very fun to watch high end players like Jake Sanderson, Brock Boeser, Nick Schmaltz, Zach Parise, TJ Oshie, Jonathan Toews, etc., even if they are only here for 2 years or less. Having said that, I believe that Cole Reschny and Keaton Verhoeff are going to take huge steps this year and will have monster sophomore seasons. Max Plante was not dominant his freshman season at UMD, and I believe  these 2 have more upside than Max Plante. 

[Scratch]

9 minutes ago, skateshattrick said:

I get your point. I think next year's team is going to be very good, but I am really hoping that we can add a high end defenseman like Carson Carels, Landon DuPont, etc. It is very fun to watch high end players like Jake Sanderson, Brock Boeser, Nick Schmaltz, Zach Parise, TJ Oshie, Jonathan Toews, etc., even if they are only here for 2 years or less. Having said that, I believe that Cole Reschny and Keaton Verhoeff are going to take huge steps this year and will have monster sophomore seasons. Max Plante was not dominant his freshman season at UMD, and I believe  these 2 have more upside than Max Plante. 

Skill aside Carels would bring back the Kleven factor to the extent officiating hasn't permanently eliminated it which would be awesome

[beastandco]

26 minutes ago, Speed_Kills said:

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. 

UND has had no early signees, has gotten better in the portal, and has a pretty solid recruiting class coming in. Pretty much every team besides Michigan and Duluth has gotten gutted and is scrambling to find their replacements. 

[Dustin]

1 hour ago, stoneySIOUX said:

Playing it off as a Hastings outcoached Jax is silly.

I won't say Hastings necessarily outcoached Jackson, but something happened, either with coaches or players, or both, that did not translate to making it look like we knew what we were doing on the ice.

If you read The Athletic article "Return of an NCAA blue blood: How North Dakota went from offseason crossroads to Frozen Four," you'll find this:

"Jackson didn’t waste any time getting down to business. There were several video clips of Wisconsin, showing its relentless forecheck and how it turns turnovers into transition chances. North Dakota knew what was coming. Jackson showed examples of how other teams did well against the Badgers. He also had video of his own team and the keys to its game, from breakouts to net-front battles.....Jackson was right in warning that the Badgers forecheck was formidable, though. The Fighting Hawks couldn’t handle it, coming out uncharacteristically flat."

So, it seemed like the game plan was on point, but the players either didn't or couldn't execute it.  So, were our players simply inferior in skill/ability, or did they not heed the warning?  And then, what did Jackson do about it as things folded out in real time?

[dustnyou]

New coaching staff and GM hired to assemble a roster and bring Sioux Hockey back. … 1st year: lost 7 games and made the frozen four… some posters on here: “are we getting value out of our GM?” Lol. 

[stoneySIOUX]

24 minutes ago, Dustin said:

I won't say Hastings necessarily outcoached Jackson, but something happened, either with coaches or players, or both, that did not translate to making it look like we knew what we were doing on the ice.

If you read The Athletic article "Return of an NCAA blue blood: How North Dakota went from offseason crossroads to Frozen Four," you'll find this:

"Jackson didn’t waste any time getting down to business. There were several video clips of Wisconsin, showing its relentless forecheck and how it turns turnovers into transition chances. North Dakota knew what was coming. Jackson showed examples of how other teams did well against the Badgers. He also had video of his own team and the keys to its game, from breakouts to net-front battles.....Jackson was right in warning that the Badgers forecheck was formidable, though. The Fighting Hawks couldn’t handle it, coming out uncharacteristically flat."

So, it seemed like the game plan was on point, but the players either didn't or couldn't execute it.  So, were our players simply inferior in skill/ability, or did they not heed the warning?  And then, what did Jackson do about it as things folded out in real time?

Once the game starts, it's absolutely on the players to perform. These boys are fractions from pro hockey so rah rah stuff isn't going to make the difference. It wasn't like they weren't trying. They just got beat. Not inferior in skill/ability... the combo of coaching and their skill got them to the Frozen Four. We saw them perform at the top level in South Dakota. That was not the game they brought to Vegas.

[franchise]

42 minutes ago, dustnyou said:

New coaching staff and GM hired to assemble a roster and bring Sioux Hockey back. … 1st year: lost 7 games and made the frozen four… some posters on here: “are we getting value out of our GM?” Lol. 

It's wild that we had one tourney win since 2016 and appeared headed for a full rebuild.  Staff assembles a very good team, gets 2 dominant tourney wins and reaches the F4.  Somehow that's not good enough.

Team is looking very solid for next year with some big jumps expect from current studs and some potential big Dman adds still a possibility.  Yet, that's not good enough either.

[tnt]

3 hours ago, burd said:

Don’t beat yourself up; just don’t watch.  Given your assessment, why would you?  You seem old enough to control your fate—do it.  Unless you just like playing victim.  

It certainly is going to be nice not to deal with his constant negative attitude on the forum next year, because like you said, if they aren’t fun to watch nobody is holding a gun to your head.  I expect him to take your advice, and if so, no reason to comment if you aren’t watching.

[SIOUXELEVENS]

If anyone told me at the beginning of last season we would get two regional wins and go to the frozen four I would have told them they were crazy , great first year and looking forward to many more. 

[cberkas]

I’m just going to prepare that UND doesn’t get any of the big 3 defensemen.

I also wouldn’t be surprised that in a year or two there is no one listed as a committed recruit and we all find out who is coming when the season ends.

Now that’s some chaos I can get behind 🥤🍿

[brianvf]

2 hours ago, stoneySIOUX said:

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

I am betting that a good chunk of the top CHL forwards aren't even planning to play NCAA this upcoming season.
That certainly would have caused Chyz and Co to need to look elsewhere.

[I Ranger]

12 minutes ago, brianvf said:

I am betting that a good chunk of the top CHL forwards aren't even planning to play NCAA this upcoming season.
That certainly would have caused Chyz and Co to need to look elsewhere.

I'm getting this feeling also but there are just so many of them out there it seems a bit odd. I know everyone is only talking about this year's potential 1st rounders but there also a solid amount of guys drafted last year that haven't signed NHL contracts that could have been options. 

[Goon]

14 hours ago, NoDak Hockey Nation said:

Reschny and Verhoeff didn’t commit until May 30th last year

Ollie Josephson was the one of the last players picked up last year. 

[as15]

1 hour ago, franchise said:

It's wild that we had one tourney win since 2016 and appeared headed for a full rebuild.  Staff assembles a very good team, gets 2 dominant tourney wins and reaches the F4.  Somehow that's not good enough.

Team is looking very solid for next year with some big jumps expect from current studs and some potential big Dman adds still a possibility.  Yet, that's not good enough either.

I don't think anyone is saying anything negatively about last year's roster development.  All of the discussion is about this coming year.  Everyone has said that the team is looking very solid.  The team look's very solid pretty much every year, with or without a dedicated GM.  The bolded is the entire point.  

 

2026-27 (first full year w/GM)

• Transfers - Lindberg, Magnussen, Malinoski, Boser
• Incoming Freshman (projected today) - Simpson (3rd rounder, finalist for USHL POY), A. Schulz (6th rounder), B. Schultz. Davis, MacKenzie (projected 2-4 rounder), Lindberg, Heil (7th rounder)

2025-26 (GM for part of recruitment year)

• Transfers - Rickwood, Menghini, Young, Homer
• Incoming Freshman - Reschny (1st rounder), Verhoeff (projected top-10 pick), Zellers (USHL POY), Kernan, Josephson, Laurila, Klee, Zakreski, Spunar, Engel

2024-25

• Transfers - Wilkie, MacDonald, Semptimphelter
• Incoming Freshman - Boisvert (1st rounder), Swanson (USHL POY), Emery (1st rounder), Littler, Jubenvil, Croal, Strathmann, , Andrew

[Blackheart]

3 hours ago, The Sicatoka said:

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

[Big Green]

1 hour ago, SIOUXELEVENS said:

If anyone told me at the beginning of last season we would get two regional wins and go to the frozen four I would have told them they were crazy , great first year and looking forward to many more. 

Maybe I'm just overly Optimistic, but I fully expected them to compete for a National Championship.  With the Portal and facilities we can rebuild/reload very fast.   IMO we had the talent last year, but the chemistry was off.  That was fixed with new coaching hire and a couple players no longer on the team.

One of the best team in the last Decade (2020) came after a disappointing season.  I guess I'm surprised so many are surprised about the season.

 

Had we fallen so far that a Frozen four appearance is that much of a surprise?

 

[The Sicatoka]

24 minutes ago, Blackheart said:

Dry white toast. 

[Blackheart]

5 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Dry white toast. 

Four fried chickens and a Coke.

[SpudsSioux]

46 minutes ago, as15 said:

I don't think anyone is saying anything negatively about last year's roster development.  All of the discussion is about this coming year.  Everyone has said that the team is looking very solid.  The team look's very solid pretty much every year, with or without a dedicated GM.  The bolded is the entire point.  

 

2026-27 (first full year w/GM)

• Transfers - Lindberg, Magnussen, Malinoski, Boser
• Incoming Freshman (projected today) - Simpson (3rd rounder, finalist for USHL POY), A. Schulz (6th rounder), B. Schultz. Davis, MacKenzie (projected 2-4 rounder), Lindberg, Heil (7th rounder)

2025-26 (GM for part of recruitment year)

• Transfers - Rickwood, Menghini, Young, Homer
• Incoming Freshman - Reschny (1st rounder), Verhoeff (projected top-10 pick), Zellers (USHL POY), Kernan, Josephson, Laurila, Klee, Zakreski, Spunar, Engel

2024-25

• Transfers - Wilkie, MacDonald, Semptimphelter
• Incoming Freshman - Boisvert (1st rounder), Swanson (USHL POY), Emery (1st rounder), Littler, Jubenvil, Croal, Strathmann, , Andrew

While I'm hoping BC continues to bring in big fish every year, I think just his ability to bring or not bring in those big fish is kind of discounting the work he does. Any of us here can list the top names, so can every other college coach or fan. Yes, it will help to have him out building relationships but there's also many other factors and only so much NIL to go around. Getting first round guys like Emery and Reschny (and hopefully KV), returning is where a lot of our NIL money will end up I would think.

The thing I'm most excited about with Bryn is that he's out evaluating current recruits to see how they are progressing and if they're ready to come in, if they're not progressing and we need to move on, etc. I'm hoping for significantly less "misses" than in years past. The Freshmen class this year validated that. Those weren't all big names but I feel like we hit on every single one. If he believes by watching them that a guy like Davis is more ready to jump in and contribute than Pilgrim or O'Neil...well I'm glad hew as out watching so they know that and could make that decision.

I other thing I like about him is his ability to be in on lesser known guys before the masses are. If McKenzie wasn't committed yet, we would all be wanting him. It just wasn't as big of a splash because Bryn found him before he blew up on everyone's radar.

 

 

[The Sicatoka]

8 minutes ago, SpudsSioux said:

While I'm hoping BC continues to bring in big fish every year, ...

You threw me for a second; "BC" means something horrible to me in college hockey.  

Bryn Chyzyk --> 3Y?  ... YZ ... pronounced "wise"? 

[cberkas]

1 hour ago, as15 said:

I don't think anyone is saying anything negatively about last year's roster development.  All of the discussion is about this coming year.  Everyone has said that the team is looking very solid.  The team look's very solid pretty much every year, with or without a dedicated GM.  The bolded is the entire point.  

 

2026-27 (first full year w/GM)

• Transfers - Lindberg, Magnussen, Malinoski, Boser
• Incoming Freshman (projected today) - Simpson (3rd rounder, finalist for USHL POY), A. Schulz (6th rounder), B. Schultz. Davis, MacKenzie (projected 2-4 rounder), Lindberg, Heil (7th rounder)

2025-26 (GM for part of recruitment year)

• Transfers - Rickwood, Menghini, Young, Homer
• Incoming Freshman - Reschny (1st rounder), Verhoeff (projected top-10 pick), Zellers (USHL POY), Kernan, Josephson, Laurila, Klee, Zakreski, Spunar, Engel

2024-25

• Transfers - Wilkie, MacDonald, Semptimphelter
• Incoming Freshman - Boisvert (1st rounder), Swanson (USHL POY), Emery (1st rounder), Littler, Jubenvil, Croal, Strathmann, , Andrew

I see what you are getting at, most teams don’t use/have a GM. They have an assistant who is the recruiting coordinator and they do the recruiting and also coach and they are doing fine. If the head coach is being lazy at recruiting and thinking the schools tradition or a video can do the job over actually getting out there and seeing the players play and shaking hands. Then they are going to be left behind. Is the position showing a big change now? Not really. Will it in the future? Maybe. It’s all about perspective. 

[tnt]

Let’s not forget how most of us felt that UND had lost the culture that made them great, by being tough to play against and bringing it on a consistent basis.  We ended up taking guys that were offensively talented, but didn’t bring either a physical element, or a motor that wouldn’t quit. 

While I was enamored with the possibility of getting elite CHL studs, ultimately I don’t know what some of their motivations would be.  Who knows what forwards out of the CHL will play college next year, and how many would be all in with the program that brings them in.

 I am confident that the guys the coaching staff is bringing in really want to be here and match the culture that we seemed to have lost somewhere along the way in the previous regime.  That alone should give us a solid chance of success, and if they can find elite CHL talent that fits with the culture like Reschny and Verhoeff, all the much better. 

 

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

2 hours ago, SpudsSioux said:

While I'm hoping BC continues to bring in big fish every year, I think just his ability to bring or not bring in those big fish is kind of discounting the work he does. Any of us here can list the top names, so can every other college coach or fan. Yes, it will help to have him out building relationships but there's also many other factors and only so much NIL to go around. Getting first round guys like Emery and Reschny (and hopefully KV), returning is where a lot of our NIL money will end up I would think.

The thing I'm most excited about with Bryn is that he's out evaluating current recruits to see how they are progressing and if they're ready to come in, if they're not progressing and we need to move on, etc. I'm hoping for significantly less "misses" than in years past. The Freshmen class this year validated that. Those weren't all big names but I feel like we hit on every single one. If he believes by watching them that a guy like Davis is more ready to jump in and contribute than Pilgrim or O'Neil...well I'm glad hew as out watching so they know that and could make that decision.

I other thing I like about him is his ability to be in on lesser known guys before the masses are. If McKenzie wasn't committed yet, we would all be wanting him. It just wasn't as big of a splash because Bryn found him before he blew up on everyone's radar.

 

 

 
Great, much more nuanced take. We can all scream “chippaz derp chippaz” but if we avoid those guys(or worse classes) that miss that’s the true measurement of Chyz’ effectiveness. Not this knee jerk superficial 1st rounder crap. Btw we have PLENTY of draft picks on next years team

[brianvf]

2 hours ago, SpudsSioux said:

Getting first round guys like Emery and Reschny (and hopefully KV), returning is where a lot of our NIL money will end up I would think.

With revshare combined with NIL now, I have to think that UND hockey has quite a bit at their disposal.  Most of our direct blueblood competition has to just take the leftover revshare after their football and bball teams take the majority.  UND hockey will get the vast majority for our school, which makes us a unique situation compared to most other NCAA hockey schools.
I'm hoping that even with getting Emery, Reschny, KV, and Zellers (plus others) a fair share, that we still have plenty to go around to entice players like Carels, DuPont, Rudolph, etc.