2026-27 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[cowboys5xsbs]

We finally got a chippa 

[skateshattrick]

4 minutes ago, cowboys5xsbs said:

We finally got a chippa 

By finally, do you mean for this year? Because Verhoeff, Reschny and Emery are blue chippers. 

[cowboys5xsbs]

1 minute ago, skateshattrick said:

By finally, do you mean for this year? Because Verhoeff, Reschny and Emery are blue chippers. 

Yes from this portal 

[brianvf]

Quotes from Bryn and Dane about Carels:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-commit-carson-carels-embodies-everything-were-looking-for-in-a-player

Quote

"He fits our culture to a T," Chyzyk said. "To have a player of this caliber that's such a seamless fit with the type of people we want in our program — similar to Keaton Verhoeff — it's our type of person for our culture while also being an outstanding talent."

Quote

Emery and Brasen Boser are juniors. Verhoeff and Sam Laurila (New York Islanders fifth-rounder) are sophomores. Carels, MacKenzie and Garrett Lindberg are freshmen. UND is expected to add one more rookie defender to that group.

"We could have some growing pains early as we all find our way, get comfortable playing at this level and playing in our league," Jackson said. "But I really believe that once everybody in that core gets playing to their true abilities, in the second half, we can be extremely strong."

 

[Oxbow6]

Both Verhoeff and Carels will be drafted in the top 7 picks. Pretty impressive for UND.

[RedFrog]

Is it October yet?

[RedFrog]

Just now, RedFrog said:

Is it October yet?

On second thought ... I'd like at least one day of summer before wishing for the fall.

[Fratt Mattin]

My way too early lines for next season:

Magnussen-Reschny-Zellers
Swanson-Malinoski-Simpson
Croal-Josephson-Lindberg
Menghini-Kernan-Zakreski

Ex. Davis, A. Schultz, B. Schultz,

Carels-Emery
Boser-Verhoeff
MacKenzie-Laurila

Ex. Lindberg, ??

Spunar
Heil
??

Biggest strength is clearly forward depth. Not the most high-end skill we've ever had, but tons of guys capable of putting up 20+ points. Accordingly, I think Malinoski, Josephson, and Kernan are pretty much interchangeable as centers 2-4. All 3 are very solid and capable of playing up or down the lineup.

Biggest weakness is inexperience on the blueline. Loads of talent, but a lot of youth. I think MacKenzie or Laurila may actually start the season on the top pair with Emery. My placing Carels there is more of a projection for where we will be by the end of the year and not necessarily how things will look in October.
 

[powerplay]

I think the season d pairs will start with something like that. But once we get into the meat of the season, I could see Verhoeff and Carels pairing up and playing monster minutes. Kind of Hughes/Faber or Makar/Toews esqe.

[Oxbow6]

Love this team's depth at the center position. Kernan would be a 2C on 80% of college rosters.

[Fratt Mattin]

37 minutes ago, powerplay said:

I think the season d pairs will start with something like that. But once we get into the meat of the season, I could see Verhoeff and Carels pairing up and playing monster minutes. Kind of Hughes/Faber or Makar/Toews esqe.

I could see this as well since their games are somewhat complimentary, however I am a big advocate of pairing experience with inexperience wherever possible. That's why I hope the coaching staff gives that Boser-Verhoeff pairing a long look

[beastandco]

1 hour ago, Fratt Mattin said:

My way too early lines for next season:

Magnussen-Reschny-Zellers
Swanson-Malinoski-Simpson
Croal-Josephson-Lindberg
Menghini-Kernan-Zakreski

Ex. Davis, A. Schultz, B. Schultz,

Carels-Emery
Boser-Verhoeff
MacKenzie-Laurila

Ex. Lindberg, ??

Spunar
Heil
??

Biggest strength is clearly forward depth. Not the most high-end skill we've ever had, but tons of guys capable of putting up 20+ points. Accordingly, I think Malinoski, Josephson, and Kernan are pretty much interchangeable as centers 2-4. All 3 are very solid and capable of playing up or down the lineup.

Biggest weakness is inexperience on the blueline. Loads of talent, but a lot of youth. I think MacKenzie or Laurila may actually start the season on the top pair with Emery. My placing Carels there is more of a projection for where we will be by the end of the year and not necessarily how things will look in October.
 

I would be very surprised if Kernan isn’t at least middle 6 next year. He was one of the best freshmen in the NCHC down the stretch last year. I don’t know who you’d move down, but I have a feeling he is going to pop.

[brianvf]

1 hour ago, Fratt Mattin said:

My way too early lines for next season:

Magnussen-Reschny-Zellers
Swanson-Malinoski-Simpson
Croal-Josephson-Lindberg
Menghini-Kernan-Zakreski

If Magnussen can put up 30+ pts playing on BSU's first line...he could really take off playing with Cole and Will.
That 2nd line would really cause some teams trouble too if Simpson can come in and get his scoring touch dialed quickly.

It's not a forward group full of stars outside of Zellers, Reschny, etc, but that is one DEEP group.
If the 1st/2nd lines aren't scoring in one game...then the 3rd/4th lines certainly can.

[Fratt Mattin]

Just now, beastandco said:

I would be very surprised if Kernan isn’t at least middle 6 next year. He was one of the best freshmen in the NCHC down the stretch last year. I don’t know who you’d move down, but I have a feeling he is going to pop.

Yeah the hardest part of predicting the lines was sorting centers 2-4. Reschny is the obvious 1C, but everyone else is quite close in talent and they all possess a lot of the same skills as well. Kernan popped down the stretch, but Josephson was arguably even better until he got injured. Malinoski seems like poised to have a big jump in production in his senior year as well. You could put those 3 in any order and I would not complain

[tnt]

The thing that really gets me is that I have no clue who will be where in the lineup.  Wouldn’t surprise me for Lindberg to play up or down in the lineup for forwards.  You always hear during fall camp that certain guys are impressing.  Last year the talk was Kernan that was impressing, which was unexpected by me.  Will be fun to see who exceeds expectations or has a big jump in development from one year to the next like Emery did.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

After seeing Kernan in that Quinny game, I think he’ll be 2C this year. That shot, my god

[as15]

1 minute ago, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

After seeing Kernan in that Quinny game, I think he’ll be 2C this year. That shot, my god

Agreed - I personally wouldn't be surprised if he pops off for close to 20 goals next year, really took a step the second half of last year as others have mentioned.

[I Ranger]

1 minute ago, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

After seeing Kernan in that Quinny game, I think he’ll be 2C this year. That shot, my god

I think there's a chance we see Kernan on the wing potentially on the right side with Reschny and Zellers. 

[Wilbur]

Hold your horses UND fans.  The experts up in Canada have Carels playing in the NHL next season as an 18 year old d man if he's drafted by the right team.  

Scratch him off the list and hope we get Dupont now.  And somebody please take jersey #4 from him and give it a good wash.  

[TwamleyShuffle]

11 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

Hold your horses UND fans.  The experts up in Canada have Carels playing in the NHL next season as an 18 year old d man if he's drafted by the right team.  

Scratch him off the list and hope we get Dupont now.  And somebody please take jersey #4 from him and give it a good wash.  

What team is the “right team”

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

14 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

Hold your horses UND fans.  The experts up in Canada have Carels playing in the NHL next season as an 18 year old d man if he's drafted by the right team.  

Scratch him off the list and hope we get Dupont now.  And somebody please take jersey #4 from him and give it a good wash.  

So goofy, is there ever an instance of a kid committing to a team, getting drafted a month later then reneging immediately on that commitment? None come to mind for me.

[RhettRingers]

7 minutes ago, TwamleyShuffle said:

What team is the “right team”

I think the Rangers, San Jose and Vancouver would all be bad. Vancouver because they are trash and need to give their fans something to get excited about. 

[RhettRingers]

7 minutes ago, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

So goofy, is there ever an instance of a kid committing to a team, getting drafted a month later then reneging immediately on that commitment? None come to mind for me.

JT Miller

[RhettRingers]

Need him to go to Calgary. I think they would be fine stashing him and trust us with the development.

[as15]

23 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

Hold your horses UND fans.  The experts up in Canada have Carels playing in the NHL next season as an 18 year old d man if he's drafted by the right team.  

Scratch him off the list and hope we get Dupont now.  And somebody please take jersey #4 from him and give it a good wash.  

The list of 18 year old defenseman that play meaningful minutes in the NHL is basically non-existent in the last 20+ years.  It's Matthew Schaefer, Rasmus Dahlin, Noah Hanifin,and Aaron Ekblad.  That's three 1OA picks and a player that played a full year in the NCAA prior to going pro.