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Jul. 30—GRAND FORKS — Players from the three Canadian major junior hockey leagues are eligible to play college hockey for the first time in decades.
Those players fall under the same recruiting rules as everyone else.
They are eligible to receive offers and commit beginning Aug. 1 entering their junior year of high school.
That date arrives Friday.
The Herald posted its
list of 30 Americans to watch
when the new recruiting cycle opens earlier this week.
This is a list of 20 Canadians to watch.
It is not meant to be a strict 1-20 ranking. It is a mix of the top college-eligible players with a bias toward traditional UND and National Collegiate Hockey Conference recruiting grounds — Western Canada.
1. Landon DuPont, D, Calgary: DuPont is on track to be a generational talent. He earned exceptional status to enter the Western Hockey League a year early — at age 15 — then piled up 60 points for Everett. In the last 15 years, only seven WHL players tallied that many points in their U17 season. DuPont did it in his U16 season — and as a defenseman. There's no historical precedent for what he's doing. He's expected to go No. 1 overall in the 2027 NHL Draft. DuPont's father, Micki, had a cup of coffee with the Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues, while playing seven pro seasons in Berlin, Germany.
2. Alexis Joseph, F, Lachenaie, Que.: The 6-foot-4 center went No. 1 overall in the QMJHL Draft to the Saint John Sea Dogs. He's a big, skilled, dominant, Evgeni Malkin-style player who would be a favorite to go No. 1 in an NHL Draft without DuPont.
3. Kaden McGregor, F, Braeside, Ont.: McGregor joined a list of impressive players who were selected No. 1 overall in the Ontario Hockey League Draft. From 2005-23, 16 of the 19 players who went No. 1 later landed in the top 35 of the NHL Draft, including five No. 1 overall NHL picks — John Tavares (2005), Steven Stamkos (2006), Aaron Ekblad (2011), Connor McDavid (2012) and Matthew Schaefer (2025).
4. Brock Cripps, D, Victoria, B.C.: The 5-foot-10, right-shot defenseman was the No. 2 pick in the WHL Draft behind DuPont. The offensive defenseman made his debut for Prince Albert last season and will play for the Raiders this season. Cripps is an electric threat, who jumps in the play all the time.
5. Jaxon Jacobson, F, Brandon, Man.: Jacobson, a late 2008-born forward, had a season comparable to UND commit Cooper Williams in the Western Hockey League. It might be difficult to lure Jacobson to college hockey, though. His father, Jared, owns the Brandon Wheat Kings, where Jaxon plays.
6. James Scantlebury, F, Montreal, Que.: Scantlebury is a 5-foot-9, dynamic player who signed a tender with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League.
7. Camryn Warren, F, Vaughan, Ont.: The 5-foot-10 forward brings tons of offense. He finished second in the Greater Toronto Hockey League U16 in scoring and was selected No. 6 by North Bay.
8. Zack Arsenault, F, Quebec City: Arsenault is a pure goal-scorer who was selected No. 2 overall in the QMJHL Draft. He scored 24 goals in 23 games in U18 AAA hockey last season — one that was shortened due to injury. He'll play for Rimouski this season.
9. Brock England, F, Airdrie, Alta.: England, who hails from former UND goalie Aaron Dell's hometown, is an explosive skater who plays with a competitive streak. England will play for the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL.
10. Charlie Murata, F, Toronto: Murata is an elite skater and offensive threat who had an impressive summer. The 6-foot, right-shot forward will play for Flint in the OHL this season.
11. Jaakko Wycisk, F, Tecumseh, Ont.: Wycisk, a right-shot centerman, went No. 2 overall in the OHL Draft to Guelph. His father, Austin, played professionally in Germany for 12 years.
12. Ludovic Perreault, F, Winnipeg: Perreault is a smaller centerman, but he's dynamic, plays with pace, has a never-ending motor and can score. The Winnipeg product will play for the Victoria Royals in the WHL — the same place where UND incoming freshman stars Cole Reschny and Keaton Verhoeff played. He'll be teammates with UND commit Eli McKamey.
13. Ossie McIntyre, F, St. Albert, Alta.: McIntyre has high-end skill, smarts and playmaking. He showed well in his limited WHL action last season, tallying four points in 10 games for Spokane, one of the WHL's elite-drafting franchises.
14. Mirco Dufour, F, Rocky View, Alta.: Dufour is small at 5-foot-6, 158 pounds. But he's dynamic offensively and figures to jump into a loaded Everett team this season.
15. Kayden Stroeder, F, Saskatoon, Sask.: DuPont was the only U16 player to suit up in more WHL games last season than Stroeder, who played in 16 for the Edmonton Oil Kings. Stroeder showed well, too, tallying eight points. He will return to play alongside UND commits Andrew O'Neill and Ethan MacKenzie in Edmonton.
16. Malik L'Italien, D, Montreal: The 6-foot-2, 187-pound left-handed defenseman is one of the top blue liners in this class. He's an offensive producer from the back end who will play for Halifax in the QMJHL. He was the No. 3 pick in the QMJHL Draft.
17. Aden Bouchard, D, Airdrie, Alta.: Bouchard showed skill and poise from the back end while playing for Edge School in Calgary last season. He might not have Cripps' offense, but he's a little harder to play against. Bouchard went No. 3 overall in the WHL Draft to Tri-City.
18. Ben Harvey, F, Edmonton: Harvey, the No. 4 overall pick of the WHL Draft by Prince Albert, isn't flashy. But he's athletic, smart, doesn't turn pucks over and always makes the right plays.
19. Noah Laus, F, Belle River, Ont.: Laus can play center or wing. He can score and play through contact. The 6-foot, 187-pound forward went No. 7 to the Soo Greyhounds in the OHL Draft.
20. Blake Chorney, F, Nipawin, Sask.: The 5-foot-11, 182-pound forward is a versatile player with strong scoring ability. He was selected No. 10 in the WHL Draft by Vancouver.
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Those players fall under the same recruiting rules as everyone else.
They are eligible to receive offers and commit beginning Aug. 1 entering their junior year of high school.
That date arrives Friday.
The Herald posted its
list of 30 Americans to watch
when the new recruiting cycle opens earlier this week.
This is a list of 20 Canadians to watch.
It is not meant to be a strict 1-20 ranking. It is a mix of the top college-eligible players with a bias toward traditional UND and National Collegiate Hockey Conference recruiting grounds — Western Canada.
1. Landon DuPont, D, Calgary: DuPont is on track to be a generational talent. He earned exceptional status to enter the Western Hockey League a year early — at age 15 — then piled up 60 points for Everett. In the last 15 years, only seven WHL players tallied that many points in their U17 season. DuPont did it in his U16 season — and as a defenseman. There's no historical precedent for what he's doing. He's expected to go No. 1 overall in the 2027 NHL Draft. DuPont's father, Micki, had a cup of coffee with the Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues, while playing seven pro seasons in Berlin, Germany.
2. Alexis Joseph, F, Lachenaie, Que.: The 6-foot-4 center went No. 1 overall in the QMJHL Draft to the Saint John Sea Dogs. He's a big, skilled, dominant, Evgeni Malkin-style player who would be a favorite to go No. 1 in an NHL Draft without DuPont.
3. Kaden McGregor, F, Braeside, Ont.: McGregor joined a list of impressive players who were selected No. 1 overall in the Ontario Hockey League Draft. From 2005-23, 16 of the 19 players who went No. 1 later landed in the top 35 of the NHL Draft, including five No. 1 overall NHL picks — John Tavares (2005), Steven Stamkos (2006), Aaron Ekblad (2011), Connor McDavid (2012) and Matthew Schaefer (2025).
4. Brock Cripps, D, Victoria, B.C.: The 5-foot-10, right-shot defenseman was the No. 2 pick in the WHL Draft behind DuPont. The offensive defenseman made his debut for Prince Albert last season and will play for the Raiders this season. Cripps is an electric threat, who jumps in the play all the time.
5. Jaxon Jacobson, F, Brandon, Man.: Jacobson, a late 2008-born forward, had a season comparable to UND commit Cooper Williams in the Western Hockey League. It might be difficult to lure Jacobson to college hockey, though. His father, Jared, owns the Brandon Wheat Kings, where Jaxon plays.
6. James Scantlebury, F, Montreal, Que.: Scantlebury is a 5-foot-9, dynamic player who signed a tender with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League.
7. Camryn Warren, F, Vaughan, Ont.: The 5-foot-10 forward brings tons of offense. He finished second in the Greater Toronto Hockey League U16 in scoring and was selected No. 6 by North Bay.
8. Zack Arsenault, F, Quebec City: Arsenault is a pure goal-scorer who was selected No. 2 overall in the QMJHL Draft. He scored 24 goals in 23 games in U18 AAA hockey last season — one that was shortened due to injury. He'll play for Rimouski this season.
9. Brock England, F, Airdrie, Alta.: England, who hails from former UND goalie Aaron Dell's hometown, is an explosive skater who plays with a competitive streak. England will play for the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL.
10. Charlie Murata, F, Toronto: Murata is an elite skater and offensive threat who had an impressive summer. The 6-foot, right-shot forward will play for Flint in the OHL this season.
11. Jaakko Wycisk, F, Tecumseh, Ont.: Wycisk, a right-shot centerman, went No. 2 overall in the OHL Draft to Guelph. His father, Austin, played professionally in Germany for 12 years.
12. Ludovic Perreault, F, Winnipeg: Perreault is a smaller centerman, but he's dynamic, plays with pace, has a never-ending motor and can score. The Winnipeg product will play for the Victoria Royals in the WHL — the same place where UND incoming freshman stars Cole Reschny and Keaton Verhoeff played. He'll be teammates with UND commit Eli McKamey.
13. Ossie McIntyre, F, St. Albert, Alta.: McIntyre has high-end skill, smarts and playmaking. He showed well in his limited WHL action last season, tallying four points in 10 games for Spokane, one of the WHL's elite-drafting franchises.
14. Mirco Dufour, F, Rocky View, Alta.: Dufour is small at 5-foot-6, 158 pounds. But he's dynamic offensively and figures to jump into a loaded Everett team this season.
15. Kayden Stroeder, F, Saskatoon, Sask.: DuPont was the only U16 player to suit up in more WHL games last season than Stroeder, who played in 16 for the Edmonton Oil Kings. Stroeder showed well, too, tallying eight points. He will return to play alongside UND commits Andrew O'Neill and Ethan MacKenzie in Edmonton.
16. Malik L'Italien, D, Montreal: The 6-foot-2, 187-pound left-handed defenseman is one of the top blue liners in this class. He's an offensive producer from the back end who will play for Halifax in the QMJHL. He was the No. 3 pick in the QMJHL Draft.
17. Aden Bouchard, D, Airdrie, Alta.: Bouchard showed skill and poise from the back end while playing for Edge School in Calgary last season. He might not have Cripps' offense, but he's a little harder to play against. Bouchard went No. 3 overall in the WHL Draft to Tri-City.
18. Ben Harvey, F, Edmonton: Harvey, the No. 4 overall pick of the WHL Draft by Prince Albert, isn't flashy. But he's athletic, smart, doesn't turn pucks over and always makes the right plays.
19. Noah Laus, F, Belle River, Ont.: Laus can play center or wing. He can score and play through contact. The 6-foot, 187-pound forward went No. 7 to the Soo Greyhounds in the OHL Draft.
20. Blake Chorney, F, Nipawin, Sask.: The 5-foot-11, 182-pound forward is a versatile player with strong scoring ability. He was selected No. 10 in the WHL Draft by Vancouver.
Continue reading...
