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Apr. 17—GRAND FORKS — Four hockey players with UND ties are on the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau's final 2026 draft rankings.
UND freshman defenseman Keaton Verhoeff leads the group.
Verhoeff is ranked as the No. 4 North American skater behind Penn State forward Gavin McKenna, Michigan State defenseman recruit Chase Reid and uncommitted defenseman Carson Carels.
Verhoeff is expected to become one of the highest-drafted players to ever play at UND.
That distinction currently belongs to Jonathan Toews, who went No. 3 overall to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2006. Jake Sanderson went No. 5 overall to Ottawa in 2020.
The NHL Draft is scheduled for June 26-27 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Three UND recruits also landed on the list.
Forward Cooper Williams of the Saskatoon Blades is No. 50, defenseman Ethan MacKenzie of the Edmonton Oil Kings is No. 62 and defenseman Brayden Klimpke of the Blades is No. 74.
Williams and Klimpke will return to Saskatoon next season. They're expected to come to campus in the fall of 2027.
MacKenzie, who was passed over in the last two NHL Drafts, will come to campus in the fall.
MacKenzie and Verhoeff were teammates with Canada at the World Junior Championship over Christmas break in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Two area prospects also are on the list.
Arizona State defenseman Lincoln Kuehne of West Fargo is No. 65, while uncommitted forward Andrew O'Neill of Fargo is No. 150.
Continue reading...
UND freshman defenseman Keaton Verhoeff leads the group.
Verhoeff is ranked as the No. 4 North American skater behind Penn State forward Gavin McKenna, Michigan State defenseman recruit Chase Reid and uncommitted defenseman Carson Carels.
Verhoeff is expected to become one of the highest-drafted players to ever play at UND.
That distinction currently belongs to Jonathan Toews, who went No. 3 overall to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2006. Jake Sanderson went No. 5 overall to Ottawa in 2020.
The NHL Draft is scheduled for June 26-27 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Three UND recruits also landed on the list.
Forward Cooper Williams of the Saskatoon Blades is No. 50, defenseman Ethan MacKenzie of the Edmonton Oil Kings is No. 62 and defenseman Brayden Klimpke of the Blades is No. 74.
Williams and Klimpke will return to Saskatoon next season. They're expected to come to campus in the fall of 2027.
MacKenzie, who was passed over in the last two NHL Drafts, will come to campus in the fall.
MacKenzie and Verhoeff were teammates with Canada at the World Junior Championship over Christmas break in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Two area prospects also are on the list.
Arizona State defenseman Lincoln Kuehne of West Fargo is No. 65, while uncommitted forward Andrew O'Neill of Fargo is No. 150.
Continue reading...
