The admission of elite Canadian Hockey League players to the NCAA has added to the pipeline of quality players the USHL has provided, making college hockey must-see TV for hockey fans this season. Per collegehockeynews.com, over 300 NHL draft picks will compete for NCAA programs this season. Six programs stand out in 2026-27 as having the most high-end NHL draft picks at its disposal. Those schools are The University of Denver, the University of North Dakota, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, Boston University, and Boston College. Combined, these schools boast the prospects of 21 NHL clubs, many of whom were selected within the first two rounds of their respective drafts.
Today’s profile is of The University of North Dakota, which follows up yesterday’s article focused on The University of Denver. The link to that article can be found below. North Dakota is built very simlarly to Denver, in that their biggest strength lies in its elite D corps. They are led in that department by returners Keaton Verhoeff (9th overall in 2026 by SJS) & EJ Emery (30th overall in 2024 by NYR). They have been joined this season by freshmen Carson Carels (6th overall in 2026 by CGY), Sam Laurila (138th overall in 2025 by NYI) and Ethan MacKenzie (69th overall in 2026 by TOR).
The Fighting Hawks’ forward group is very strong also, featuring NHL star-in-the-making Cole Reschny (18th overall in 2026 by CGY). Having attended this year’s World Junior Summer Showcase, I felt the Team Canada forward was far and away the best player on the ice. Also returning with Reschny are the undersized but highly-productive Mac Swanson (207th overall in 2024 by PIT) 3rd-ranked Bruins’ prospect Will Zellers (76th overall in 2024 by BOS), Ollie Josephson (105th overall by SEA) and Hudson Malinoski (153rd overall in 2023 by TOR). They will be joined up front this season by Connor Davis (129th overall in 2026 by VAN), Ashton Schultz (167th overall in 2025 by BUF) and Cooper Simpson (79th overall in 2025).
Regarding North Dakota’s goaltending, Caleb Heil (193rd overall in 2025 by TBL) will join this group as an incoming freshman. While undrafted goaltender Jan Spunar returns and was last season’s starter as a freshman, Heil is expected to challenge for playing time between the pipes this year.
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