News
This weekend, 217 hockey prospects from around the world will realize a childhood dream when they hear their name called in Vancouver’s Rogers Arena during the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Not surprisingly, a number of those young men in line for selection are connected with the University of North Dakota, whether as current players, incoming recruits or UND commits who won’t arrive on campus for another year or two.
If you follow college or pro hockey, you know that UND’s annual presence at the NHL Draft is essentially a given. An impressive 175 North Dakota players have been drafted since 1963 – including 20 in the 1st Round – while at least one Fighting Sioux/Hawk player has been selected for 20 consecutive seasons.
That streak is sure to continue in 2019, as Brad Berry’s squad could see up to ten players join NHL organizations before the weekend’s over, a number that would set a new record for most UND draftees in one year.
Who are the names to know from a UND perspective in this year’s draft? When will they be selected? And when should we expect them to be on North Dakota’s roster? I do my best to answer those questions and more in this week’s MidcoSN Podcast, which also features a recent conversation I had with incoming UND freshman and soon-to-be NHL draft pick Judd Caulfield.
Listen to the full podcast below, and be sure to subscribe to the pod on iTunes, Soundcloud or wherever you get your podcasts!
NHL Draft Info
Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
When: Friday, June 21 at 7 PM CT (NBCSN) and Saturday, June 22 at 12 PM CT (NHL Network)
Potential UND Draftees
Shane Pinto | Franklin Square, NY (Tri-City - USHL) | C | R | 6-2, 192
Draft Grade: 2nd RD | Projected UND Arrival: 2019
Judd Caulfield | Grand Forks, ND (US NTDP - USHL) | RW | R | 6-3, 191
Draft Grade: 3rd-5th RD | Projected UND Arrival: 2019
Harrison Blaisdell – Regina, SK (Chilliwack - BCHL) | C | L | 5-11, 181
Draft Grade: 3rd-5th RD | Projected UND Arrival: 2019
Brendan Budy | Langley, BC (Tri-City – USHL) | LW | L | 5-10, 179
Draft Grade: 5th-7th RD | Projected UND Arrival: 2020 (2019 Team: Tri-City – USHL)
Massimo Rizzo | Burnaby, BC (Penticton - BCHL) | C/LW | L | 5-10, 174
Draft Grade: 6th-7th RD | Projected UND Arrival: 2020 (2019 Team: Penticton, BCHL)
Cooper Moore | Cos Cob, CT (Brunswick – USHS) | D | L | 6-1, 181
Draft Grade: 3rd-5th RD | Projected UND Arrival: 2020 (2019 Team: Chilliwack – BCHL)
Luke Bast | Red Deer, AB (Brooks – AJHL) | D | L | 5-9, 170
Draft Grade: 5th-7th RD | Projected UND Arrival: 2020 (2019 Team: Brooks – AJHL)
Ethan Frisch | Moorhead, MN (Fargo – USHL) | D | R | 5-11, 194
Draft Grade: 7th RD | Projected UND Arrival: 2019
Cameron Rowe | Wilmette, IL (US NTDP – USHL) | G | L | 6-2, 203
Draft Grade: 4th-7th RD | Projected UND Arrival: 2020 (2019 Team: Des Moines, USHL)
Adam Scheel | Lakewood, Ohio (UND - NCHC) | G | L | 6-3, 197
Draft Grade: 5th-7th RD | UND Sophomore in 2019-20