UND Hockey: Dillon Simpson on 2013-14 Preseason All-CHN second team

The University of North Dakota senior defenseman Dillon Simpson made the CHN Preseason All-CHN Team.  

First Team

F John Gaudreau, Jr., Boston College

F Austin Czarnik, Jr., Miami

F Michael Mersch, Sr., Wisconsin

D Shayne Gostisbehere, Jr., Union

D Michael Matheson, Soph., Boston College

G Jon Gillies, Soph., Providence

Second Team

F Kyle Rau, Jr., Minnesota

F Greg Carey, Sr., St. Lawrence

F Ryan Walters, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha

F Matt Leitner, Jr., Minnesota State

D Dillon Simpson, Sr., North Dakota

D Jake McCabe, Jr., Wisconsin

G Connor Hellebuyck, Soph., Massachusetts-Lowell

Dillon Simpson to return for his senior season

For the number of you who seem to think I may be planning on leaving UND, I'm not going anywhere #senioryear
— Dillon Simpson (@Simmer18) April 4, 2013

UND Hockey fans breathed a sigh of relief today, as they got some really good news, soon to be senior defenseman Dillon Simpson tweeted that he will return for his senior year on his twitter account today. I  would have to think that Simpson would be a good candidate to wear a letter for UND next season. Simpson was the leading point scorer for defensmen last season with (5g-19a—24pts). In 114 games at North Dakota Simpson has scored (9g-43a—52pts).

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• Goon's 2012-13 Blogger All-WCHA Awards Poll (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Omaha bleeds green...

Unforgettable experience today with the outdoor game. Want to thank all the fans who made the trip. #sioux #bestfansintheworld
— Mitch MacMillan (@MitchMac25) February 10, 2013

Shout out to the thousands of Sioux fans who traveled to Nebraska this weekend... You guys are the best fans in the nation #siouxsweep
— Dillon Simpson (@Simmer18) February 10, 2013

Good ice was at a premium today but thanks to the hard working staff who made the game possible. It was an unbelievable experience
— Dillon Simpson (@Simmer18) February 10, 2013

Here's a picture of coolant coming up onto the ice.twitpic.com/c2bjee Another chapter in #BattleVStheIce
— David Folske (@davidfolske) February 10, 2013

Corban Knight reached the 40-point plateau tonight for the third straight season, first UND player since Oshie & Duncan in 2007-08 to do it.
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDMHockey) February 10, 2013

Greatest fans in the league. No words can describe how much we appreciate all this support out in Nebraska. #SIOUXSWEEP #siouxroadwarriors
— Stephane Pattyn (@GeneralPattyn28) February 10, 2013

Moments like that is what defines the Sioux Family!#chills! Best fans in the country! #siouxpride
— Carter Rowney (@carterrowney) February 10, 2013

Words can't describe the feeling of the Sioux fans at the end of the tunnel tonight. Best fans in the league. #SiouxSweep #RollTribe
— Danny Kristo (@dkristo7) February 10, 2013

Great to get the sweep this weekend. Sioux fans are sure something special with that scene after the game #RollTribe
— Derek Rodwell (@drodwell11) February 10, 2013

#BattlesOnIce wasn't a neutral site game; it was practically a UND home game, and that's unacceptable for Omaha.
— Bridget Weide Brooks (@Mavpuck) February 10, 2013

Our fans are simply amazing. Best fans in the world. Thanks to all who drove down to support us. Great weekend for the boys #SiouxSweep
— Rocco Grimaldi (@RGrimaldi23) February 10, 2013

Best fans in the world! Can't express how awesome the support in Omaha was! #SiouxSweep #RoadWarriors #RollTribe
— Daniel Senkbeil (@D_Senkbeil) February 10, 2013

Sioux fans truly are THE greatest! No cooler feeling than walking down the tunnel surrounded by Sioux fans! #homeawayfromhome #sioux
— Drake Caggiula (@drakecaggiula) February 10, 2013

So so sooo incredibly amazed at what happened at the game tonight! Best feeling in the world walking back to the locker room! #thanku #sioux
— Zane Gothberg (@ZanoInsano_29) February 10, 2013

Dillon Simpson from boy to polished defenseman… UND’s defensman steps up to make major impact on team.

Edmonton Oilers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is what I wrote for the Hockey Writers - Combine. 

University of North Dakota Junior defenseman Dillon Simpson accelerated his high school studies to come to UND at a very young age of 17 years old. His first season with UND, Simpson could have been attending high school with kids his own age instead of playing in a league full of 20 year old men.

Simpson was drafted in the fourth round, 92^ndover-all in the 2011 NHL entry level draft by the hometown Edmonton Oilers.

The Edmonton Oilers Hockey’s Future page

has Simpson listed as a project.

Simpson is a project in the purest sense. It’s unlikely he leaves school early, barring an incredible jump in production, so it won’t be clear where he fits for a couple years.

This season has kind of been a coming out party for the young defenseman.

This season, Simpson has shown us a peak of what we can expect from him in the weeks to come.

On the ice Simpson’s play oozes with confidence.

Head coach Dave Hakstol had this to say about Dillon Simpson’s play during the last series and more specifically last Saturday Night.

“I thought this past Saturday especially in a game where we weren’t happy with a lot of things – there were very many things that we did. I thought he was one guy that continued to play at a real efficient level. We’re happy with his play – he’s made a nice step forward from where he was as a sophomore and he has held that level of play at a pretty consistent level. So there have been a lot of positive signs for him.

Coach Hakstol on whether Dillon Simpson is physically stronger this season.

He’s stronger, he’s more mature, Hakstol said. You always have to remember that everyone’s body matures at a different age. But also, Dillon’s a junior but he just turned 19 years old, he’s a young junior. I think what we’re starting to see is some of that physical maturity starting to kick in and that combined with a lot of the hard work that he has put in over the last couple of years you’re starting to see the payoff of that added strength and improved conditioned levels and that usually leads to an improved level of consistent play.

Coach Hakstol was asked whether junior defenseman Dillon Simpson has improved dramatically from last season.

“Number one he [Simpson] is getting a little more opportunity,” Hakstol said. “But usually opportunity comes with performance. The two have a coincidently way of meeting in the middle. You perform well you tend to see more opportunity. I think it’s a combination of the two for Dillon, he has very good offensive instincts, that’s a hole that he jumped into obviously it’s part of the power playset up but it’s also a read from his stand point – he made a good read – he jumped into a hole and finished a play. That’s something that we hope to see more and more out of him, we hope to see more of his offensive talents coming through.”

I believe the sky is the limit with Dillon Simpson and as his play improves, his minutes increase and so does his points total.

In case you were wondering, Dillon is the son of former NHLer, Hockey Night in Canada television broadcaster and MSU Spartans Alumnus Craig Simpson.

Related articles

• Joey Holka check on Dillon Simpson (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Jordan Schmaltz hit on Drew Leblanc (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• UND Slips Past UAA (insidehockey.com)
• UND third in CHN's Preseason Top 10 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• North Dakota Wednesday Press Conference notes. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Und 4 Uaa 1 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• North Dakota Wednesday Press Conference notes. (thehockeywriters.com)

Joey Holka check on Dillon Simpson

Back by popular demand. I apologize about the quality of this video, it was taken with my iPhone. This is the hit that SCSU forward Joey Holka put on UND defenseman Dillon Simpson at the 16:56 mark of the second period of Saturday night's game, Holka was given a 2 minute minor. This is one of these hits that are right on the line, it could be a five minute major but after reviewing the hit a few times, I am not so sure. What do you think?

Related articles

• Jordan Schmaltz hit on Drew Leblanc (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Dillon Simpson interviews with Cult of Hockey

Image via WikipediaHere is a nice article that was written by Cult of Hockey on Fighting Sioux Sophomore defenseman Dillon Simpson. In my opinion, it was pretty nice accomplishment by the young man to do so well in the classroom this past season. Not many people can claim to have gotten a 4.0 grade point average but then to be a division I athlete and have that accomplishment is even more impressive in my opinion.

Cult of Hockey --- Dillon Simpson seems to have it all going for him. Son of former Oiler star Craig Simpson, the youngster seems to have inherited his dad’s smarts, good looks, and at least a portion of his hockey talent.

Let’s talk about those smarts for a moment. Young Dillon carried a 4.0 grade point average in the first semester last year, pursuing his business degree with a major in finance. He managed to do this while playing hockey fulltime at the University of North Dakota, where the freshman was reportedly the youngest player in the entire WCHA. Playing against much older men, the 17-year-old defender kept his head above the water line on the ice (30 GP, 2-8-10) , and did much better than that in the classroom.