OTB Ranks UND's Incoming Class Fifth

Jasper Kozak-Miller from the recruiting blog "Over the Boards" has Ranked UND's incoming class 5th. Just for the record, this is how the top-five classes were ranked: 1.) BU 2.) Boston College 3.) UNO 4.) Notre Dame. As we know, ranking in the preseason are meaningless, and hockey is played on the ice. That being said, UND's freshman class should be pretty good this season.

5. North Dakota (NCHC)

Key Recruit: 96 F Nick Schmaltz (Green Bay Gamblers)

Why: Jack Eichel may have “most scrutinized freshman” down pat, but Schmaltz, a super-skilled product of the Chicago Mission program, probably beats out even Noah Hanifin and Wisconsin’s Adam Rockwood as a player who will draw a ton of eyes to see how the adjustment goes. What was at one point shaping up to be a dominant class of 2018 saw some movement, but Schmaltz, for all his draft scrutiny, came out as a first rounder and a potential game-breaking addition to the group in Grand Forks. Tucker Poolman, USA Hockey’s Jr. Player of the Year, is my only honorable mention this year. Winnipeg’s 2013 5th-rounder should be a big addition to the NoDak d-corps.

Forwards: Nick Schmaltz (CHI, 1st rd, 2014), Austin Poganski (STL, 4th rd, 2014), Johnny Simonson, Trevor Olson

Defense: Tucker Poolman (WPG, 5th rd, 2013)

Goaltender: Cam Johnson

North Dakota adds what nearly every team looks to add with this compact, highly talented group: scoring. The sole defenseman Tucker Poolman led all USHL blue-liners in both goals (15) and power play goals (10), an all-USHL First Team selection who comes to campus a year out of the draft more than ready to step in. 5’8 freshman Johnny Simonson led the USHL’s Lincoln Stars in all scoring statistics, including shots on goal (229) while tallying 28 goals and 31 assists last year.

Nick Schmaltz is ridiculously gifted offensively, while Austin Poganski is a 6’2, fourth round NHL draft pick (St. Louis) this summer who ranked fourth in the USHL with 11 powerplay markers, while also leading Tri-City in short-handed goals (3) and shooting percentage (15.3%). Goaltender Cam Johnson adds to the depth chart in net after going 11-1-1 in the USHL with a .939 SV% following a mid-season trade to Waterloo. That followed a tougher first half statistically with a down-and-out Fargo Force outfit last year.