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The Herald's top 20 NCHC freshmen for 2023-24

brad elliott schlossman, grand forks herald
·4 min read

Oct. 13—GRAND FORKS — Here's a look at the National Collegiate Hockey Conference rookies who are expected to make the biggest impacts this season:

1. Jayden Perron, F, North Dakota: Perron has a lot of similarities to 2023 NCHC rookie of the year, Jackson Blake. Perron is a smaller player at 5-foot-9, but is elusive, excellent at maintaining puck possession, sees the ice exceptionally well and is a threat every time he touches the puck.

2. Tanner Ludtke, F, Omaha: The third-round Arizona Coyotes draft pick tallied one point in the USHL in 2021-22, then piled up 66 last season. Ludtke should slide into the top two lines immediately and give the Mavericks a boost on the power play.

3. Bret Link, F, Colorado College: The 6-foot-3, 188-pound power forward should be ready to step into a prominent role for the Tigers after tallying 105 points in 122 games the last two seasons with the Fargo Force.

4. Boston Buckberger, D, Denver: The Pioneers nabbed an instant-impact defenseman when Wisconsin fired coach Tony Granato this offseason. Buckberger, initially committed to the Badgers, flipped his commitment to Denver, where he'll be a dynamic, offensive defenseman.

5. Aaron Pionk, D, Minnesota Duluth: The Bulldogs needed to bring in an impact defenseman and they got one after Mike Hastings left Minnesota State-Mankato for Wisconsin. Pionk, once a Mavericks commit, switched to the Bulldogs, where his brother, Neal, starred.

6. Max Burkholder, D, Colorado College: The 5-foot-8 right-handed blue liner was the top scoring defenseman in the USHL last season with 51 points. He was particularly effective on the power play shooting from the right circle — the same spot now-departed Hunter McKown played for CC last year.

7. Samuel Harris, F, Denver: Harris is coming off of an excellent season in Sioux Falls, where he scored 30 goals. The talent is there. His point total may depend on where he slots in among Denver's veteran forward group.

8. Zeev Buium, D, Denver: Buium might end up being the top NHL prospect among defensemen in this NCHC freshman class. But he's young — Buium doesn't turn 18 until December — and expectations can't be too high for 17-year-old freshman defensemen in the NCHC.

9. Abram Wiebe, D, North Dakota: Wiebe won the BCHL's defenseman of the year award. Two previous UND defenders have won that honor: Troy Stecher and Travis Roche. Wiebe has good size at 6-foot-2. He skates well and has some elusiveness to his game.

10. Freddie Halyk, G, Denver: Denver's 6-foot-6 starter Magnus Chrona, a four-year starter, signed in the offseason. The Pioneers are bringing in another 6-foot-6 goalie to replace him — Freddie Halyk, who played in the Alberta Junior Hockey League last season.

11. Alex Bump, F, Western Michigan: Bump was originally committed to Vermont, but re-opened his recruitment late in the summer after Catamounts coach Todd Woodcroft was fired. The Broncos, looking to replace their top line from last season, landed the Flyers draft pick.

12. Miko Matikka, F, Denver: Matikka has the tools to be an excellent power forward at the college level, but it may take some time for the scoring to come. The 6-foot-3 Coyotes pick will have to work his way up the lineup.

13. Zaccharaya Wisdom, F, Colorado College: The Seattle Kraken draft pick scored 28 goals last season for Cedar Rapids and could slot in at right wing among Colorado College's top six forwards.

14. Bruno Bruveris, G, Miami: With Ludvig Persson transferring to UND in the offseason, the No. 1 goalie job is wide open at Miami. Bruveris, who posted an .897 with Cedar Rapids last season, will get a chance to compete with Logan Neaton for the starting job.

15. Barrett Hall, F, St. Cloud State: The Seattle Kraken draft pick has a chance to step into a big role as a rookie for the Huskies after putting up 45 points in the USHL last season.

16. Matthew Perkins, F, Minnesota Duluth: The fourth-round Vancouver Canucks draft pick is an explosive skater. He didn't put up huge offensive numbers for Clark Cup champion Youngstown, but he can cause problems for defenders with his speed.

17. Ean Somoza, F, Western Michigan: Somoza's older brother, Ethan, was a standout at Bemidji State from 2017-22. Ean has potential to be an impact player at the college level, too. He had more points (74) than anyone outside of the powerhouse Penticton Vees last season in the BCHL.

18. Jake Livanavage, D, North Dakota: Livanavage is a high-end skater, who uses his feet to create lanes to the net, jump in the play offensively and get out of trouble defensively.

19. Antonio Fernandez, D, Colorado College: Fernandez will give the Tigers an offensive presence from the back end, where he uses his skating and smarts to get advantages.

20. Michael Emerson, F, North Dakota: Emerson's breakout may come down the line, but he has some excellent attributes. He's 6-foot-1, has a deceptively quick step and goes to the net every time he gets a chance.