Sam Laurila, E.J. Emery set to take on future team

Dec. 29—GRAND FORKS — Sam Laurila was playing bantam hockey 18 months ago.

He will be playing against UND on Saturday night.

It has been a fast rise for the defenseman from Moorhead, who plays for the U.S. Under-18 Team.

"It's pretty crazy," Laurila said of the jump. "That first year (on the U.S. Under-17 Team) is definitely tough with that adjustment to the USHL. Once I got the speed down and the physicality part as well, it's gotten better. It's been tough, but I'm used to it now. Now, it's just another game."

This weekend will be a little more than another game, though, for Laurila and E.J. Emery.

The U.S. Under-18 Team defensemen have both signed National Letters of Intent to play college hockey at UND. They'll play against their future team at 6:07 p.m. Saturday in their future home, Ralph Engelstad Arena.

"I know they're going to be excited," UND coach Brad Berry said. "Laurila grew up just down the road in Moorhead. Emery obviously knows our program inside and out. They're a few months away from coming to our program. It will give them a live look and a glimpse at what that looks like. Even though it's Christmas break, there will still be an exciting atmosphere here at The Ralph."

Laurila will have a large contingent of family and friends on hand for the game.

"I think it's super exciting," he said. "I've had this one circled on the calendar for a while. It should be super cool to play in front of family and friends, and to play at The Ralph."

Emery, who grew up in British Columbia but has family roots in Compton, Calif., also is looking forward to the game.

"It's pretty cool," Emery said. "Not too many people get to experience something like this — playing against the school you know you're going to. It's pretty special. It's going to be a great time."

Emery is expected to come to UND next fall.

Considering the Fighting Hawks are losing at least three fifth-year seniors on defense, he could step into a prominent role right away.

"He's a big body, athletic, right-shot defenseman. . . that we don't have a lot of," Berry said. "We're going to have a couple of right-shot transfer 'D' who will be moving on next year. He's a guy that defends very well. He skates extremely well. He's very competitive. He's a guy who invests in his game on and off the ice."

Laurila could come in either 2024 or 2025. No decision has yet been made on the timing of his arrival in Grand Forks.

"He's a sound, steady, two-way defenseman," Berry said. "He defends very well. He can make a great first pass. He's a very smart player.

"That was a big jump for him (from bantams). But I think he adjusted nicely over his first year on the Under-17 team. Now, he's on the Under-18 team and his game has gotten progressively better and up to the speed of college hockey."

Both players say they're aiming to take steps with their development in the second half of the season.

"It's been all right," Emery said of the first half. "There's definitely room for improvement in the second half. I think it's been a decent start, but there's always room to improve."

What areas is he looking to improve?

"I think just making my close outs a little faster," Emery said, "making it happen sooner and getting stops so we can go back the other way quickly. . . slowing the game down a little bit."

Laurila said he's hoping to take the offensive side of his game to another level.

"Every game, I'm just trying to keep getting better and better," Laurila said. "Each and every practice, I'm trying to take another step. I know I have another level on the offensive side that hasn't come yet. I'm trying to stay patient."

U.S. Under-18 Team head coach Nick Fohr, a Grand Forks native, has had a track record of coaching high-end defensemen.

He was an assistant coach working with defensemen when Jake Sanderson and Tyler Kleven came through the National Team Development Program. Fohr had both of them for two years.

Fohr said Emery reminds him of K'Andre Miller, who is now with the New York Rangers. Fohr coached Miller for two years.

"They have a lot of similar assets," Fohr said. "E.J. is big, tall and long. He's an elite skater. I've got some guys up front that can absolutely fly on this team and he can skate with any one of them. It's a huge asset for him. It gets himself out of a lot of trouble. It allows him to be really aggressive and take away time and space from people because he can recover so well. It's an asset that will be with him forever."

Fohr said Laurila's trajectory has been different because he made the big jump from bantam hockey.

"The pace still gets him every once in a while," Fohr said. "But he's a super smart kid, sees the ice well, defends well, plays hard and physical. I really like his game and there's a big upside to him in the future."

When: 6:07 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Ralph Engelstad Arena.

TV: Midco Sports (GF Ch. 27/622 HD).

Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM).

Stream: NCHChockey.com.