Seven UND hockey recruits land on NHL Central Scouting's midterm draft rankings
Jan. 12—GRAND FORKS — UND could have as many as seven committed recruits selected in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The NHL's Central Scouting Bureau released its midterm draft rankings Friday, and it's lined with future Fighting Hawks.
Forward Sacha Boisvert, who plays for the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the United States Hockey League, heads the list. He's the No. 17-ranked North American skater, which would likely make him a first-round pick.
Boisvert has 19 goals in 31 games for Muskegon, ranking third in the USHL. Boisvert, a 6-foot-2, 178-pound center from Trois Rivieres, Que., will come to UND in the fall.
Defenseman E.J. Emery is next on the list at No. 39. Emery, who was listed as a first-round pick earlier this week by former NHL GM Craig Button, will come to Grand Forks in the fall, too. Emery is a right-handed shooting defenseman who plays for the U.S. Under-18 Team.
The third recruit on the list is forward Will Zellers, a dynamic winger who plays for Shattuck-St. Mary's. Zellers is ranked No. 48.
Defenseman Sam Laurila (No. 102) of Moorhead, forward Mac Swanson (No. 130) of the Fargo Force, and forward Carson Pilgrim (No. 137) of Warroad High School are potential late-round picks.
UND's lone goalie prospect, Caleb Heil of the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede, is the No. 8-ranked North American goaltender.
The 2024 NHL Draft is scheduled for June 28-29 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. It is expected to be the last fully in-person draft.
Three UND commits already have been drafted.
Defenseman Andrew Strathmann (fourth round, Columbus) and forward David Klee (seventh round, San Jose) were picked in last summer's draft. Forward Cade Littler (seventh round, Calgary) was selected in 2022.
One local uncommitted player also landed on the NHL's midterm list.
Defenseman Bauer Berry of Grand Forks, who plays for Muskegon, is the No. 204-ranked North American skater.
UND commits
North American skaters
17. F Sacha Boisvert, Muskegon (USHL)
39. D E.J. Emery, U.S. Under-18
48. F Will Zellers, Shattuck-St. Mary's
102. D Sam Laurila, U.S. Under-18
130. F Mac Swanson, Fargo (USHL)
137. F Carson Pilgrim, Warroad HS
North American goaltenders
8. Caleb Heil, Sioux Falls (USHL)
Other notable
North American skaters
204. D Bauer Berry, Muskegon (USHL), uncommitted
