(UND Athletics)
GRAND FORKS–University of North Dakota head hockey coach Brad Berry announced the addition of seven newcomers to the program, completing the roster for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
Four incoming freshmen and three transfers will skate for the green and white for the first time, consisting of four forwards, two defensemen and a goaltender.
Jackson Blake | F | Eden Prairie, Minn. | Chicago (USHL)
Played last season with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL) … Scored 27 goals and added 50 assists for 77 points in just 61 games … The USHL point total is the most by an incoming UND player in over 20 years … Earned USHL Third Team All-Star selection … Appeared in 25 games for the Steel in 2020-21 after completing a state championship season with Eden Prairie … Potted 17 points in those 25 games … Tallied the game-winning goal to secure the Clark Cup in 2021 … Scored a whopping 58 points (20g, 38a) in just 19 games for Eden Prairie … Selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round (109th overall) in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft … Father, Jason, played three seasons at North Dakota (1996-1999) before a 13-year NHL career.
Drew DeRidder | G | Fenton, Mich. | Michigan State (NCAA)
Appeared in 70 games at Michigan State, earning the starting job in three of his four years … Finished his career sixth all-time at MSU in save percentage (.916) and posted a 2.95 GAA … Selected to the All-Big Ten Honorable Mention Team as both a junior and senior … Finished with a career-high nine victories in 25 starts as a senior … Led the Big Ten in total saves (723) and saves per game (30.1) as a junior … Played 42 games for the U.S. National Team Development Program (U-18) prior to joining MSU … Helped the United States to a silver medal at the IIHF U18 World Championship … Went 3-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) with a 2.52 GAA and .900 save percentage in helping the U.S. capture the 2018 Five Nations Tournament championship … Led the USA to a gold medal at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway, going 4-0 with a 1.00 GAA and .949 save percentage.
Ty Farmer | D | O’Fallon, Mo. | Massachusetts (NCAA)
Played four seasons at UMass, helping usher in a new era of success for the Minutemen … Appeared in 135 of the possible 141 games played … Tallied 11 career goals, including a career-high five during his freshman campaign … Added 33 assists for 44 career points … Registered a plus-14 rating in 2021-22 to lead all defenseman at UMass and sit tied for fifth in Hockey East among blueliners … Is a +46 for his career … Reached the NCAA Tournament in three seasons, including capturing the program’s first NCAA title in 2021 … Played four seasons of juniors in the USHL … Spent his final year with the Fargo Force, winning the Clark Cup alongside current UND captain Mark Senden … Believed to be the third Missouri native to don the green and white, joining goaltender Aaron Vickar (St. Louis, 1995-97) and forward Michael Parks (St. Louis, 2011-15).
Dylan James | F | Calgary, Alberta | Sioux City (USHL)
Spent last season with Sioux City of the USHL, helping the franchise win the Clark Cup … Tallied 61 points (28g, 33a) in 62 games with the Musketeers … Named the USHL’s Rookie of the Year and to the league’s all-rookie team … He became the first rookie to eclipse the 60-point mark in USHL play in over six years … Became the first UND commit to win the rookie of the year award since Brandon Bochenski in 2001 and fourth player overall (Tyler Palmiscno, 1999, Karl Goehring, 1997) … Added five goals and three assists in 10 playoff games … Played three previous seasons with the Okotoks Oilers in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) … Scored 20 goals and posted 23 assists in 51 games during the 2019-20 season with the Oilers to earn AJHL (South) All-Rookie Team honors … Selected in the second round (40th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Owen McLaughlin | F | Spring City, Pa. | Sioux City (USHL)
Teamed up with fellow freshman Dylan James at Sioux City … Often played on a line together … Finished with 28 goals and 44 assists for 72 points in 62 contests … Added another five helpers in 10 playoff appearances … Became only the third incoming UND player in the last 20 years to register over 70 USHL points in a season, joining fellow rookie Jackson Blake and Mike Cichy (2009-11) … Named to the USHL Third All-Star Team in 2021-22 … Helped the franchise win the Clark Cup … Spent the 2020-21 season at Mount St. Charles Academy, racking up 54 points (16g, 38a) in 33 games … Selected in the seventh round (206th overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Ryan Sidorski | D | Williamsville, N.Y. | Union (NCAA)
Played four seasons at Union College … Appeared in 97 games for the Dutchmen … Scored one career goal and added four assists for five career points … Dished out a career-best three assists last season … Finished fourth on the team in ice time at nearly 18 minutes per contest … Ranked among the top-5 on the team in each season for blocked shots, including sitting third in 2021-22 with 40 … Is a three-time ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team selection … Spent his junior seasons with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), a program that current UND player Matteo Costantini all spent time with … Had a career-best five goals and eight assists for 13 points during the 2017-18 campaign.
Ben Strinden | F | Fargo, N.D. | Muskegon (USHL)
Spent the last two seasons with Muskegon of the USHL … Had a breakout campaign in 2021-22, scoring 25 goals and adding 31 assists for 56 points in 61 games … Added a trio of tallies and four helpers for seven points in nine postseason contests … Wore the “A” for the Lumberjacks last season … Played a pair of seasons with Northstar Christian Academy in Alexandria, Minn. … Tallied 55 points in 47 games in his first season before posting 80 points in 68 games during the 2019-20 campaign … Skated for Fargo South-Shanley High School in 2017-18 … Selected in the seventh round (210th overall) by the Nashville Predators in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft … Believed to be the eighth Fargo, N.D., native to play for North Dakota.
