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Apr. 18—GRAND FORKS — UND's most pressing need this offseason is to address center depth.
It took a big step in that direction Friday.
Center Jack Kernan, the leading scorer of the Des Moines Buccaneers in the United States Hockey League, gave a verbal commitment to UND for next season.
Kernan was previously committed to Minnesota State, but recently re-opened his recruitment and was pursued by Big Ten and National Collegiate Hockey Conference teams.
His decision came down to UND and Wisconsin.
"North Dakota is a premier organization," Kernan said. "It has been such a big program for so many years. The facilities and coaching staff are great. The players were really good to me when I got up there to see it myself. It felt like the right fit."
Kernan, a 6-foot-2, 196-pound center from Maple Grove, Minn., finished fifth in the USHL with 29 goals this season. He had 53 points in 62 games.
"In my years of doing this, I don't know if there's a more respected kid, a kid I believe in more, than Kerny," Des Moines coach Matt Curley said. "He's a hockey player, a 200-foot centerman, great between the dots, can play in all situations, an alpha in the room, an animal in the weight room, a leader on and off the ice.
"Dane (Jackson) had talked a lot about the old — to me, it's Sioux — mentality and trying to get back to that mindset and what Sioux hockey means and the players they used to have and get. I think Jack embodies that to a T. I think the world of him."
Kernan was particularly effective on the power play this season. The right-handed shooting forward played in the left circle, where he used his one-timer to score 14 power-play goals, second-most in the league.
He accounted for 16% of Des Moines' goals this season, the third-highest share in the league behind Green Bay Gamblers forwards Will Zellers and Aidan Park.
Zellers and Kernan will be freshman classmates at UND.
"Personally, I had a lot of growth in my game this year and things I want to roll over to North Dakota," he said. "As a team, we ultimately didn't reach our goal of making the playoffs and contending for a Clark Cup. But all in all, it was one of the best seasons I've ever had. The coaching staff and players made it fun to come to the rink every day. It was a great season in that sense. I had great linemates who contributed to my success and great people around me."
Kernan won 53 percent of his faceoffs.
"He's a competitive kid, very demanding of himself and those around him," Curley said. "In that, he maximizes his ability. He's a driver. That maximizes his skillset while improving those around him."
This was Kernan's second year in the USHL. Prior to that, he played at Maple Grove High School.
Kernan initially committed to Minnesota State in 2023.
"I decided it would be best if I started looking around to see what other options there would be," Kernan said. "It was a very tough decision, but I had a good call with the coaching staff at Mankato. They understood it and we decided to part ways."
Kernan visited UND this week.
He arrived Wednesday and left Thursday.
"It was amazing," Kernan said. "It started off by meeting the staff, then an amazing tour of The Ralph. It was mind-blowing in a way. The facilities are unbelievable. I got to have dinner with the coaching staff.
"Then, I got to hang out with some of the guys and be around them. I felt invited. They were very inviting and friendly. It was a great way to meet some of them and feel like part of the team in a way. We wrapped it up, I talked with the staff and came to the decision that this is the fit."
UND has major holes to fill at center. Cameron Berg, Jake Schmaltz, Carter Wilkie and Louis Jamernik V graduated. Sacha Boisvert transferred to Boston University.
UND returns soon-to-be-sophomore Cade Littler at center.
Now, it has two incoming forward recruits who played center in the USHL this season in Kernan and David Klee.
"I think it's going to be, relatively speaking, a seamless transition for him," Curley said. "I say that and believe that because of, one, the person he is, first and foremost. He always looks at himself as an underdog. He will not take a day off preparing himself for that challenge.
"And, two, on the ice, I believe his game is translatable to that level or quite frankly any level. He's got size. He can skate. He's got a great brain. He does everything well. He may not be elite, elite in any one particular area, but he has a well-rounded game and I think those types of players translate."
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It took a big step in that direction Friday.
Center Jack Kernan, the leading scorer of the Des Moines Buccaneers in the United States Hockey League, gave a verbal commitment to UND for next season.
Kernan was previously committed to Minnesota State, but recently re-opened his recruitment and was pursued by Big Ten and National Collegiate Hockey Conference teams.
His decision came down to UND and Wisconsin.
"North Dakota is a premier organization," Kernan said. "It has been such a big program for so many years. The facilities and coaching staff are great. The players were really good to me when I got up there to see it myself. It felt like the right fit."
Kernan, a 6-foot-2, 196-pound center from Maple Grove, Minn., finished fifth in the USHL with 29 goals this season. He had 53 points in 62 games.
"In my years of doing this, I don't know if there's a more respected kid, a kid I believe in more, than Kerny," Des Moines coach Matt Curley said. "He's a hockey player, a 200-foot centerman, great between the dots, can play in all situations, an alpha in the room, an animal in the weight room, a leader on and off the ice.
"Dane (Jackson) had talked a lot about the old — to me, it's Sioux — mentality and trying to get back to that mindset and what Sioux hockey means and the players they used to have and get. I think Jack embodies that to a T. I think the world of him."
Kernan was particularly effective on the power play this season. The right-handed shooting forward played in the left circle, where he used his one-timer to score 14 power-play goals, second-most in the league.
He accounted for 16% of Des Moines' goals this season, the third-highest share in the league behind Green Bay Gamblers forwards Will Zellers and Aidan Park.
Zellers and Kernan will be freshman classmates at UND.
"Personally, I had a lot of growth in my game this year and things I want to roll over to North Dakota," he said. "As a team, we ultimately didn't reach our goal of making the playoffs and contending for a Clark Cup. But all in all, it was one of the best seasons I've ever had. The coaching staff and players made it fun to come to the rink every day. It was a great season in that sense. I had great linemates who contributed to my success and great people around me."
Kernan won 53 percent of his faceoffs.
"He's a competitive kid, very demanding of himself and those around him," Curley said. "In that, he maximizes his ability. He's a driver. That maximizes his skillset while improving those around him."
This was Kernan's second year in the USHL. Prior to that, he played at Maple Grove High School.
Kernan initially committed to Minnesota State in 2023.
"I decided it would be best if I started looking around to see what other options there would be," Kernan said. "It was a very tough decision, but I had a good call with the coaching staff at Mankato. They understood it and we decided to part ways."
Kernan visited UND this week.
He arrived Wednesday and left Thursday.
"It was amazing," Kernan said. "It started off by meeting the staff, then an amazing tour of The Ralph. It was mind-blowing in a way. The facilities are unbelievable. I got to have dinner with the coaching staff.
"Then, I got to hang out with some of the guys and be around them. I felt invited. They were very inviting and friendly. It was a great way to meet some of them and feel like part of the team in a way. We wrapped it up, I talked with the staff and came to the decision that this is the fit."
UND has major holes to fill at center. Cameron Berg, Jake Schmaltz, Carter Wilkie and Louis Jamernik V graduated. Sacha Boisvert transferred to Boston University.
UND returns soon-to-be-sophomore Cade Littler at center.
Now, it has two incoming forward recruits who played center in the USHL this season in Kernan and David Klee.
"I think it's going to be, relatively speaking, a seamless transition for him," Curley said. "I say that and believe that because of, one, the person he is, first and foremost. He always looks at himself as an underdog. He will not take a day off preparing himself for that challenge.
"And, two, on the ice, I believe his game is translatable to that level or quite frankly any level. He's got size. He can skate. He's got a great brain. He does everything well. He may not be elite, elite in any one particular area, but he has a well-rounded game and I think those types of players translate."
Continue reading...
