Jul. 1—GRAND FORKS — The NHL Draft picks on UND’s roster aren’t the only ones attending NHL development camps this month.
Forwards Jack Kernan and Gavin Lindberg have earned invites as undrafted free agents.
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Kernan is going to camp with the Philadelphia Flyers. Lindberg, of Moorhead, will camp with the Nashville Predators.
Kernan had an impressive freshman season at UND, scoring 11 goals and tallying 21 points in 36 games. He was named to the Sioux Falls Regional all-tournament team after scoring twice against Quinnipiac to send the Fighting Hawks to the Frozen Four.
The Maple Grove, Minn., product was used at both center and wing.
Lindberg is transferring to UND after playing two seasons at Colorado College.
He finished third in scoring on the Tigers last season, tallying six goals and 21 points in 36 games. Lindberg also can play both center and wing.
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Lindberg will be teammates with his younger brother, Garrett, this season. Garrett will be a freshman defenseman at UND.
Other UND players expected to attend NHL development camps are forward Ashton Schultz (Buffalo Sabres), goaltender Caleb Heil (Tampa Bay Lightning), forward Cooper Simpson (Boston Bruins), forward Will Zellers (Boston Bruins), forward Mac Swanson (Pittsburgh Penguins), defenseman Sam Laurila (New York Islanders), defenseman Keaton Verhoeff (San Jose Sharks), forward Ollie Josephson (Seattle Kraken), forward Hudson Malinoski (Toronto Maple Leafs), defenseman Ethan MacKenzie (Toronto Maple Leafs), forward Cole Reschny (Calgary Flames), defenseman Carson Carels (Calgary Flames), defenseman E.J. Emery (New York Rangers) and forward Connor Davis (Vancouver Canucks).
Swanson will not participate in on-ice drills as he recovers from an offseason operation.
Five future UND players also are expected to participate in development camps — forward Markus Ruck (Pittsburgh Penguins), forward Liam Ruck (Pittsburgh Penguins), defenseman Brayden Klimpke (Montreal Canadiens), forward Carter Sanderson (Pittsburgh Penguins) and forward Cooper Williams (Toronto Maple Leafs).
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UND incoming freshman forward Cooper Simpson and 2027 recruit Carter Sanderson have both been invited to USA Hockey’s World Junior Championship Summer Showcase.
The showcase is scheduled for July 26-Aug. 1 in Windsor, Ont. Canada, Finland and Sweden also will have teams present.
The showcase is designed to help national federations evaluate candidates for the World Junior Championship, which is scheduled from Dec. 26-Jan. 5. in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta.
USA Hockey invited 47 total players — 26 forwards, 16 defensemen and five goaltenders.
The U.S. roster will be split into two teams for scrimmages on July 26 and 27. Then, a consolidated squad will play for the Americans beginning July 29.
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Simpson played for Youngstown in the United States Hockey League last season. He scored 34 goals and tallied 74 points in 61 games, finishing second in the league in scoring. He was named a finalist for the USHL’s Player of the Year honor.
Simpson, a third-round Boston Bruins draft pick, will play at UND this fall.
Sanderson captained the Muskegon in the USHL last season, helping the Lumberjacks reach the Clark Cup Final. Sanderson scored 17 goals and tallied 34 points in 54 games.
Sanderson, a sixth-round Pittsburgh Penguins pick, has signed to play for the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League in 2026-27.
