Played on Oct 25, 2025
Eastern College Athletic Conference
Game Played in Cheel Center
Shane Soderwall (G, L, 6’2″, 182, Clarkson University, 09/23/2002, Clarkson)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Soderwall brings solid size to the crease and consistently expands his frame in tight situations, making it difficult for shooters to find space. He showed poise and readiness when facing net-front traffic, reacting well under pressure. His glove and pad work were sharp, hinting at refined mechanics and growing confidence. Athletically, he moves well and made a few beauty saves because of it. He made a couple of outstanding robbery glove saves on #9 Zellers in the slot, both in the 1st and 3rd periods. Soderwall was steadily tracking pucks, positioning well, and controlling rebounds. The NCAA D3 transfer from Curry College certainly gave his team a chance to win, only giving up one goal on the penalty kill on a well-placed and hard #18 Verhoeff shot over the glove.
Tristan Sarsland (D, R, 6’0″, 183, Clarkson University, 02/25/2004, Clarkson)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Sarsland is a good-sized, right-handed defenseman who anticipates early, stepping into space to challenge opponents and steer them wide with calculated stick positioning before finishing with assertive contact. Off the puck, he maintains a high situational awareness—reading developing threats and intervening to break up plays before they materialize. He was adept at angling off opponents and gapping up well, making physical contact off the rush to break up a few plays on the night, showcasing a strong brand of play. He was good at holding the offensive blue line using his stick or body to keep pucks alive in the offensive zone. Sarsland is not highly offensive, yet makes good outlet passes and will transition the puck with good outlet decisions. The Minnesota native will find suitors at the pro level.
Jake Livanavage (D, L, 5’10”, 177, University of North Dakota, 05/06/2004, North Dakota)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Livanavage went undrafted in his eligible year, largely due to concerns about size and skating explosiveness. His stride is wide-based, which provides balance and strength but limits his top-end speed, lateral quickness, and agility. Despite those physical limitations, his hockey IQ is elite. He consistently reads forechecks and penalty kill structures with precision, often knowing his next move before the puck arrives. He thrives in a possession-oriented system, keeping his head up and scanning the ice to distribute pucks with pace and purpose. On the power play, he’s especially effective walking the blue line with confidence, identifying lanes quickly, and releasing pucks without hesitation. His understanding of time and space allows him to make smart, high-percentage plays under pressure. He made the play on the only goal on the power play, as he corralled the #17 Reschny high shot off the boards, rotated to the center of the ice at the top of the zone, and smartly dished to #18 Verhoeff on the flank for the primary assist. Livanavage retrieves pucks cleanly, even in tight or awkward spots along the wall, and transitions up ice with efficiency. His ability to process options in real time and deliver crisp, accurate outlet passes stands out. While he may not project as a dynamic skater, his vision, poise, and puck-moving ability make him a valuable asset—particularly in structured, puck-control systems. He was North Dakota’s most effective player all weekend against Clarkson.
Will Zellers (LW, L, 5’11”, 168, University of North Dakota, 04/04/2006, North Dakota)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Zellers possesses a lightning-quick release and consistently identifies high-danger shooting lanes. He excels at slipping through coverage, subtly adjusting his posture and hand positioning to alter shooting angles in real time—allowing him to generate impressive velocity with minimal wind-up. He was absolutely stoned by #30 Soderwall twice on glove saves, both in the 1st period and 3rd period from the slot. Although the second one was possibly in the net, as it appeared #30 Soderwall pulled his glove off the inside of the post. On the rush, he’s particularly effective at manipulating space, using sharp reads and body shifts to carve out lanes toward the middle of the offensive zone, where he becomes a constant scoring threat. The Bruins’ draft pick led North Dakota with a team-high five shots on net. Zellers’ slippery puck skills and offensive instincts make him a constant scoring threat.
Cole Reschny (C, L, 5’11”, 183, University of North Dakota, 04/04/2007, North Dakota)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Reschny’s high-end hockey IQ allows him to process the game quickly and make sharp decisions with the puck—whether it’s pulling the trigger or setting up a teammate. Though he stands sub-6-foot, he competes well in puck battles by leveraging strong stick control and smart body positioning to tilt possession in his favor. Along the boards, he’s assertive and slippery, able to shake off checks and expose soft spots in defensive coverage. His blend of scoring touch and playmaking vision makes him a consistent dual threat in the offensive zone. He faired decently at the face-off dot, winning 57% of draws. He picked up a power play assist early in the 2nd period after #4 Livanavage picked up his high shot off the boards and dished to #18 Verhoeff for the goal. While you like the versatility in his game, it’s interesting that he was a 1st round pick in 2025, as he lacks size, explosiveness, and strength.
Keaton Verhoeff (D, R, 6’4″, 208, University of North Dakota, 06/19/2008, North Dakota)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Verhoeff is a big-bodied right-handed defenseman with average foot speed, particularly in lateral movement. Early in the first period, he mishandled a puck in the defensive zone, leading to a high-danger chance against. On the power play in the 1st period, he was beaten to a loose puck in the neutral zone during a chip-and-chase sequence, giving up a scoring opportunity while a man-up. His pivots and edge work show some stiffness, limiting fluidity in transition. During one power play shift, advancing the puck up ice through the neutral zone with time and space, he had options to stick-handle and move left or right around the defender, yet stumbled a bit with his crossovers and ran directly into the body contact. In the 2nd period, a smaller and quicker opposing forward got a jump and lane to the net, thus Verhoeff ended up taking a hooking penalty. Also, he took a hit after a breakout pass again from a smaller player, falling to the ice. Having a stronger lower body and improved foot speed with his crossovers, pivots, and turns will make Verhoeff that much more desirable by NHL teams. That said, he displays surprisingly soft hands for his size. He shot down the wall one shift, eluded a defender at the faceoff dot, and generated a quality shot on goal. Early in the second, he buried a power-play goal from the top of the circle—short-side, glove high—with an impressive wrist shot with velocity and pinpoint accuracy. A power play and game-winning goal off the #4 Livanavage rotation and set-up. He consistently snaps pucks on with purpose on the breakout and will find shooting lanes to the net. The majority of the night, he was paired with #4 Livanvage playing a regular even-strength shift and seeing 1st power play unit. His frame, style, and game overall were giving Aaron Ekblad vibes. No doubt there is talent and size, and seeing his development in the NCAA this season will be valuable as he is a young 17-year-old right now.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images