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GRAND FORKS — Each July, NHL teams invite their draft picks and prospects to attend a development camp.
It’s a way for NHL staff members to get familiar with their picks and help assess their progress.
But the camps aren’t just about the draft picks.
Teams also usually invite undrafted free agents to get an up-close look at them and potentially help them recruit the players when it comes time for them to sign a free-agent contract.
This summer, three of UND’s undrafted players participated in camps.
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Senior goaltender T.J. Semptimphelter, an incoming transfer from Arizona State, skated with the Nashville Predators. Incoming freshman forward Cody Croal participated with the Philadelphia Flyers and classmate Dalton Andrew skated with the Boston Bruins.
UND sophomore defenseman Caleb MacDonald, who is transferring in from Alaska, was scheduled to go to camp with the Vegas Golden Knights, but had to withdraw due to an injury.
Semptimphelter returned to Grand Forks over the weekend after spending seven days in Nashville.
“It was an awesome experience,” Semptimphelter said. “I was super grateful the Preds organization took the time to invite me and have me attend their camp. As an undrafted guy, you’ve kind of got to go wherever someone is interested in you. I was grateful they reached out and invited me to camp.”
Semptimphelter worked with Nashville director of goaltending Mitch Korn, a Stanley Cup winner with Washington, goaltending coach Ben Vanderklok and former Predators great Pekka Rinne.
“Getting to work with them for a week, I learned a ton of things that I’ll be able to bring back to North Dakota,” Semptimphelter said.
Semptimphelter said one of the highlights was getting to know UND teammate Ben Strinden, a Predators draft pick who attended camp for the third time in his career. Semptimphelter and Strinden were teammates in the three-on-three tournament. Their team won it.
“He was awesome in welcoming me,” Semptimphelter said. “He brought me under his wing and introduced me to staff members and showed me how the camp goes.
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“(On the ice), he had a great camp. He looked really good. It was impressive to me. It shows what it’s all about to be a member of North Dakota’s hockey team and the standards they expect of us. It was great to see.”
In addition to Strinden, there were 11 other drafted players on the 2024-25 UND roster who participated in NHL development camps this summer.
They are forward Jake Schmaltz (Boston Bruins), forward Cade Littler (Calgary Flames), forward Jayden Perron (Carolina Hurricanes), forward Sacha Boisvert (Chicago Blackhawks), defenseman Andrew Strathmann (Columbus Blue Jackets), forward Dylan James (Detroit Red Wings), defenseman E.J. Emery (New York Rangers), forward Owen McLaughlin (Philadelphia), forward Mac Swanson (Pittsburgh), forward Jackson Kunz (Vancouver Canucks) and defenseman Abram Wiebe (Vegas).
Two future UND players also participated in camps as draft picks. Forward Will Zellers skated with the Colorado Avalanche and forward David Klee participated with the San Jose Sharks. They’re both expected to be freshmen in the fall of 2025.
Members of last year’s team that skated in camps include Jackson Blake (Carolina), Garrett Pyke (Colorado), Hunter Johannes (Detroit), Riese Gaber (Florida Panthers), Keaton Pehrson (Florida), Ludvig Persson (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Nate Benoit (Minnesota Wild), who has transferred to Quinnipiac.
Persson has not yet signed for the upcoming season. He finished last season with Wheeling in the ECHL.
Members of the 2024-25 UND team are expected to begin returning to campus this week.
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They’ll train in Ralph Engelstad Arena, skate on their own and take summer classes. It also is an opportunity for the players to become familiar with each other.
UND will have 11 new players on the roster — eight freshmen and three transfers.
The rookies are Boisvert, Swanson, Croal, Littler, Andrew, Emery, Strathmann and Jayden Jubenvill. The transfers are Semptimphelter, Carter Wilkie (RIT) and MacDonald.
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