GRAND FORKS — UND’s patience finally paid off.
Less than three weeks before the start of the fall semester, the Fighting Hawks landed a long-awaited commitment to finalize their forward group for the upcoming season.
It’s a notable one, too.
Seattle Kraken fourth-round draft pick Ollie Josephson, who recently competed at Canada’s World Junior Summer Showcase, has verbally committed to play for UND this season.
Josephson, a 6-foot, 188-pound forward from Victoria, B.C., was captain of the Red Deer Rebels in the Western Hockey League last season.
He scored 14 goals and tallied 35 points in 48 games. Josephson finished second in points on the Rebels, the second-lowest scoring team in the WHL.
Josephson’s game is more than offense, though.
“High speed, high energy forward,” an NHL scout told the Herald. “Character guy on and off the ice. Still has more to give offensively, but he’s such a responsible 200-foot player. Will be able to make an immediate impact at the college level through his transition play and competitiveness.”
Red Deer general manager Brent Sutter told the Canadian Hockey League’s website in 2024: “He’s a solid two-way guy who takes pucks to the net and makes great plays. Very responsible in his own zone. He’s someone that’s in control of his own game, supporting his teammates from center ice. He can skate so well and he’s very, very smart.”
The Elite Prospects 2024 NHL Draft Guide said: “He charges back into the play, overwhelming the puck carrier with an endless barrage of lifts, swipes, grabs and hits. His feet never stop moving, allowing him to skate through the hands and win the positioning battle.”
Josephson was one of 20 forwards selected to Hockey Canada’s World Junior Summer Showcase roster. He competed in the Twin Cities last week, playing three games with Team Canada.
Josephson visited UND after the showcase.
There won’t be much turnaround time for Josephson to get to campus. The fall semester begins in 17 days.
Josephson was selected with the No. 105 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft at The Sphere in Vegas. He will be the first Seattle Kraken draft pick to play at UND.
He will join a freshman class that includes three other players from the WHL — forward Cole Reschny, forward Josh Zakreski and defenseman Keaton Verhoeff.
UND’s other rookies played in the United States Hockey League — forward Will Zellers, forward Jack Kernan, forward David Klee, defenseman Sam Laurila and goaltender Jan Špunar.
The Fighting Hawks will have 12 NHL Draft picks on their roster. That does not include Verhoeff, who is expected to be a first-round pick in 2026.
Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald’s circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.
