The University of North Dakota’s hockey program returned from the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo with a story that will be recounted in Fighting Hawks circles for years to come.
A Draft Weekend That Rewrote Records
Over two days, eight prospects from the program heard their names called, establishing a new franchise high for selections in a single draft and marking the most picks in the first three rounds since the 2005 draft class.
Among the names called were future forward Markus Ruck, who was chosen 39th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins, and incoming defenseman Ethan MacKenzie, drafted 69th by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Forward Connor Davis followed at 129th overall, picked by the Vancouver Canucks.
Twin Triumph and Future Paths
Markus Ruck and his brother Liam made history as the highest‑selected pair of twins since Henrik and Daniel Sedin in 1999, a milestone that underscores the program’s growing talent pipeline. Both brothers are slated to play the 2026‑27 season with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League before joining the Fighting Hawks for the 2027‑28 campaign.
Ethan MacKenzie’s selection also marked the first time a University of North Dakota player has been chosen by the Maple Leafs since Andrew MacWilliam in 2008, while Connor Davis rose from an unranked status by NHL Central Scouting to a respectable draft slot after a standout season in the USHL.
The program anticipates having 14 draft‑eligible players on its roster for the 2026‑27 season, matching the tally from the 2014‑15 team and surpassing the previous high set in 2006‑07. Such depth signals a promising era for the Fighting Hawks as they look to translate draft success into on‑ice performance.