Cedar Rapids forward Connor Davis commits to UND
· Yahoo Sports
Apr. 22—GRAND FORKS — UND appears to be done with its forward group for the 2026-27 season.
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders forward Connor Davis has given a verbal commitment to play for UND beginning in the fall.
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Davis was previously committed to Northeastern, but reopened his recruitment just under a month ago.
"It's been a school I've always dreamt of coming to," Davis said. "The second I got that text from Mr. Chyzyk (UND general manager), I was so excited that I dropped everything and texted him back right away. I knew so much about the school. Who doesn't know about the school? They have a great history. Who wouldn't want to come play here?"
The 6-foot, 188-pound winger had a breakout season for Cedar Rapids, tallying 26 goals and 55 points in 59 games. He racked up a 17-game point streak along the way.
Davis visited UND this week.
"It was awesome," he said. "The campus, the rink, the buildings. . . it was just unreal. I saw some stuff on video and on TV, but in person, it's 100 times better. It was crazy.
"The culture they have, the bond they build together, it shows on the ice. That's something I find helps so much, and it will help me along the way as a person — on and off the ice."
Davis is known as a relentless forward who plays fast and in straight lines.
"He's an exciting player, for sure," Cedar Rapids general manager and head coach Mark Carlson said. "He has great speed, great work ethic, really pursues pucks. He's tenacious. He can make plays and he can score. He's learned to be more physical. He's a really good hockey player. He's got a great future ahead of him."
Davis finished 15th in goals in the United States Hockey League and seventh in even-strength goals.
"He can score in a variety of ways," Carlson said. "He can score with his shot. He gets to the net with speed. He gets around the net for rebounds and second chances."
Davis, 19, was eligible for last year's NHL Draft but was not selected. He's eligible again in June and could be a late-round pick. NHL scouts have kept a close eye on him this season.
"He's very well-rounded," Carlson said. "He's got speed. He's strong physically. He's got a great attitude. He'll block shots. He'll do anything to help the team win."
Davis is from Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec, about 30 minutes west of Montreal. He will be just the second player from Quebec to play at UND, following Sacha Boisvert (2024-25).
Davis' older brother, Jaden, was a freshman at Division-III Aurora this season. Aurora reached the Division-III Frozen Four and Jaden finished third on the team in scoring with 33 points.
Davis played two seasons for Salisbury Prep in Connecticut before joining Cedar Rapids.
Carlson said the Cedar Rapids staff hoped he could be a difference-maker.
"Our league is so strong and so competitive — there's no easy ice — so you never sit there and say someone is going to be able to come in and do what Connor did," Carlson said. "But we always liked him. We had a pretty good idea because we watched him in Salisbury."
UND will have Black teammates for the first time in program history with Davis and junior defenseman E.J. Emery.
They are the second and third Black players to play for UND after Akil Adams, who played in the 1990s.
"I'm super excited to get to work and see what I can bring to the team for next year," Davis said. "I'm super happy to get the opportunity, I'm super happy the coaches believe in me and are giving me a chance. I won't let them down."
Davis gives UND another right-handed forward after losing five — Ellis Rickwood, Ben Strinden, Tyler Young, Cade Littler and Dalton Andrew — in the offseason.
UND's other right-shot forwards are Jack Kernan, Gavin Lindberg, Ashton Schultz and Brock Schultz.
UND is now at 15 forwards for the 2026-27 season — three seniors (Anthony Menghini, Hudson Malinoski, Kasper Magnussen), three juniors (Mac Swanson, Cody Croal, Lindberg), five sophomores (Cole Reschny, Will Zellers, Kernan, Ollie Josephson, Josh Zakreski) and four freshmen (Cooper Simpson, Schultz, Schultz and Davis).
The Fighting Hawks have three roster spots left to fill — two defensemen and a third-string goaltender.