F Michael Berchild - Shattuck St. Mary's, 14U AAA (2026 Draft)

[Hockeyville USA]

Assuming Gophers for Berchild once we get to August 1

 

[Bonin21]

Commit to the U, Michael.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Assuming Gophers for Berchild once we get to August 1

Update: it is August 13 and no commitment for Mr Berchild. Probably taking his visits, wonder if North Dakota, Michigan, Boston University, Boston College, etc offering him the NIL bag (relatively speaking for hockey), which could entice him away from Minnesota.

 

[BKarchitect]

Hope he stays in-state. Mooney is the only other tentpole 07/08 the Gophers have committed up front right now. Michigan’s 08 class is already stupid and I’m getting Boston arms-race fatigue.

Hoping Berchild goes to the Gophers and Beuker to NoDak. Let’s spread the wealth a bit. Lol.

 

[Wieters]

I imagine NIL is now a deciding factor for kids at this level even if it's not information we can easily access. I know it was a factor in Hagens decision to commit to BC last fall. And it would explain how Michigan has been able to hoard so many of these kids recently.

I do wonder how much schools like BU, Denver, and North Dakota will be able to keep up with their peers as far as NIL goes. They're obviously college hockey powerhouses, but they might not have the same NIL infrastructure in place given that they don't play Power Five football/basketball, which is where the real money is.

Minnesota is a Power Five school, so I don't see why they couldn't keep up with BC/Michigan as far as giving a kid like Berchild a sweetheart deal.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I imagine NIL is now a deciding factor for kids at this level even if it's not information we can easily access. I know it was a factor in Hagens decision to commit to BC last fall. And it would explain how Michigan has been able to hoard so many of these kids recently.

I do wonder how much schools like BU, Denver, and North Dakota will be able to keep up with their peers as far as NIL goes. They're obviously college hockey powerhouses, but they might not have the same NIL infrastructure in place given that they don't play Power Five football/basketball, which is where the real money is.

Minnesota is a Power Five school, so I don't see why they couldn't keep up with BC/Michigan as far as giving a kid like Berchild a sweetheart deal.

Denver, sure. BU and North Dakota, they're hockey schools so boosters tend to want to give more to hockey.

 

[BKarchitect]

Denver will take all the leftover 3.5 star prospects and win natty’s regrardless…

 

[Bonin21]

Gopher athletics donor base has been historically very weak and early indications are the NIL is starting out pretty weak too especially compared to Michigan.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Berchild commits to Denver!

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Berchild commits to Denver!

That is their biggest commit ever maybe?

 

[MTU34]

Denver will take all the leftover 3.5 star prospects and win natty’s regrardless…

Or they’ll take the odd 5 star and win regardless

 

[Bonin21]

It's time to start thinking about the next Gopher coach. Unfortunately there aren't any great options that would actually take the job.

 

[BKarchitect]

Holy cow what a pull.

 

[William H Bonney]

Nice. Love to see the Pios do well. Huge get for them

 

[William H Bonney]

That is their biggest commit ever maybe?

Matt Savoie would be up there, too, although he bailed.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Good start at the NTDP. 5+2=7 points in 5 games. No one else on the 17's has more than 4 points. Also leads the team in SOG. He's driving the bus.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Berchild is probably the best of the NTDP players right now. He's a driver at junior level. Makes almost all the right decisions. Big time scoring skills with shooting and passing. Not like an ultra flashy dangler, but has really good hands. He's strong for his size and good with all the small details, and goes to the dirty areas.

I have a few questions about how his game ages as he gets older. He has the double whammy of small and average skater for being small. He's 5'9, and there aren't that many sub 5'10 players that go first round. The ones that do are almost all great skaters, and he's only an average skater for 5'9. He's probably good enough that he'll beat those odds, but I think there's a real limit to his draft projection for 2026. He might end up one of the best junior hockey players from the 2026 draft, but teams are going to draft him based on what he projects as in the NHL. And they might see that height and skating, and say he's a winger.

I think he's a safe bet to be decent as a pro, but I wouldn't say he's loaded with untapped potential. Probably a safe bet for the middle or late first round because he's going to score and does a lot well, but how much real upside is there? Some of the "upside" traits teams look at he lacks.

 

[WarriorofTime]

He's 5'9, and there aren't that many sub 5'10 players that go first round. The ones that do are almost all great skaters, and he's only an average skater for 5'9.

Two years from draft. Probably taller by draft combine.

 

[jtechkid]

The argument they will have not a high end skater like say Potter for his size .

 

[SK94]

He has been promoted to U18.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He has been promoted to U18.

It might only be for a few games, but you’re right that he’s played the last 3-4 games with them.