GRAND FORKS — Ethan McKenzie has been eligible for the last two NHL drafts.
He wasn’t chosen.
Mackenzie left no doubt this year.
The UND freshman defenseman had a breakout year with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League, becoming one of the league’s top blue liners. He played so well that he earned a spot on Team Canada at the World Junior Championships.
He is now firmly on the NHL draft board.
McKenzie is expected to participate in Day 2 of the NHL Draft, which begins Saturday at 10 a.m. (NHL Network) in Buffalo, New York.
“What I did this year, I put myself in a good place and it made me think a little more about the possibility of being drafted,” McKenzie said. “It’s definitely exciting. It’s what you dream about as a kid – to be drafted. This is just the beginning. That’s not all. I still have many more goals and aspirations that I want to achieve.”
McKenzie will watch the draft with family and friends at her home in Peachland, British Columbia.
McKenzie scored 22 goals and 58 points in 59 games for the Oil Kings.
He ranked fourth among WHL defensemen in goals and ninth in points.
“His skating is elite,” UND assistant coach Matt Smaby said. “To be able to play at our level and at the next level, you have to be a good skater. Skating is one of his biggest assets. I think he had a tremendous year. He should come in with a lot of confidence. He’s going to have to learn how to defend at this level. He’s going to have to continue to learn how to move the puck at this level and not overcook it. But he’s starting with great skating. I think he’s going to be a tremendous college hockey player.”
McKenzie was one of 90 players invited to the NHL Combine earlier this month in Buffalo, New York.
He met with 10 NHL teams at the combine.
“It was a lot of fun,” McKenzie said. “I met a lot of nice guys. I had to face Keaton (Verhoeff) again. It was good to see him and (Carson) Carels. It was a lot of fun spending time with the guys and going to meetings. The fitness testing was ultimately unsuccessful. It was a great week.”
UND head coach Dane Jackson said assistant Dillon Simpson recently met with McKenzie.
“Ethan was beaming with excitement about coming to North Dakota,” Jackson said. “These are the guys you really want to have – really high-quality players with high-level skills and skating ability who are passionate about playing for North Dakota and helping us win. That’s a huge part of our culture, not being a stepping stone to the next place, but being guys who actually want to win here.”
McKenzie said he plans to come to Grand Forks the second week of July.
“I’m very happy about it,” he said. “I will be able to use Ralph and the training facilities that are at the rink. This is one of the best places in terms of infrastructure. Their coaches are unreal. They are going to do a lot of interesting things so that you can bond as a team. It will definitely be a different feeling this summer, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
Edmonton Oil Kings defenseman Ethan McKenzie stands on the ice during a Western Hockey League game.
Edmonton Oil Kings Hockey Club / LA Media
Brad Elliott Schlossman
Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He was named the Herald’s top circulation writer four times by Associated Press sports editors and North Dakota Sportswriter of the Year twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Contact him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.