A mere three days after YHH wrapped up the Minor Division NOW Prospects Combine, we hit the ice again with the Major Division. 

Several of the players dotting the Maroon, White, Gold and Gray rosters are repeat performers from last year’s inaugural combine, joined by an incredibly talented group of newcomers. 

The players were given an overview of what to expect from the combine by University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Men’s Hockey assistant coach and former Gopher captain Grant Potulny after registering. 

Formalities out of the way, the players took the ice for morning practices, many of whom skating together for the first time. 

The NOW Prospect combine practices involve a heavy amount of puck usage, incorporating drills that highlight speed, passing and flow. 

Afternoon scrimmages followed lunch, with Team Gold and Team Gray scoring a combined 24 goals in the first matchup. Team Gold came away with the win by a 14-10 score. 

Capping the afternoon was a 7-2 win by Team Maroon over Team White. 

Gold 14, Gray 10

Team Gold scored three of the game’s last five goals to edge Team Maroon in the first scrimmage of the NOW Prospects combined 14-10. Gavin Waltz racked up a Texas Hatty for Team Gold, scoring three consecutive goals early in the second half and finishing with four. Carter Batchelder and Jack Novak each notched hatty’s of their own. Jackson Kunz scored two goals with Jakob Stender and Ethan Elias each added a goal to add to Gold's two-touchdown total.

Johnny DeVoe was electric in the loss for Team Gray, bobbing and weaving through defenders en route to scoring four goals. Tanner Brouwer scored three goals for Gray, and Grant Ellings, Joe Miller and Henry Nelson all chipped in a goal. 

Maroon 7, White 2

Team Maroon scored six unanswered goals in the second half to erase a 2-1 deficit and thump Team White 7-2 in the second scrimmage of the afternoon. Matt Beaty and Christian Galatz scored two goals each for Maroon, with Jackson Borst, Drew Holt and David Nesburg scoring once goal apiece. Josh Locker and Jack Smith tallied goals for White. 

Nicholas Williams, White

Despite his team’s loss, Williams stood out on the blue line for Team White. Williams picked off passes, led breakouts, disrupted opposing rushes and showed great hockey IQ on Wednesday. 

Joey Pierce, Maroon

Another offensive defender, Pierce has great size and holds the zone very well. His shot from the point generates rebounds consistently, and he totaled two assists for Maroon in the scrimmage. 

Johnny DeVoe, Gray

Diminutive in stature, DeVoe can skate with anyone and can handle the puck with ease. DeVoe scored four goals in Wednesday’s scrimmage, displaying an accurate shot in addition to his skates and handles. 

Jack Novak, Gold

Reach, range and raring to go, that’s Jack Novak. Novak is smooth in all three zones, and refuses to get rattled under pressure. Scored three goals in the scrimmage. 

Jackson Kunz, Gold

Kunz is a nice blend of size and speed, combining an ability to muscle players away from the puck (without checking) and a deft passing touch. Kunz can spark offense from anywhere on the ice.