Minot's Brasen Boser to transfer from Arizona State to UND

Apr. 14—GRAND FORKS — Brasen Boser called his grandfather recently to tell him he's going to enter the transfer portal when it opens.

"He was a little nervous," the Arizona State sophomore defenseman said.

The Minot native called back Monday night with an update: He's coming home to play for UND.

"He was pretty ecstatic," Boser said. "He was yelling on the phone. It was a pretty special phone call."

Boser, a Minot native, has committed to UND for next season. He has two years of college eligibility remaining.

"It's pretty special," Boser said. "I feel like anyone from North Dakota could say that's the spot you want to play college hockey. I enjoyed my time (at Arizona State), but I'm pumped to be a part of it."

The 5-foot-11, 178-pound defender is a reliable, steady presence on the back end. He led Arizona State in ice time this season, averaging 22:40 as a sophomore.

Boser posted identical stat lines as a freshman and sophomore at Arizona State — two goals and seven points. Two of his four career goals came against UND.

Boser finished second in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference in blocked shots (76) and first in the NCHC in blocked shots per game (2.53) by a wide margin.

"I think so far in college, I've built a good base of being a reliable, steady two-way defenseman," he said. "I like to try to create offense in the O-zone and gain possession. I like to play hard-nosed, throw the body, block shots and do whatever it takes to win."

He will slide into a defensive corps that is planning to bring back three players from the 2025-26 season — Keaton Verhoeff, E.J. Emery and Sam Laurila.

The Fighting Hawks are scheduled to bring in committed recruits Ethan MacKenzie of the Edmonton Oil Kings (Western Hockey League) and Garrett Lindberg of the Fargo Force (United States Hockey League).

With UND blue liners Andrew Strathmann, Jayden Jubenvill and Ian Engel

entering the transfer

portal Monday, the Fighting Hawks worked quickly to bring Boser aboard.

Arizona State didn't add its players to

the transfer portal

until late Monday. But once Boser went in, Jackson called him immediately.

"Dane reached out right away and said, 'We're interested, we want you to be a part of it,'" Boser said. "It was the first school that reached out and it got done right away."

Boser, who is set to become the first Minot player at UND since Quinn Fylling (2000-01, 2002-05), has several connections to the program.

He became close with former UND defenseman Jake Livanavage's family when Jake's brother, Johnny Walker, played junior hockey in Minot.

Boser explored playing Tier-I instead of prep hockey in North Dakota and called Livanavage for advice. Livanavage suggested playing in Arizona. Boser left Minot at age 15 to play for the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes. He lived with Jake's parents, Jim and Amy, for a year.

Boser texted Livanavage on Monday night to let him know he had committed to UND.

"He was excited for me," Boser said.

After living in Arizona for two years, Boser spent a year with the Wenatchee Wild in the British Columbia Hockey League and two with the Fargo Force.

Boser won a Clark Cup in his second season in Fargo. UND's Mac Swanson also was on that team.

"He's such a good kid and does everything the right way," Boser said of Swanson. "I'm excited to build with him again and see what we can do there."

Boser plans to visit UND soon and move to Grand Forks in the summer.

Boser suffered a fractured wrist last fall and missed Arizona State's first six games of the season. When he came back, he was instantly put into a major role on a young Sun Devils back end.

Arizona State struggled as a team, finishing ninth in the NCHC and missing the league's postseason tournament.

Six of Arizona State's defensemen entered the transfer portal Monday. Four have already found new homes.

Sam Court is headed to Minnesota State. Justin Kipkie will play for new NCHC member St. Thomas. Anthony Dowd is headed to UMass Lowell.

The Fighting Hawks now have six defensemen penciled in for 2026-27. They still need to add two.

It's a good bet they'll try to land one of the Big Four defensemen in the WHL. While Ryan Lin has committed to Denver, the other three — Carson Carels of Prince George, Daxon Rudolph of Prince Albert and Landon DuPont of Everett — are all uncommitted.