Bismarck goalie Knapp makes NCAA DI Commitment

Knapp recorded a shutout at the 2024 Top Prospects Tournament.

After a shutout at last week’s NAHL Top Prospects event, Bismarck Bobcats goaltender Klayton Knapp has announced his commitment to the University of Minnesota Duluth. 

A Division I program located in Duluth, Minnesota, UMD competes in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. 

“Klayton has been awesome for us between the pipes this year,” Bobcats Head Coach and General Manager Layne Sedevie said. “With all the adversity he’s been through in his career, it’s awesome for him to get rewarded for all the hard work he’s put in.”

The Waterville, Ohio, native has recorded five shutouts in 21 regular season games with the Bobcats this season, logging a .920 save percentage and 2.32 goals against average. At the NAHL Showcase last week, Knapp stopped all 27 shots he faced en route to a shutout performance in Team Central’s first game of the event.

The 2003-born player previously appeared with Tri City (USHL), Austin (NAHL), and Green Bay (USHL) over his junior hockey career. 

Knapp becomes the 12th current Bobcat to announce a Division I commitment.

Bismarck’s Jakub Kopecky (St. Lawrence), Stephen Peck (Michigan), Landon Fandel (Northern Michigan), Patrick Johnson (Robert Morris), Matthew Rafalski (Lindenwood), Luke Roelofs (Bemidji State), Evan Hunter (Bemidji State), Ben Miller (Northeastern), Tommy Cronin (Colgate), Mathieu Bourgault (RPI), and Jake Peterson (Air Force) have previously announced their plans to compete at the highest collegiate level.

Minnesota Duluth has won three national championships in program history, including two of the last five. Founded in 1947, the school enrolls approximately 7,500 undergraduates, offering 87 areas of study. 

via bismarckbobcats.com

Click here for an updated NAHL to NCAA commitment list