By: Brad Elliott Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald

Pack your bags, Corban Knight, you’re moving away to college in less than 24 hours.

That’s the message that the UND men’s hockey recruit received on Friday morning after he quickly made it through the admissions process.

Knight, a High River, Alta., native, planned to spend the 2009-10 season with the Okotoks Oilers in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, but was informed on Wednesday night that plans might be changing.

Instead, the Sioux will look to an 18-year-old who committed in January and graduated from high school this spring.

“I’m definitely very excited,” Knight said. “I definitely think I’m ready. I came up to North Dakota about a month ago and got to meet a lot of the guys and be around the campus. I feel like I’ve become a lot stronger and I’ve matured mentally and physically over the summer. I have no doubt I’ll be able to take the step.”

Knight said that after last season — one in which he piled up 72 points in 61 games and was named AJHL rookie of the year — he hoped that he would be headed to UND. It was decided, at that time, that he would go back to Okotoks for one more year though.

“I was excited to go back to Okotoks, because I loved playing there and Okotoks has been a big part of my life,” Knight said. “I have a very good relationship with them. They know this move is nothing personal, it’s just the hockey world. A door opened up for me and I’m very happy to try my best to fill it.”

Knight isn’t coming to UND just to add depth. He’s a legitimate prospect who has blossomed in the last couple of years.

In 2007, as a member of the UFA Bisons, he was named MVP of the prestigious Mac’s Midget tournament in Calgary. The only other Sioux player to earn MVP honors at that tournament is Zach Parise.

Knight was the biggest mover in the NHL draft rankings from December to April and he was selected in the fifth round by the Florida Panthers in June. Knight also tested out as one of the strongest players at the NHL combine, ranking second in pushups, third in endurance and fourth in upper-body power among the top 100-plus draft eligible prospects.

“I don’t think that (strength) is going to be a problem,” Knight said. “I’ve worked a lot harder to be stronger. I know that I’ll be playing against men this year instead of teenagers, but I really believe that my training will pay off.”

-- Grand Forks Herald

Okotoks Oilers GM/Head Coach Dan MacDonald commented on the news, "The move was unexpected coming just one week before the opening of our main camp and 3 weeks before the opening of the AJHL regular season. However, we are in the business of promoting our players to the next level and from time to time these situations do come up. We understand and are completely supportive of the Fighting Sioux's decision. The Oilers organization is proud and excited to see Corban advance to the next level, and wish him every success as he continues his academic and hockey career."

-- Dan MacDonald

Corban Knight sent the Oilers and community of Okotoks a letter;

Dear Okotoks Oilers and community of Okotoks,

I would like to send my sincere thanks and express my appreciation for the time I have spent in Okotoks with the Oilers. It comes with mixed emotions that I must leave this organization to pursue my collegiate career. I would just like to thank everyone in the Town of Okotoks and specifically in the Oilers organization. You will never know how my time in Okotoks has changed my life. It has affected me in so many different areas of my life. I have not only grown as a hockey player, but more importantly as a young man. This organization and town deserves much of the credit for the achievements I have receved during my time in junior hockey. Once again, I would just like to thank the Town of Okotoks, the Oilers and all the volunteers that go into making the Oilers one of the top junior teams in Canada.

Sincerely,

Corban Knight