GRAND FORKS — A new college hockey recruiting window opens Aug. 1.

Players entering their junior year of high school will be able to receive scholarship offers and begin making verbal commitments.

Schools were allowed to contact those players starting Jan. 1.

Some commitments will likely begin immediately on Aug. 1. Other players will begin official visits paid by the school and make their decisions later.

Each year, the Herald compiles a list of new recruits to keep an eye on.

This list is a combination of the top available players nationally, traditional National Collegiate Hockey Conference recruiting areas and players with significant potential from the region.

It’s worth noting that players develop at different rates. Some of the best teams in college hockey in recent years have been made up of older players and late bloomers who would never make it onto a list like this.

Two years ago, the No. 1 player on the Herald’s recruiting watch list was Macklin Celebrini. He won the Hobey Baker Award as a freshman and signed with the San Jose Sharks.

Last year’s top player was James Hagens, who will be a freshman at Boston College this season and could compete in the Hobey.

Celebrini and Hagens were easy picks. This year is different. There is no consensus on the No. 1 candidate, and scouts’ lists appear to vary significantly.

Here’s this year’s list of 30 players to watch when the new window opens.

1. Mikey Berchild, F, Excelsior, Minnesota: Berchild was the only sophomore to make the prep team at Shattuck-St. Mary’s last season, and he produced. He had 60 points in 49 games, tied for eighth on the team. While in his age group, Berchild led the U.S. gold medalist team with nine points in four games at the Youth Olympics. He’s undersized at 5 feet 9 inches, but scouts say he has impressive skills off the ice. Berchild will play for the U.S. Under-17 team this fall.

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2. JP Hurlbert, F, Allen, Texas: Hurlbert equaled Berchild’s four goals in four games at the Youth Olympics and came up big in critical moments. He scored the winning goal on penalties against Canada in the semifinals and scored twice in the gold medal game. The former Dallas Stars Elite forward is a goal-scoring winger with an elite stick. He is headed to the U.S. Under-17 team.

3. Dayne Beuker, F, Humboldt, Sask./Portland, Oregon: Beuker is a winger with explosive speed. His skating may be the best in this class. He can beat players one-on-one and score goals. Beuker is a citizen of both the United States and Canada. He spent the last few years playing in Saskatchewan, but elected to play for the U.S. Under-17 team this fall.

4. Luke Schairer, Democrat, Charlotte, North Carolina: The player with the best NHL potential in this class may be Schairer, a 6-foot-3-inch defenseman who can skate and play defense. Schairer’s father, Gavin, was a 6-foot-7-inch college basketball player at Bradley. Schairer played last season at Mount St. Charles in Rhode Island and will join the U.S. Under-17 team this fall. He looks similar to Wisconsin freshman Logan Hensler — someone with NHL traits who may not stick around long in college hockey.

5. Eli McKamey, F, Cowichan Bay, BC: McKamey was born in 2009, but accelerated his academics this year to become a junior, opening his recruiting window a year early. He is a top talent who has been granted exceptional status by the British Columbia Hockey League, paving the way for him to join the mighty Penticton Vees this season.

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6. Tynan Lawrence, F, Fredericton, NB: Lawrence is another top Canadian player who has his NCAA option open. Like Eastern Canadian forward Sacha Boisvert, a first-round draft pick who went to UND, he signed an offer with Muskegon in the USHL. Lawrence has a lot of tools — speed, skill and strength. He’s already a physically mature player. Some scouts wonder if he could play a year early in the NCAA.

Muskegon Lumberjacks

7. Caleb Malhotra, F, Toronto: Despite being a high pick in the Ontario Hockey League Draft, Malhotra kept his college eligibility alive by committing to play for Chilliwack in the BCHL. His father, former NHL player Manny Malhotra, will be the head coach of the nearby Abbotsford Canucks, the Vancouver Canucks’ largest affiliate. Malhotra’s USHL rights are owned by Waterloo.

8. Jack Hextall, F, Rolling Meadows, Illinois: Hextall could have been a strong candidate to make the U.S. Under-17 Team, but instead opted to sign a tender with Youngstown in the USHL. Hextall is a 6’1″ player who excels in all-regions.

9. Logan Stuart, F, Manhattan Beach, California: The 5-foot-11 center is a powerful all-around player with some offensive talent. His father, Brad, played more than 1,000 games in the NHL for San Jose, Boston, Calgary, Los Angeles, Detroit and Colorado. Stuart’s older brother, Jake, is committed to Denver.

10. Parker Trottier, F, Edina, Minnesota: Trottier has a lot of tools — he’s fast, he can shoot and he plays hard. The grandson of Hockey Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier, he thrived when he played against his birth year. He’s scheduled to play for the U.S. Under-17 team.

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11. Logan Lutner, D, Maple Grove, Minnesota: Lutner has the potential to be the point guard on the U.S. Under-17 team’s best power-play unit this season. He could be the most dynamic defender in this class right now. Lutner can skate and shoot. He played last season at Maple Grove High School.

12. Sam Wathier, D, Des Moines, Iowa: The 6’8″ defender was born in Des Moines but has been playing in Ontario for the past few years. He will return to the U.S. this season to join the U-17 team. He is a good physical defender and has a tough line.

13. A.J. Francisco, D, Hermantown, Minn.: Francisco is athletic and strong. He can skate and he’s talented. The right-hander had 30 points in 23 games for Hermantown last season. He’ll play for the U.S. Under-17 team this season and has the potential to be an impact player early in his college career.

14. Victor Plante, F, Hermantown, Minnesota: Victor is Derek Plante’s youngest son. The others – Zam and Max – are headed to Minnesota Duluth this fall as rookie forwards. Victor’s talent is comparable to his brothers. He will join Francisco in Plymouth, Mich., this season.

15. Callum Croskery, D, Oakville, Ontario: The Chicago Steel tender signee is a polished defenseman with few weaknesses. He is a strong skater and was a top prospect in Ontario, a second-round pick in the OHL Draft. But he appears to be headed to college.

16. Jet Kwajah, D, Hamilton, Ontario: Kwajah, who is on a tender with Madison in the USHL, is an athletic defenseman who plays an aggressive game with and without the puck. He is only the second player to be signed to Madison.

17. Jackson Marthaler, D, Superior, Wisconsin: Marthaler is an athletic 6-foot-2″ defensive end. She came out of Wisconsin high school raw, but has the tools to be an excellent college player. Marthaler will be making the U.S. Under-17 Team.

Jed Carlson / Duluth Media Group

18. Noah Davidson, F, Irvine, California: Among sophomores on the Shattuck-St. Mary’s 16U team last season, Davidson had the most points – ahead of both Lawrence and Trottier. Davidson was a first-round pick by Waterloo in the USHL Phase I Draft.

19. Jonas Kemps, D, Sebastopol, California: Raised an hour north of San Francisco, Kemps stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and uses that NHL size and reach to his advantage. He’s also a solid skater who will join the U.S. Under-17 team this fall.

20. Lukas Zajic, F, Plainfield, Ill.: Zajic is a very talented player who made huge strides in his game last year with the 15O team at Shattuck-St. Mary’s. Zajic will be heading to the U.S. Under-17 team where he could be a top-six forward.

21. Zachary Nyman, D, Toronto: The 5-foot-9″ blue-lineman may not be highly ranked on future NHL Draft boards due to his size, but Nyman is dynamic offensively and could be a future power-play point guard in college hockey. Nyman will play for the Penticton Vees this season.

22. Casey Mutryn, F, Norwell, Massachusetts: Mutryn has good size and versatility at 6 feet 1 inch. He is athletic, can play up and down the lineup and is competitive at a high level. Mutryn will play for the U.S. Under-17 team this season.

23. Cole Bumgarner, F, Albertville, Minn.: Bumgarner has top-tier skills. He can throw and distribute the puck. He will look to complement other areas of his game with the reigning Clark Cup champion Fargo Force, who signed him to a tender for this season.

Marissa Weltin / Fargo Power

24. Lincoln Kuehne, D, West Fargo: Kuehne and Landon Hafele are two skaters on the U.S. Under-18 team who were unable to commit last summer due to late birthdays. Both will be eligible this cycle. Kuehne is a steady defenseman whose college journey will likely include at least a year in the USHL.

25. Abe Barnett, D, Wilmette, Illinois: Barnett is a defensive-minded defender who will join the U.S. Under-17 team this fall. Barnett’s older brother, Asher, is a defensive tackle committed to Michigan.

26. Carter Casey, G, Grand Rapids, Minn.: Goaltender is always the toughest position to predict players for, but Casey has a chance to be the best in this class. The 6-foot-1-inch goaltender started last season at Grand Rapids High School and recorded a .913 save percentage. He is a Waterloo selection in the USHL.

Clint Austin/Duluth News Tribune

27. Mason West, F, Edina, Minn.: West is a 6-foot-5 forward who averaged more than a point per game for Edina last season as a sophomore. The big question for West is what sport he will play in college. He is also a standout point guard who is expected to draw significant football interest. He has yet to say which direction he will go. Fargo draft pick.

28. Carter Sanderson, F, Pierre, SD: The top South Dakotan in this class is 6-foot-8 forward Sanderson, who led Sioux Falls Power 16U in scoring this season. Sanderson is a Muksegon draft pick.

29. Luke Carrithers, G, Maple Grove, Minn.: Carrithers stood behind Sioux Falls Power 16U, which should be noticeable to UND fans. Fighting Hawks sophomore goalie Hobie Hedquist and current goalie commit Caleb Heil also played for Sioux Falls Power. Carrithers is headed to the U.S. Under-17 Team this fall.

30. TJ Hale, K, West Fargo: Hale played for Shattuck-St. Mary’s 15-O last season, scoring 34 points in 48 games. Hale’s father (Ryan Hale) and grandfather (Tim O’Keefe) both played at UND. Hale, Kuehne and Kane Johnson lead arguably West Fargo’s best boys hockey class. Hale is a Sioux City draft pick.

Honorary Award: Aurelio Garcia, F, Romeoville, Ill. (USA U-17); Blake Zielinski, F, Berlin, NJ (Des Moines USHL); Beckham Edwards, F, Komoka, Ont. (Youngstown USHL); Landon Hafele, F, Fairbanks, Alaska (USA U-18); Thomas Vandenberg, F, Ottawa, (Cedar Rapids USHL); Brody George, F, Johnstown, Pa. (USA U-17); Nick Bogas, D, Royal Oak, Mich. (Waterloo USHL).