BEMIDJI, Minn. — In the basement of a secluded lake cabin in North Dakota, Maxon Vig sat on the edge of the couch as the 2025 NHL Draft wound down.

It was mid-afternoon on Saturday, June 28. Maxon was with a gaggle of friends he made growing up through Bismarck Century High School. His younger brother, Charlie, separated by one grade year, was upstairs.

“I was actually taking a nap,” Charlie said with a laugh.

Two thousand miles away were their mom, Kate, and their sister, Macy, who was competing in a volleyball tournament in Orlando.

And then there was Mitch, who quipped he was “sitting all alone at home.” The father of the Vig household was posted up in Bismarck, waiting to see if Maxon’s name would pop up on NHL Network in the last round of the draft.

“I knew who had picks coming u

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