The Badger Men's hockey team has signed seven players in the early signing period according to Andy Baggot. Here's the list:
Forwards:
Tyler Barnes, Waterloo USHL-Burnsville, MN
Sean Little, Green Bay USHL-Fond du Lac, WI
Mark Zengerle, Salmon Arm BCHL-Rochester, NY
Jefferson Dahl, Youngstown USHL-Eau Claire, WI
Mike Mersch, USNTDP U-18's-Park Ridge, IL
Defense:
Chase Drake, Sioux City USHL-Mosinee, WI
Frankie Simonellie, USNTDP U-18's-Bensenville, IL
The Badgers will be expected to add the following forwards to this class:
Tyler Lapic, Omaha USHL-New Prague, MN
Gavin Hartzog, Fargo USHL-Milwaukee, WI
In addition, these forwards were offered as 2010/2011:
Matt Paape, Sioux City USHL-Appleton, WI
Cody Strang, Youngstown USHL-Madison, WI
Paape has the best chance of being brought in for 2010 at this point. If an extra defender is needed due to early departures, the Badgers also could push up the anticipated 2011 arrival of Troy Hesketh from Minnetonka High School, or leave him for 2011 and recruit another defenseman.
You can find the complete UW Men's Hockey recruit list
here.
Thanks to a heads up from a blog reader, I'm happy to report that defenseman Jose Delgadillo of the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals
has joined Sioux City of the USHL for the rest of the season.
Special Contribution to WisSports.net
By Jeremy Mayo
HodagSports.com
Sommers Proving to be an Elite Goalie RHINELANDER – When building a competitive hockey team, no doubt one of the first things on the checklist is excellent goaltending. As Rhinelander builds its new co-op with Antigo, the Northern Edge, the team already has that foundation in place with senior Johanna Sommers between the pipes.
Sommers, who already has visions of playing at the next level, was as excited as anyone to lace up the skates when practice officially kicked off this past Monday.
“They’re all really great girls and I can’t wait to keep playing with them,” Sommers says of her team. “It’s going to be a good season. I can’t wait.”
Sommers has already been honored for her efforts on the ice. As a sophomore, she was named to WHCA’s All-State Team. She’s been one of the busiest goalies in Wisconsin over the last two seasons. She has stopped 1,553 shots in that time frame, including a mind-boggling 798 saves last year. That’s an average of over 36 saves a game.
Her save percentage has gone up each year – from 0.86 as a freshman, to 0.89 as a sophomore, to 0.90 as a junior. With the additional defensive prowess that Antigo brings to the team, Sommers could be in line for her best season to date.
“It’s a great foundation to build our team around,” Northen Edge head coach Wil Losch says of Sommers. “We’ve also got some solid defenders coming from Antigo. (Assistant) Coach (Bill) Berg brings a real strong defensive philosophy. Antigo Hockey is traditionally known for being strong defensively.”
Added Sommers, “I want at least a couple of shutouts this year. That’s always been my goal is to get the big goose egg. (I) definitely want some more wins this year. I can already see we’re going to be a better, closer team, a stronger team.”
During the last two years, Sommers has recorded five shutouts, none perhaps more memorable than her performance against Webster in the 2008 Playoffs. Rhinelander was outshot 31-9 that night, but Sommers stopped all 31 as Rhinelander pulled off a 1-0 overtime upset.
“When she’s on, I’d take her over any tender in the State,” Losch says. “Our best moments over the last three years coincide with her best nights. I know she’s excited about this year. She’s got some goals for playing after this season. What she does this year will be pretty important.”
Sommers already has her sights set on one school in particular, Gustavus Adolphus in Minnesota. Though it is a Division III program, it’s one of the best in the country, currently ranked second in the USCHO Poll. It will be a tough lineup to crack as the team currently plays a pair of sophomores in goal.
“I’ve already talked to (Gustavus Adolphus) coach Mike Carroll. He’s a good guy and it seems like a team I could play for. I’m looking for playing time,” says Sommers.
This summer, given a lack of numbers, a lack of monies and co-op deals that fell through, there was the distinct possibility that Sommers would not get to play at the high school level this winter. But an 11th hour deal with Antigo kept the sport alive in Rhinelander.
This season Sommers will be in charge of bringing together a team that is playing as one for the first time. Of the 21 girls on the Northern Edge roster, 11 are from Antigo and 10 are from Rhinelander.
“I know she’s real excited about this co-op. She might be the most excited player out here,” says Losch.
Sommers was an assistant captain for Rhinelander last year. It is likely that she will have a “C” or an “A” on her jersey again this year.
“I love leading these girls,” she says. “It’s been a goal since freshmen year to lead these girls and I love doing it. I like being a role model for freshmen. It’s quite enjoyable to me.”
Sommers has done just as well off the ice as on it. She is in the top ten percent of her class with a 3.972 GPA. In college, she wishes to major in Athletic Training, Kinesiology or Physical Therapy.