The Gophers have received word that forward Taylor Cammarata and defenseman Michael Brodzinksi have committed to the University of Minnesota Men's Hockey Program. Both players are likely to set foot on campus for the 2013-2014 seasons.
Cammarata, perhaps the nation's most highly regarded 1995 birth year player, has lit up every league he's ever played in. Only around 5'6" or 5'7", the sniper appears to be a part of Don Lucia's "going small" strategy, and is a player with size in the same vein as a Kyle Rau, Sam Warning, Ben Marshall or future Gopher Justin Kloos. Although all of the previously mentioned Gophers are great players, Cammarata could be the best of the bunch. The Minnesota-native tallied 71 goals and 139 total points in just 54 games for the Shattuck-St. Mary's Under 16 team, and already has 11 total points (3G-8A) in 11 games for the Waterloo Blackhawks USHL team. Cammarata was the first player selected in the USHL Futures draft last year, and his 11 points thus far are good for 7th place in the league overall and first on his team - nearly unheard of for a player of his age in the USHL.
Michael Brodzinski is a Blaine defenseman who turned down a chance to play for the US National Development Team to stay at home and play for his high school. He is currently playing in the High School Elite League, where he scored five goals and tallied 11 assists in 23 games. Brodzinski, another '95 birth year player, scored 14 goals and added 17 assists as a sophomore on the Blaine blueline last season. The 5'11", 180 pound Brodzinski could stay at Blaine throughout his senior high school season or he could leave after his junior year to play in the USHL.
Exciting times for the Golden Gopher program!
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I think this recruiting stuff can ebb and flow exponentially based upon the current success of a team.
ReplyDeleteWith the No. 1 poll ranking and a wonderful start in the WCHA this year, the Gophers will be more attractive than they have been recently to a number of the high end Minnesota (and elsewhere) D1 recruits.
I agree... for many teams other than the Gophers. Minnesota typically is a player for the top prospects no matter how the team is doing (case in point - getting Marshall / Warning / Haula / Rau in the past few seasons when the team was down). From everything I've heard Cammarata was just about a lock to commit to Minnesota for an awful long time.
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