University of Minnesota Athletics
Men's Hockey Announces the Signing of Four Student-Athletes
11/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Danny Irmen is a 6'0", 190-pound forward from Fargo, N.D. Irmen is a member of the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL). This season, the team captain has two goals and four assists in nine games, but is currently sidelined with a broken wrist. Last year, Irmen collected 17 goals and 36 assists for 53 points in 61 games played with Lincoln. A member of the 2001 U.S. Under-18 Select Team, Irmen is a teammate of fellow Golden Gopher signee Ryan Potulny. The two were also teammates at Red River High School in Grand Forks, N.D.
Ryan Potulny, a 6'0", 185-pound forward from Grand Forks, N.D., is the younger brother of current Golden Gopher captain Grant Potulny. Potulny is currently in his second season with the USHL's Lincoln Stars. A teammate of fellow signee Danny Irmen, Potulny currently leads the USHL in scoring with 10 goals and 13 assists in 17 games. Last season with the Stars, Potulny totaled 23 goals and 34 assists for 57 points in 60 games played. A member of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team, Potulny was also a prep teammate of Irmen's at Red River High School in Grand Forks, N.D.
Jake Taylor, a 6'4", 210-pound defenseman from Byron, Minn., was a sixth-round draft choice of the New York Rangers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Taylor is in his second season with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers and leads the team with 43 penalty minutes. He has three goals and one assist in 13 games this season. Taylor is serving as team captain of the Gamblers.
Mike Vannelli, a 6'2", 190-pound defenseman from Mendota Heights, Minn., is in his first full season with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL. Vannelli leads all USHL defensemen in scoring with three goals and 13 assists in 14 games played. A former prep athlete at Cretin-Derham Hall, he is the son of former Golden Gopher Tom Vannelli, who was a member of Minnesota's 1974 and 1976 NCAA Championship Teams.
"We are extremely pleased with the quality of student-athletes we are bringing into this program," said Golden Gopher Head Coach Don Lucia. "All four of these recruits have impressive credentials, not to mention, the type of character that we look for. These four individuals are all highly skilled and extremely competitive and will play with great work ethic and character every night. We expect all to make immediate contributions to theprogram next season."
