University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gopher Men's Hockey Signs Five Top Recruits
11/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Brent Borgen is a 5-11, 185-pound forward from Mahtomedi, Minn. He is currently in his second season with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL). This year, Borgen is 11th in the league in scoring with 5-12--17 in 19 games. Last season, Borgen played in 27 games, tallying four goals and six assists in helping to lead the Stars to the Clark Cup title. A member of the 2002 U.S. Under-18 Select Team and 2001 U.S. Under-17 Select Team, Borgen is a teammate of fellow Golden Gopher signee Ben Gordon. A 2003 All-Classic Suburban selection during his senior season at Mahtomedia High School, Borgen finished third in the state in 2002-03 in scoring with 35-3--71. He was 15th in the state in scoring in 2001-02 with 36-2--60.
Ben Gordon, a 5-11, 165-pound forward from International Falls, Minn., is in his first full season with the Lincoln Stars. In 14 games this year, Gordon has scored two goals and three assists. Last season, he was 10-7--17 in 34 games. A teammate of fellow Minnesota signee Brent Borgen, Gordon was a member of the 2002 U.S. Under-18 Select Team. He also represented the Iron Range in the 2003 CCM High School All-Star Game in Duluth, Minn. Gordon led the state in scoring with 38-43--81 during his 2002-03 senior season at International Falls High School. In 2001-02, Gordon was second in the state in scoring with 25-55-79, two points behind current Golden Gopher Gino Guyer and 10 points ahead of Andy Sertich.
Nate Hagemo, a 5-11, 180-pound defenseman from Edina, Minn., joins the Golden Gophers from the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. A member of the NTDP Under-18 Team this season, Hagemo is sixth on the team and first among defensemen in scoring with 1-8--9 in 14 games. Last season, with both the Under-17 and Under-18 teams, Hagemo registered five goals and 12 assists in 70 games. In 2001-02, he helped lead his Academy of Holy Angels team to the Minnesota High School State Championship, tallying two goals and 23 assists in 28 games. Hagemo finished his final prep season with a +53 rating.
Mike Howe is a 6-0, 185-pound forward from St. Cloud, Minn. Howe is the leading returning goal scorer for the River City Lancers of the USHL. Last season, he led the team with 25 goals and 17 assists for 42 points. In leading the Lancers to a second-place finish in the USHL Playoffs, Howe scored four goals and four assists in 11 games. A pure goal scorer and natural leader, Howe is 9-4--13 in 14 games this season for the Lancers. Howe was also a member of the 2001 U.S. Under-18 Select Team. During his 2001-02 junior season at St. Cloud Apollo High School, Howe was 11th in the state in scoring with 35-26--61.
Derek Peltier joins the Maroon and Gold as a 6-0, 190-pound defenseman from Plymouth, Minn. Currently in his second full season with the USHL's Cedar Rapids Roughriders, Peltier is tied for first in the league in defenseman scoring with one goal and 10 assists in 16 games. Last season, he was 14th in the league during the regular season with 4-20--24. Peltier was also a member of the 2002 U.S. Under-18 Select Team. Peltier played for Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in 2001-02.
"We are extremely happy with the student-athletes that we are bringing into the Golden Gopher hockey program," Minnesota Head Coach Don Lucia said. "All five of these recruits are welcomed additions to our team, and bring impressive credentials, both on and off the ice. The outstanding skill, competitiveness and work ethic that these five individuals possess will be a great fit for Minnesota Hockey."
