University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gopher Men's Hockey Program Signs Six Top Recruits
11/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
The University of Minnesota men’s hockey program has announced the signing of six top recruits to join the Golden Gophers beginning with the 2007-08 season. Cade Fairchild, Mike Hoeffel, Alex Kangas, Nick Larson, Taylor Matson and Patrick White have all signed National Letters of Intent to play for Minnesota. In addition, Kevin Wehrs signed an NLI last fall and deferred enrollment until the 2007-08 season.
Cade Fairchild, a 5-11, 186-pound defenseman from Duluth, 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, Fairchild has six assists and 16 penalty minutes in eight games. In 2005-06, he competed with the NTDP Under-17 Team, posting totals of 10-16--26 and 16 penalty minutes in 68 games. Last February, Fairchild helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the Four Nations Tournament in Piestany, Slovakia, with one goal and one assist in three games. He also helped the U.S. to a 2-0-1 record at the Four Nations Tournament in Slovakia in November. A strong skater and playmaker, Fairchild attended Duluth East High School prior to coming to Ann Arbor. In 2004-05, he had totals of 10-30--40 in 31 games to help the Greyhounds to third place at the Minnesota State High School Class AA Tournament. He was named to the All-Tournament team after posting totals of 0-4--4 in three games. Fairchild will become the first native of Duluth to wear the Maroon and Gold since forward Chad Roberg in 2002-03 and defenseman Nick Angell in 2001-02.
Mike Hoeffel joins the Golden Gophers as a 6-2, 190-pound forward from North Oaks, Minn. Currently a member of the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-18 Team, Hoeffel has five goals and two assists in 16 games this season. Prior to his time in Ann Arbor, Hoeffel attended Hill-Murray School, helping the Pioneers to a 27-3-1 record and fourth place at the Class AA State Tournament during his junior season. With totals of 27-44--71 in 31 games, Hoeffel finished 11th in the state in scoring and was named Associated Press all-state honorable mention, Minneapolis Star Tribune first team all-metro and Classic Suburban all-conference. During his sophomore season, he posted totals of 24-19--43 in 26 games to help the Pioneers to a 17-8-1 overall record.
Alex Kangas, a 6-2, 185-pound goaltender from Rochester Minn., is currently a member of the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Through seven games this season, he owns a 3-3-1 record, a 3.73 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage for the 4-4-1 Ice. Last season, Kangas led the Sioux Falls Stampede to the league title and was named to the USHL All-Rookie Team with a 20-6-3 record, a 2.15 gaa and .930 sv%. His save percentage ranked second in the USHL, while his goal-against average ranked third. Prior to joining the USHL, Kangas attended Rochester Century High School. During his senior season, he led the Panthers to the Class AA State Tournament where he set a tournament record with 50 saves in a 2-1 loss to White Bear Lake in the consolation semifinals. A night before, Kangas made 42 saves in Century’s 3-0 loss to eventual runner-up Moorhead. With his 92-save performance, Kangas was named to the All-Tournament Team. For the season, he owned a 23-4-1 record, 1.86 gaa and .937 sv%, earning Big Nine all-conference honors for the third time in his prep career. In his junior season, Kangas owned a 15-12-1 record with a 2.11 gaa and .914 sv%, after a 17-9-1 sophomore season. Kangas was selected with the 135th overall pick by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He will become the first native of Rochester to play at Minnesota since forward Matt Leimbek in 2000-01.
Nick Larson joins the Maroon and Gold as a 6-1, 180-pound forward from Stillwater, Minn. He is entering his senior season at Hill-Murray School. During his junior year, Larson led the team and finished fifth in the state in scoring with totals of 38-39--77 in 31 games. Larson helped the Pioneers to a 27-3-1 record and fourth place at the Class AA State Tournament, earning all-tournament honors with 5-1--6 in three games. He was also named Associated Press all-state honorable mention, St. Paul Pioneer Press first team all-state, Star Tribune third team all-metro and Classic Suburban all-conference. During his sophomore season, Larson posted totals of 9-11--20 in 26 games to help the Pioneers to a 17-8-1 overall record.
Taylor Matson, a 5-10, 175-pound forward from Mound, Minn., is entering his senior season at the Academy of Holy Angels. During his junior year, Matson led the team and finished 12th in the state in scoring with 29-41--70 in 27 games. The Stars posted a 23-2-2 record and fell to Apple Valley in Section 5AA semifinals. Matson was named AP second team all-state, Star Tribune third team all-metro and Missota all-conference. In 2004-05, he posted totals of 28-31--59 in 30 games to finish 31st in the state and second on the team in scoring (behind current Golden Gopher freshman Jay Barriball’s 32-49--81). Matson helped Holy Angels to a 26-3-1 record and the 2005 Minnesota State Class AA championship, earning AP all-state honorable mention.
Patrick White, a 6-1, 190-pound forward from Grand Rapids, Minn., is currently with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. Through six games this season, White has scored five goals and is a +4. He will compete with his Grand Rapids High School team for his senior season before returning to the Storm in the spring. Last season, White led the team in scoring 23-29--52 in 30 games to help the Thunderhawks to a 21-9-0 record and a runner-up finish at the Class AA State Tournament. With 5-1--6 in three games, he was named to the All-Tournament Team. For the season, White was named AP all-state honorable mention, Duluth News Tribune second team all-area and Iron Range all-conference. In 2004-05, he had 18-15--33 in 26 games to help Grand Rapids to a 15-11-0 record. White had 2-5--7 during his freshman season.
Kevin Wehrs, a 5-9, 175-pound defenseman from Plymouth, Minn., comes to the Maroon and Gold from the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL. In nine games this season, Wehrs is tied for fifth on the team in scoring with 3-6--9. Last season, he finished second among the team’s defensemen with totals of 5-17--22 in 50 games. He also played four games with the RoughRiders during the 2004-05 playoffs, helping Cedar Rapids to the Clark Cup and Anderson Cup Championships. Before joining the RoughRiders, Wehrs was a standout defenseman at Wayzata High School. In 2004-05, he tallied 13 goals and 19 assists in 23 games to finish fourth on the team in scoring with 32 points. During his 2003-04 sophomore season, Wehrs had totals of 4-17--21 in 31 games as the Trojans claimed fourth place at the Minnesota State High School Tournament.
Cade Fairchild, a 5-11, 186-pound defenseman from Duluth, 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, Fairchild has six assists and 16 penalty minutes in eight games. In 2005-06, he competed with the NTDP Under-17 Team, posting totals of 10-16--26 and 16 penalty minutes in 68 games. Last February, Fairchild helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the Four Nations Tournament in Piestany, Slovakia, with one goal and one assist in three games. He also helped the U.S. to a 2-0-1 record at the Four Nations Tournament in Slovakia in November. A strong skater and playmaker, Fairchild attended Duluth East High School prior to coming to Ann Arbor. In 2004-05, he had totals of 10-30--40 in 31 games to help the Greyhounds to third place at the Minnesota State High School Class AA Tournament. He was named to the All-Tournament team after posting totals of 0-4--4 in three games. Fairchild will become the first native of Duluth to wear the Maroon and Gold since forward Chad Roberg in 2002-03 and defenseman Nick Angell in 2001-02.
Mike Hoeffel joins the Golden Gophers as a 6-2, 190-pound forward from North Oaks, Minn. Currently a member of the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-18 Team, Hoeffel has five goals and two assists in 16 games this season. Prior to his time in Ann Arbor, Hoeffel attended Hill-Murray School, helping the Pioneers to a 27-3-1 record and fourth place at the Class AA State Tournament during his junior season. With totals of 27-44--71 in 31 games, Hoeffel finished 11th in the state in scoring and was named Associated Press all-state honorable mention, Minneapolis Star Tribune first team all-metro and Classic Suburban all-conference. During his sophomore season, he posted totals of 24-19--43 in 26 games to help the Pioneers to a 17-8-1 overall record.
Alex Kangas, a 6-2, 185-pound goaltender from Rochester Minn., is currently a member of the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Through seven games this season, he owns a 3-3-1 record, a 3.73 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage for the 4-4-1 Ice. Last season, Kangas led the Sioux Falls Stampede to the league title and was named to the USHL All-Rookie Team with a 20-6-3 record, a 2.15 gaa and .930 sv%. His save percentage ranked second in the USHL, while his goal-against average ranked third. Prior to joining the USHL, Kangas attended Rochester Century High School. During his senior season, he led the Panthers to the Class AA State Tournament where he set a tournament record with 50 saves in a 2-1 loss to White Bear Lake in the consolation semifinals. A night before, Kangas made 42 saves in Century’s 3-0 loss to eventual runner-up Moorhead. With his 92-save performance, Kangas was named to the All-Tournament Team. For the season, he owned a 23-4-1 record, 1.86 gaa and .937 sv%, earning Big Nine all-conference honors for the third time in his prep career. In his junior season, Kangas owned a 15-12-1 record with a 2.11 gaa and .914 sv%, after a 17-9-1 sophomore season. Kangas was selected with the 135th overall pick by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He will become the first native of Rochester to play at Minnesota since forward Matt Leimbek in 2000-01.
Nick Larson joins the Maroon and Gold as a 6-1, 180-pound forward from Stillwater, Minn. He is entering his senior season at Hill-Murray School. During his junior year, Larson led the team and finished fifth in the state in scoring with totals of 38-39--77 in 31 games. Larson helped the Pioneers to a 27-3-1 record and fourth place at the Class AA State Tournament, earning all-tournament honors with 5-1--6 in three games. He was also named Associated Press all-state honorable mention, St. Paul Pioneer Press first team all-state, Star Tribune third team all-metro and Classic Suburban all-conference. During his sophomore season, Larson posted totals of 9-11--20 in 26 games to help the Pioneers to a 17-8-1 overall record.
Taylor Matson, a 5-10, 175-pound forward from Mound, Minn., is entering his senior season at the Academy of Holy Angels. During his junior year, Matson led the team and finished 12th in the state in scoring with 29-41--70 in 27 games. The Stars posted a 23-2-2 record and fell to Apple Valley in Section 5AA semifinals. Matson was named AP second team all-state, Star Tribune third team all-metro and Missota all-conference. In 2004-05, he posted totals of 28-31--59 in 30 games to finish 31st in the state and second on the team in scoring (behind current Golden Gopher freshman Jay Barriball’s 32-49--81). Matson helped Holy Angels to a 26-3-1 record and the 2005 Minnesota State Class AA championship, earning AP all-state honorable mention.
Patrick White, a 6-1, 190-pound forward from Grand Rapids, Minn., is currently with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. Through six games this season, White has scored five goals and is a +4. He will compete with his Grand Rapids High School team for his senior season before returning to the Storm in the spring. Last season, White led the team in scoring 23-29--52 in 30 games to help the Thunderhawks to a 21-9-0 record and a runner-up finish at the Class AA State Tournament. With 5-1--6 in three games, he was named to the All-Tournament Team. For the season, White was named AP all-state honorable mention, Duluth News Tribune second team all-area and Iron Range all-conference. In 2004-05, he had 18-15--33 in 26 games to help Grand Rapids to a 15-11-0 record. White had 2-5--7 during his freshman season.
Kevin Wehrs, a 5-9, 175-pound defenseman from Plymouth, Minn., comes to the Maroon and Gold from the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL. In nine games this season, Wehrs is tied for fifth on the team in scoring with 3-6--9. Last season, he finished second among the team’s defensemen with totals of 5-17--22 in 50 games. He also played four games with the RoughRiders during the 2004-05 playoffs, helping Cedar Rapids to the Clark Cup and Anderson Cup Championships. Before joining the RoughRiders, Wehrs was a standout defenseman at Wayzata High School. In 2004-05, he tallied 13 goals and 19 assists in 23 games to finish fourth on the team in scoring with 32 points. During his 2003-04 sophomore season, Wehrs had totals of 4-17--21 in 31 games as the Trojans claimed fourth place at the Minnesota State High School Tournament.
Players Mentioned
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