Red Line Report, which is a highly respected hockey recruiting service, has ranked the Gophers incoming class of nine players — expected to grow by at least one, a goalie — the nation’s best. 

Bet you can’t guess who is No. 2? Ohio State. This isn’t football.

Denver, which won the WCHA Final Five, is No. 3. Michigan, the No. 1-rated team most of the season, is No. 4. Our neighbor Wisconsin is No. 5.

NCAA champion Boston College is No. 6, edging out No. 7 Boston University. No. 8 is Notre Dame, which reached the NCAA final before losing.

Here is a closer look at the Gophers recruits: [Coach Don Lucia said they will be going to summer school and working out this summer like the older players on his team.]

Class of 2008

Forwards

* Michael Dorr, 5-10, 180 wing: Metro Player of the Year in 2007 when he had 38 goals and 33 assists for 71 points in 27 games for Roseville. … Also played for USHL’s Des Moines and had seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 26 games. … Played for Des Moines again this season. 

 * Jake Hansen, 6-1, 182, wing: Played his senior year for Sioux Falls in the USHL during the 2007-08 season. … As junior at White Bear Lake, had 28 goals and 43 assists for 71 points in 25 games. Named first team All-Metro. … Joined Sioux Falls for 15 games after Bears lost in section play. … Drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2007 NHL Entry Draft, 86th pick.

* Taylor Matson, 6-0, 185 center: From Orono. Played for Holy Angels in 2006-07 and had 17 goals and 19 assists in 36 games. … Played for USHL’s Des Moines this season. … Vancouver Canucks took him in the 2007 Entry Draft, 176th overall.

* Nico Sachetti, 6-0, 186, center: Had 41 goals and 53 assists for 94 points in 27 games for Virginia as a junior. … Played for Omaha of the USHL this past season. … Dallas Stars took him in the second round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, 50th overall.

* Jordan Schroeder, 5-8, 165, center: From Prior Lake. Played for St. Thomas Academy as a freshman in 2005-06 and had 27 goals and 35 assists for 62 points in 31 games. … On under-17 U.S. national development team last season. Had 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points in 31 games. … On under-18 U.S. national team this season. … Has accelerated high school education to graduate in three years. 

Defensemen

* Sam Lofquist, 6-1, 190:  Had 14 goals and five assists for 19 points playing for Shattuck-St. Mary’s in 2005-06. … Has played last two seasons with U.S. national development team in Ann Arbor, Mich. … In first season, had eight goals and six assists for 14 points in 47 games. … Has accelerated high school education to graduate in three years.

* Brandon Martell, 6-2, 195: Had 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points in 22 games for Elk River as a senior in the 2006-07 season. …. Played this season with Tri-City of the USHL.

* Aaron Ness, 5-10, 170: Had 28 goals and 44 assists for 72 points in 31 games this past season in leading Roseau to its third consecutive trip to Class 2A state tournament. Named Mr. Hockey and Associated Press Player of the Year. … Also completed junior and seniors year of high school this past school year. … Rams won state title his sophomore year. … Roseau was 82-10 his three seasons on the team. He had 44 goals and 100 assists for 144 points in 92 games. 

* Grant Scott, 6-3, 205: Also plays wing. From Sewickley, Pa. First Gopher from an eastern state. … Played for Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh in 2005-06. … Has played for the U.S. national development team the past two seasons. … Had three goals and two assists for five points in 39 games in first season.

(Gophers still looking for two goalies, one to sign, one to walk-on.)

Class of 2009

Josh Birkholz, Blake, center, 6-0, 170

Zach Budish, Edina, right wing, 6-2, 195

Nate Condon, West Wausau (Wis.), center, 6-1, 185

Seth Helgeson, Faribault, defenseman, 6-4, 185

Nick Leddy, Eden Prairie, defenseman, 5-11, 170 (or 2010)

Jake Youso, International Falls, center, 6-0, 171

Class of 2010

Nate Schmidt, St. Cloud Cathedral, defenseman, 6-0, 185

Ryan Walters, St. Thomas Academy, center, 6-0, 175

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 at 6:52 pm and is filed under Gophers men's hockey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.