Wednesday is the first day that Gophers women’s hockey coach Brad Frost can sign players, too, just like it is for Don Lucia.

A year ago, Frost brought in a strong class of six, including the Lamoureux twins from Grand Forks via Shattuck St. Mary’s in Faribault.

He can not say anything about this year’s recruiting class, but some poking around turned up a little.

Everyone knows Becky Kortum of Hopkins committed to the U in January of this year. Royals coach Vin Paolucci said she is definitely a candidate for Ms. Hockey this season. She had 37 goals and 22 assists as a junior to lead Hopkins to a Class 2A section final. There the Royals, who finished 22-4-2, lost to Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

“She is responsible in all three zones,” Paolucci said of Kortum. “She is strong with the puck, physically strong and a great skater  and a great person on and off the ice.”

Kortum is 5-8, 155 and has played on the Hopkins varsity since eight grade. “She has a great attitude, is not selfish and wants to go to medical school,” Paolucci said. “She has a 3.8 GPA.”

Also expected to sign is defenseman Megan Bozek of Chicago Mission. She is still only 17, she turns 18 next March.

Here is that program’s motto:

The Chicago Mission is dedicated to helping AAA level hockey players realize their athletic dreams. We do so by offering the most comprehensive developmental program in Illinois with the best coaching on the ice, the right facilities for off-ice training, and proven academic and career guidance. The Chicago Mission coaching and management team aims to give our players the best AAA hockey experience in the state of Illinois.

Only by consistently being the best, can we make sure our players can be at theirs.

Here is what the Mission website says about Bozek committing to the U:

U 19’s MEGAN BOZEK COMMITS TO MINNESOTA

It’s an honor enough for anyone to receive a college scholarship, but it is especially noteworthy when you receive one to a school that has always prided itself in it’s home grown talent as is the case at the University of Minnesota. But that’s exactly the case for U 19 stand-out defenseman Megan Bozek, who accepted a full scholarship to play for the Lady Golden Gophers this past summer.

“Megan played for me for 5 years and I have never been prouder of any player,” said Mission Girls Director Tony Cachey. “I have always admired her humility. She’s the person I would use as an example to younger players and tell then, ‘When you grow up, that is how you carry yourself.’” Cachey pointed out that Megan was an essential piece of the U19’s National Championship team, and that she’d led her teams to two National appearances previously.

Current U 19 coach Greg Tam added further praise. “Megan is one of the best two-way defensemen in the country,” he said. “She is one of the few players who has the ability to take over a game, and I am confident she will become one of the top DI players in the country.”

“The Bozek family is one to be admired in Illinois hockey,” said Mission Director of Hockey Operations Chico Adrahtas. “Her brother Steve was an outstanding Midget player for us and has begun coaching with us, her father is a top-flight official, and her mother is beyond supportive, someone you always look forward to seeing at the rink. It is especially satisfying to see good people rewarded, and that’s certainly the case in this instance.”

FOUR NATIONS UPDATE

The U.S. women’s select team, with heavy Minnesota Gophers influence, won the Four Nations Cup on Sunday in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Gophers coach Brad Frost, an assistant with that team, was back in his office at the U on Tuesday. “It was a fantastic tournament,” he said. “To win the championship in a shootout was very exciting. Erica McKenzie finally put the puck home.”

The U.S. team beat Canada 3-2, winning the shootout 1-0. McKenzie, who played for the Gophers last season, was the sixth U.S. shooter and scored the only goal.

Assistant Gophers coach Natalie Darwitz had three goals and one assist for the U.S. team in four games. The U.S. team won three games, one in a shootout, and lost one.

Four present Gophers also played well in the tournament, Frost said. Forward Gigi Marvin had four assists, defenseman Rachael Drazan three assists.

“I hope it gives those players a great deal of confidence,” Frost said, “and they share their experiences with the rest of the team.”

A FINNISH GOALIE?

The Gophers have signed a number of hockey players from Canada, but have never gone abroad for recruits. The 2008-09 team has five seniors and Minnesota is expected to sign four.

One of them could be Noora Raty, maybe the best women’s goalie for her age. She played for the Finns in the Four Nations Cup

She stopped 43 of 49 shots in the Finns’ 6-0 loss to Canada in their first game. She didn’t play again because she injured ligaments in her left knee in practice and is expected to be out at least six weeks.

Last April 4-12, Raty was the top goalie and MVP of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Championships in Harbin, China. There in four games, she had a 1.48 goals-against average and a 92.6 save percentage, stopping 75 of 81 shots.

She was in the nets when the Finns beat the U.S. team 1-0 in overtime. Her team was outshot 30-15, but beat the U.S. for the first time in international competition. The U.S. team, with Darwitz and Marvin among others, eventually won the tournament.

Raty joined Finland’s national team at 15 and played in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. She is 18 now.

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