The early period for recruits to sign with college-hockey (and other non-football sports) begins today. The Mavericks likely aren't going to have a huge recruiting class next year, but expect them to announce a few signings today, if not the coming week.
Barring any early departures, MSU will lose five seniors to graduation: forward Mick Berge, defensemen Blake Friesen and Brian Kilburg and goalies Mike Zacharias and Dan Tormey.
Verbally committed players likely to come next season include forwards Eli Zuck and Tyler Pitlick, defenseman Danny Heath and goalie Kevin Murdock.
Zuck, a Shattuck-St. Mary's graduate, is playing for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. He's second on his team and tied for 13th in the league in scoring with 4-8--12 in 14 games.
Pitlick is a senior at Centennial High School. The prep season is about to begin, but he played in the Midwest Elite League this fall and had 20 goals and 31 points in 24 games. He also played for the U.S. Under-18 team this summer in Europe. He's the nephew of former NHLer Lance Pitlick.
Heath, an Arizona native, is playing for Tri-City for the second year in a row. He has played in just one game this season due to injury.
Murdock has had a great start to the USHL season. The Lincoln goalie ranks fourth in the league with a .908 sv% and third with a 2.38 GAA.
The Mavericks will have Murdock and redshirt freshman Austin Lee in goal next season. They'll also bring in a third goalie, probably a walk-on, before next fall. Looks like they'll probably bring in another defenseman, too.
They will need a big class for 2010, with seven junior forwards on the current roster. They have three verbal commitments for that year, including Mankato's Corey Leivermann, Zach Lehrke and Josh Berge.
Coaches cannot talk about recruits until they have signed, so hopefully we'll hear from Troy Jutting on these players soon.
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