MSU recruit picked for prospects game

Lincoln Journal-Star

Minnesota State's goalie of the future, Stephon Williams was chosen to play in the inaugural USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game later this month in Muskegon, Mich. The game will feature the USHL's top players who are eligible for this summer's NHL draft.

Williams, who is one of four goalies selected for the game, plays for the Sioux Falls Stampede. The 6-foot-2, 197-pound native of Fairbanks, Alaska, currently ranks second in the USHL in save percentage at .917 and is tied for fifth with a 2.54 goals-against average.

The prospects game will take place Tuesday, Jan. 24.

It will be interesting to see if and where Williams gets drafted this summer. The Mavericks have never had a goaltender who has been drafted nor one who has gone on to play in the NHL.

Morin's up and other news

MSU wasted no time putting up a banner honoring their latest alum to make it to the National Hockey League. When I arrived at the Verizon Wireless Center tonight for the Mavericks' game against Bemidji State, Travis Morin (right) was hanging on the wall along with Ryan Carter, Grant Stevenson, Jon Kalinski, Tim Jackman, David Backes and Steve Wagner. There isn't much room left, given the size of those banners, though. ...

As was discussed on an earlier post, the Mavericks indeed got a commitment from goaltender Stephon Williams of the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede. Williams, a 17-year-old from Fairbanks, Alaska, is 14-3-4 with a .915 SV% and a 2.37 GAA. He has won his last seven starts, stopping 93.9% of the shots he's faced over that time. Read more here. 

The stories don't say when Williams is heading to Mankato, but my guess is that he'll be taking Austin Lee's spot following next season. Phil Cook will be a senior then, and Evan Karambelas will be a junior.