recruits04

This outstanding recruit and student is certainly one of the top first-year goaltenders in college hockey for 2009-10. This 2009 graduate of Roseau (MN) High School has already compiled a tremendous amateur hockey resume. In 2006-07, he led his high school team to the Minnesota State High School hockey championship and was selected to the all tournament team. Stats included a 0.75 GAA and .969 SV%. In 2007-08 his team finished the regular season 28-0 and Lee had 12 shutouts, a 0.80 GAA and .952 SV% and was selected second team all-state. He joined the Fargo Force of the USHL for the 2008-09 season and compiled a 2.40 GAA and .918 SV% in 48 games. He was named USHL Goalie of the Year and USA Hockey Junior Goalie of the year. He was the 91st pick and 3rd round draft choice of the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2009 NHL draft. Lee is a leading candidate to be the starting goaltender for the USA World Junior team in 2009-10.

A butterfly goaltender, Lee is very athletic with a quick glove and good lateral movement. He controls rebounds well and is strong mentally, never allowing a negative outing to affect his game. His talent, competitiveness and work ethic could very well find him in the NHL in the future. Former coach Dean Blais commented "I don't see many goalies better than Mike Lee". Lee was recently named preseason rookie of the year in the WCHA for 2009-10. A top notch recruit who will get plenty of playing time this season.

The Huskies coaching staff nabbed the most prolific scorer in Minnesota High School hockey history in Hanowski. The Little Falls native is a four-year letterwinner at Little Falls and amassed 405 points - 196 goals and 209 assists in 117 games for the Flyers. Hanowski will be reunited with former teammate and current SCSU Husky forward, Jared Festler at SCSU. In addition to his prolific scoring record, Hanowski was named a Minnesota Mr. Hockey finalist in 2009 and was named Associated Press Player of the Year. His high school statistics include the following: 2005-06 35G 29A 64 points, 2006-07 40G 71A 111 points, 2007-08 46G 47A 95 points, 2008-09 73G 62A 135 points. His 2008-09 season included 28 multi-point games and two 8 point games. Hanowski was the 63rd pick in the 2009 NHL draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

An outstanding athlete, Hanowski makes the big jump from small school Minnesota high school hockey to the WCHA. His size, excellent puck skills and solid defensive game will benefit him as he acclimates himself to college hockey's top conference. Posessing an excellent and accurate shot, Hanowski will score given the opportunity to shoot. As with most true first-year players, he'll need to improve his speed and overall strength in the quick physical WCHA. Look for Hanowski to get plenty of playing time and for his success to accelerate the second half of the 2009-10 season. Another future NHL prospect for the Huskies.

Growing up in California a block from SCSU senior, Ryan Lasch, Eddy was probably destined to end up at SCSU. As a youth, Eddy skated for the California Wave which has produced 22 Division I hockey players including current Huskies Ryan Lasch and Brian Volpie. His hockey accelerated after moving to Woodbury, MN earning three hockey letters and leading his team to the MSHSL hockey tournament in 2006-07 and 2007-08. He was named Associated Press All-State in 2007 and again in 2008. He was also named to the Star Tribune All-Metro team and the Pioneer Press All-State Honorable Mention team in 2008. As a senior at Woodbury High School he produced 33 goals and 35 assists. He joined the Sioux Falls Stampeded of the USHL for 2008-09 and after scoring nearly a point a game - 21G 35A -56 was named to the USHL All Rookie Team. He also participated in the USHL Prospects/All-Star game.

A good student of the game and good athlete, Eddy is very coachable and a solid team player. He considers himself a "grinder" who works well in the corners but has been a proven scorer at every level he's played at over the past four years. A fluid skater, Eddy should cope quite well with the larger surface of the NHC. Eddy may be a "sleeper" among the crop of first-year forwards in the WCHA and will open some eyes before seasons end. Look for a successful college career for this player.

The Huskies have added a solid defenseman with offensive abilities to their roster with the addition of Johnson. He was a two-year player for White Bear Lake (MN) High School prior to opting out of his senior year and joining the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. In 2005 and 2006 he skated in the Minnesota Elite League summer hockey program. He was named All-Conference after the 2006-07 season. In 2007-08 he was the Gamblers 5th leading scorer with 5G 20A for 25 points. In 2008-09 he led the Gamblers defense in point production with 8G 24A for 32 points. Despite his size, Johnson had no aversion to physical play piling up 160 penalty minutes in 2007-08 and 98 penalty minutes in 2008-09.

Known for a strong and accurate shot, Johnson saw a great deal of power play time with Green Bay and should eventually crack the power play unit for the Huskies. A good skater and offensive threat, it will benefit Johnson to work on his strength to cope with the bigger faster fowards of the WCHA. Will add depth to the defense and should see playing time as the season progresses.