UMD HOCKEY ANNOUNCES 2009 RECRUITS

Better late than never, eh?

We already knew about three of them, but the university Wednesday announced a 2009 freshman class of seven players.

The seven range a bit in how highly they're touted, and probably in how much they'll play with UMD this upcoming season.

No surprises here, but here is the information from the university.

Wade Bergman (5-7, 150, Defense) -- Made his hockey home in Olds, Alberta the past two seasons ... placed second among Olds Grizzly defensemen in regular season scoring in 2008-09 with 30 points on 10 goals and 20 assists in 44 outings ... added another six points (two goals and four assists) during the Grizzlies 15-game run in the Alberta Junior Hockey League playoffs ... suited up for the South Division at last January's AJHL All-Star Game in Calgary where he was teammate of fellow UMD rookie pointman Dylan Olsen ... was chosen the AJHL Rookie of the Year the previous winter after finishing the regular season as Olds' top point producing blueliner (13 goals and 22 assists in 52 regular season outings) ... is the third Grizzly alum to sign on with the Bulldogs in recent years, joining left winger Tyler Bros (2001-05) and defenseman Jay Rosehill (2004-05).

Dan DeLisle (6-4, 230, Forward) -- Drew the curtain on a prosperous three-year playing career at Totino-Grace High School this spring ... placed first on the Eagles scoring charts in each of his final two seasons, including 2008-09 when he amassed 33 goals and 29 assists for 62 points in 28 games ... secured All-North Suburban Conference status three times and was a 2008-09 Associated Press All-State honorable mention honoree ... captained the Eagles as a senior ... set a Totino-Grace High School single-season record for point by sophomore (53) ... exited the Eagle hockey program with 167 career points to his credit ... also was an all-conference performer in baseball (pitcher/first base) and as a starting goalkeeper, backstopped the soccer Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2006 Minnesota State High School Class A Tournament ... was tabbed the 138th best draft eligible North American skater by the NHL Central Scouting Service in its final rankings this year .. is the nephew of former Bulldog right winger and 1987-88 team captain Joe DeLisle.

Keegan Flaherty (6-1, 195, Forward) -- Will come back to his old hockey haunt -- the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center -- this fall after a two-year leave of absence in the United States Hockey League ... wrapped up the 2008-09 regular season holding down the No. 8 position on the Fargo Force scoring charts with 14 goals and nine assists for 23 points while going a plus-12 in 47 games ... went pointless in nine postseason contests as Fargo advanced to the Clark Club finals (USHL playoff championships) ... served as an assistant team captain with the Force and accrued an ample amount of ice time on both their power play and penalty killing units ... strutted his stuff at the 2009 USHL Prospects/All-Star Game as a member of the West Division squad ... spent all of 2007-08 and the 2008-09 preseason with the Green Bay Gamblers before being acquired in a trade by the Force in late September ... mustered four points -- all goals -- in 47 regular season games during his debut USHL season .. helped lead the U.S. to a bronze medal at the 2007 World Junior A Challenge in Trail, British Columbia ... bypassed his senior year at Duluth East High School to enlist with the Gamblers ... skated a regular shift for three seasons with the Duluth East Greyhounds and also gained plenty of notice on the prep gridiron where he was an all-conference defensive back ,,, was slotted 109th among North American prospects in the NHL Central Scouting Service's final rankings.

Jake Hendrickson (5-10, 170, Forward) -- Engaged in one season of United States Hockey League warfare before signing on with the Bulldogs ... suited up in 50 regular season games for the Sioux City Musketeers in 2008-09 and had 16 points (four goals and 12 assists) to show for it ... starred for three years at Burnsville High School -- established a Blaze single-season record for goals (26) and points (71) as a junior and helped Burnsville secure its first Minnesota Class AA State Tournament berth for the first time in 16 years ... paced the Blaze in assists (31) the ensuing year and finished second on the team scoring charts (47 points) .... was a 2007-08 Associated Press All-State selection and a two-time All-Lake Conference pick (2006-07 and 2007-08).

Pictured above, right--> Dylan Olsen (6-2, 200, Defense) -- Seldom was his name mentioned in the Alberta Junior Hockey League circles without the word "impact" in the same sentence ... is the latest in a classy line of Camrose Kodiak products who have continued their education at UMD, following the likes of sophomore-to-be Mike Connolly, and departed Bulldogs Mason Raymond, MacGregor Sharp, Matt McKnight and Evan Oberg ... finished second among 2008-09 Kodiak defensemen in scoring (and was fourth on the team overall) with 29 points in 57 regular season outings en route to landing a spot on the South Division All-Star Team .... was also one of nine finalists for the Royal Bank Cup Canadian Junior Hockey Player of the Year Award in 2008-09 ... served as a Camrose team captain last season ... laced up his skates for the South Division at the 2009 AJHL All-Star Game, for Canada West at the 2008 World Junior A Challenge, and for Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Under-18 Championship (he was the only Junior A player on the Canadian roster) ... made his AJHL debut in 2007-08 and wound up with eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points during the regular season before helping Camrose place second at the Royal Bank Cup (Canadian Junior A Championships) later that spring ... received the Kodiak's Rookie of the Year award for his spirited play ... the NHL Central Scouting Service labeled him the 27th best draft-eligible North American in its final rankings for 2008-09 ... his father, Darryl Olsen, was a fixture on the Northern Michigan University blueline for four years (1985-89).

Drew Olson (5-11, 215, Defense) -- Holds the distinction of being the first member of the Bulldogs' incoming freshmen class to be drafted -- was selected in the fourth round (118th pick overall) by the Columbus Bluejackets in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft ... manned the point for one year with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League prior to signing with UMD ... completed the 2008-09 regular season with eight points on two goals and six assists in 39 games and was a plus-3 to boot ... missed a sizeable portion of the year while nursing a leg injury ... was a three-year puck standout at Brainerd High School where he landed All-Central Lakes Conference recognition on a pair of occasions (2006-07 and 2007-08) in addition to being named a finalist for Minnesota's Mr. Hockey Award as a senior in 2007-08 ... also was an Associated Press All-State second team honoree that season after collecting 20 goals and 16 assists in 27 outings ... played one year of football (linebacker) and baseball (outfielder) with the Warriors as well.

Mike Seidel (5-10, 175, Forward) -- Saved his best hockey for last as a third-year United States Hockey League veteran in 2008-09 ... established a career high for regular season points with 73, a number unsurpassed by any Cedar Rapids RoughRider and only three other USHL combatants ... also ranked first on the club in goals (29), assists (44), shorthanded tallies (three), game winners (five) and shots (211) ...was aptly rewarded with a selection to the All-USHL second team ... also represented the East Division at the 2009 USHL Prospects/All-Star Game ...followed up a 47-point rookie year in Cedar Rapids by chipping in 16 goals and 27 assists during the 2007-08 regular season ... is the fourth Illinois native to make his way to the UMD.

No, Mike Seidel isn't thought to be related to Mike Seidel of Weather Channel fame, though that would be funny.

All in all, an impressive class, likely highlighted by Olsen, who could be a first-round pick in the NHL Draft June 26.