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UW men's hockey: High-scoring Minnesota junior verbally commits

Todd Milewski  —  4/09/2008 8:29 am

A top scorer in the Minnesota high school ranks is the first known entrant into the recruiting class of 2010 for the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team.

Tyler Lapic, a forward from New Prague, Minn., took time out from his lunch period Tuesday to call Badgers coaches and give them a verbal commitment.

He also considered North Dakota and Minnesota State, but Lapic decided that he preferred Wisconsin's atmosphere and education.

"I looked at the schooling more than anything -- what would happen if all I could do is go to school there?" Lapic said. "I thought Wisconsin would be the best."

En route to posting 37 goals and 71 points in his junior season for New Prague, Lapic had seven hat tricks -- one of them a four-goal game -- and nine games in which he scored four or more points.

According to prep statistics Web site maxpreps.com, he was fourth in the state in both goals and points last season.

His speed and awareness drew attention, and his ability to handle the puck has been praised. He played both center and wing as a junior but said he's more comfortable in the middle.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Lapic said he has three older brothers who stand 6-4 so he should have a big frame to go with his skills by the time he starts at UW in 2010.

After his senior year at New Prague, Lapic expects to play a season in the United States Hockey League before joining Wisconsin. He considered moving to the USHL right away, too.

"But how many times do you get to have your senior year in high school?" Lapic said. "I had to take advantage of it."

Todd Milewski  —  4/09/2008 8:29 am