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UW men's hockey: Four future recruits move up in final draft rankings

Todd D. Milewski  —  4/25/2008 7:48 am

Four players connected to the University of Wisconsin made big gains in the NHL Central Scouting Service final rankings for this year's draft.

Defenseman Patrick Wiercioch made the biggest jump of them all.

Wiercioch, who has given the Badgers a verbal commitment to join the team, likely in 2009, moved up 42 spots between the midterm rankings in January and the final rankings, which were released Thursday.

That put him at No. 77 among North American skaters, and the surge likely had a lot to with the fact that Wiercioch, a 6-foot-2 , 178-pounder who played last season with Omaha of the United States Hockey League, was in the middle of a lengthy injury absence when the initial rankings were compiled.

He had surgery on a broken thumb in late December after suffering the injury a month earlier, and he didn't return to action until Feb. 8.

Before the injury, he was plus-3 with four points in 19 games. In 21 games after returning, he was plus-9 with three goals and 17 points.

Recruits Justin Schultz and Jordy Murray each moved up 18 spots. Schultz, a defenseman who is likely to join the team in 2009, is ranked 38th. Murray, a forward who recently signed a National Letter of Intent to start at UW next season, is 173rd.

UW defenseman Cody Goloubef advanced 14 spots to No. 34. Forward Derek Stepan, who also is scheduled to join the Badgers next season, also moved up 14 places, to No. 58.

With projected first-round pick and 2008 signee Jake Gardiner (No. 23, down one spot from the midterm rankings), Goloubef, Schultz and Stepan, the Badgers have four players in the top 58.

Also in the rankings among UW recruits: forward Tyler Barnes (No. 114), forward Brock Montpetit (No. 199), defenseman Nick Pryor (No. 208) and goaltender Aaron Crandall (No. 24 among North American goalies).

The draft is scheduled for June 21-22 in Ottawa.

tmilewski@madison.com

Todd D. Milewski  —  4/25/2008 7:48 am