Jordy Murray and Derek Stepan don't know when they'll play for the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team, but just being in the neighborhood this week will give them a psychological boost.

The seniors at Shattuck-St. Mary's (Minn.) High School will be participating in the 20th annual Gold Medal Classic tournament at Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton.

The 16-team event, which starts Thursday and runs through Sunday, features many of the elite major-midget programs from around the country.

Shattuck is at, or very near, the top of that list in part because of players such as Murray and Stepan, good friends and NHL prospects who commited to play for the Badgers just more than a year ago.

"I'm really excited. I love that town," Stepan said of Madison. "And it's a great tournament and it's a lot of fun. I'm really excited to get out there."

Stepan, 17, and Murray, 18, rank among the top scorers for Shattuck — Stepan has 28 goals, 47 assists and 75 points, while Murray shows 27-39-66 in 44 games — which is known for developing top prospects from North America.

Stepan and Murray are rated among the top 150 players worldwide who are eligible for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, according to Red Line Report.

Both forwards say they're ready to make the jump to college in the 2008-09 season, but nothing will be set in stone until after this season, when UW coach Mike Eaves has a better handle on how many roster spots and how much scholarship money will be available.

The Badgers will lose two senior forwards — Matthew Ford and Josh Engel — but multiple underclassmen have left the program the last two years to turn pro, and that could happen again after this season.

"I've been told '08, but I'm not positive," Murray said.

"It's still up in the air," Stepan said. "Hopefully, it will be next year, but you never know."

Murray, the son of St. Louis Blues coach Andy Murray, and Stepan will get a closer look at some of their future teammates Friday night when they watch the Badgers host Minnesota State-Mankato in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game at the Kohl Center.

"I'm pretty excited just to be around the rink, the Kohl Center and campus," Murray said.

Yet the focus for Stepan and Murray this weekend will be be on the Gold Medal Classic.

In addition to programs from Arizona, California, Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Colorado, the host Madison Capitols will be in the four-pool event that showcases some of the premier high school age talent in North America.

College coaches and scouts from the NHL and junior programs in the U.S. and Canada will be on hand.

"It's got to be probably one of the more premier tournaments in the country," said Bob Suter, the former UW defenseman who founded the event.

The Capitols, coached by former UW and NHL defenseman Gary Suter, expect to be in title contention.

"On any given day, they can compete with the best teams here," Bob Suter said, "but I don't know if they have enough depth of the quality of some of the teams coming in."

GOLD MEDAL CLASSIC

When, where: Thursday through Sunday, Capitol Ice Arena, Middleton.

Championship: 12:45 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets: $5 per game. Tournament pass available for $15 (adults) or $10 (students and seniors).