Chase Drake, the latest recruit to commit to the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team, knows first-hand that looks can be deceiving.

During his senior season at Mosinee High School, Drake made the 90-minute drive to Green Bay multiple times to watch the local U.S. Hockey League entry play.

From the security of the stands, he didn't think the atmosphere was all that different from prep games against Schofield D.C. Everest, Tomahawk, Medford or Northland Pines.

Then Drake, an 18-year-old defenseman, played 10 USHL games with the Gamblers when his high school season ended.

"It was a whole different world," he said after going pointless with a minus-5 rating. "The speed, the strength of the players was totally different."

Two years from now, in 2010-11, Drake will be asked to make a similar jump from Green Bay to the college level when he brings his above-average athleticism, instincts and skating ability to UW.

Drake, a standout in football and baseball as well as hockey, made his official campus visit to Madison Wednesday. Despite interest from a host of schools -- Colorado College, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Princeton and Yale among them -- he had his mind made up before he got home.

"Right when I got (to UW), I knew," Drake said.

NCAA rules prohibit UW coach Mike Eaves from publicly commenting on recruits until after they sign a national letter of intent.

Drake has a good frame (6-foot-2) with lots of room to grow (170 pounds) and the kind of talent that drew pro scouts to multiple Mosinee games this season. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau has him rated 123rd among North American skaters eligible for the entry draft next month.

In 24 games with Mosinee last season, Drake totaled 12 goals and 19 assists.

While playing the next two years for the Gamblers, Drake plans to take science courses at UW-Green Bay that will give him a leg up on his pre-med studies at UW.

Drake said he's always wanted to play for the Badgers, a dream that moved a step closer to fruition Thursday. He said the highlight was listening to Eaves and recruiting coordinator Mark Osiecki outline their plans.

"They know how to produce winners," Drake said.