Center Steve Fogarty is joining the parade of Minnesota players going to Penticton of the British Columbia Hockey League.

With Fogarty's commitment, the Vees will have seven Minnesotans on their roster. Fogarty was drafted in the third round of the NHL draft last month by the New York Rangers, He was the No. 72 pick overall.

Mario Lucia, who would have been a senior at Wayzata, also recently committed to the Vees. He was the No. 60 overall pick, taken late in the second round by the Wild.

Also going to Penticton are the Reilly brothers, twin forwards Connor and Ryan and younger brother Mike, a defenseman. All of them played at Holy Angels at one time.

Here is an excerpt from a recent Vees blog:

With Fogarty, Mario Lucia, and Mike Reilly; the Vees have now committed 3 of the top 4 drafted high-school players from the State of Minnesota, and three of the top 100 draft picks selected. This impressive feat that certainly will have the USHL abuzz as all three players had the option to play in the top American junior league, but chose Penticton of the BCHL.

That top American junior league is the USHL. Connor and Ryan played for Sioux Falls of the USHL last season. Lucia participated in the Des Moines training camp last month, but chose not to become a Buc.

And now Fogarty is joining those four Vees rookies and two holdover Minnesotans from last season, forward Joey Benik of Andover and defenseman Chad Bannor of Hermantown.

Fogarty had 23 goals and 17 assists in 24 games last season for the Hornets. He is 6-2, 194.

"Steven is a two-way player that brings size and scoring ability to our lineup," Vees coach and GM Fred Harbinson said.