Shortly before noon, Hudson Fasching tweeted the words Gophers coach Don Lucia and his staff wanted to hear or read: "Committed to the Minnesota Golden Gophers."

Fasching, 16, plays for the under-17 U.S. national team in Ann Arbor, Mich. He is 6-3, 190 and was a highly coveted forward.

He has two goals and four assists in 14 USHL games this season. Fasching, who lives in Burnsville, was one of the top players on the Apple Valley High School team until deciding to join the national program last fall.

If you didn't read the profile of Fasching last year by Amelia Rayno of the Star Tribune, it's well worth the time. He's an impressive young man.

NEXT FOR FASCHING

Fasching's team will represent the U.S. in the World under-17 Hockey Challenge opening Thursday and running through Jan. 4 in Windsor, Ontatio. The U.S. team will play the Czechs in its firts game.

Last month his team won the under-17 Four Nations Cup in Russia, winning all three of its games. Fasching had a goal in two of the games and was named the U.S. team's player of the game in their opener.

He is expected to be a high draft pick in the 2013 NHL draft.

Fasching had 24 goals and 18 assists for 42 points as a freshman at Apple Valley High School when the Eagles advanced to the Class 2A state tournament. Last season he had 18 goals and 32 assists as a sophomore.

He can be found on twitter at @Hfasching22