Three Gophers' recruits signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday's spring national signing day, signaling the start of the coaching staff's large task of filling the holes left behind from the departure of nine key figures.
Forwards Brent Gates Jr. and Darian Romanko, and goaltender Eric Schierhorn each signed on Wednesday, with Gates and Romanko celebrating the day on Twitter (see below). Forward Mitch Hults is expected to sign and complete the class.
The Gophers have yet to officially announce the spring signings.
They signed six recruits in the fall – forwards Ryan Norman, Tommy Novak, Jack Ramsey and Tyler Sheehy, defenseman Jack Sadek and goaltender Logan Halladay – bringing the total of potential incoming freshman to 10.
Don't expect all 10 to be on campus next fall. The coaching staff still has to sort through their needs after losing six contributing seniors and three junior standouts in goaltender Adam Wilcox and defensemen Mike Reilly and Brady Skjei.
In total, they lost five forwards, three defensemen and a goaltender. The chances of suffering more early departures are slim, but forward Hudson Fasching has been labeled ready to make the jump to professional hockey.
The Gophers currently have two goaltenders, Nick Lehr and Ryan Coyne, on the roster and most likely will carry only three goalies. Defenseman Nick Seeler will be eligible to return to the ice next season after sitting out a year result of his transfer from Nebraska Omaha.
• The Columbus Blue Jackets said the ball is Mike Reilly's court as they await his decision to sign with the organization or become a free agent on June 1. Hear what Blue Jacket's president of hockey operations John Davidson and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen had to say about their pursuit of the Gophers' All-America standout defenseman.
