Gophers officially announce five signings

As previously announced Thursday morning, the Gophers have indeed signed five players to national letters of intent during the early eight-day signing period which ended Wednesday. The five include three USHL players. The list in alphabetical order:

Seth Ambroz

6-3, 205 forward from New Prague

Team: Omaha Lancers, USHL

Stats: 7 goals, 3 assists for 10 pts. in 12 games

Bio: Left New Prague High School after freshman year to play in Omaha. So this is his second year with Lancers. He is graduating high school in three years to join Gophers in 2010-11. Does not turn 17 until next April.

Had 14 goals, 17 assists for 31 points in 60 games last season. As ninth-grader for New Prague, had 22 goals and 36 assists for 58 points. Two siblings are both playing Division I hockey. His brother Mike is a junior for Nebraska-Omaha. His sister Kacy is a sophomore for UMD.

Max Gardiner

6-3, 176 forward for Minnetonka High School

Team: Skippers

Stats: 15 goals, 30 assists for Tonka last season; nine goals, 14 assists for 23 points as sophomore

Bio: Second year as team captain. All-conference in Classic Lake last season. Has participated in under-15, U16 and U17 national festivals and among 40 final invitees for U.S. national development program in Ann Arbor, Mich. Brother of Jake Gardiner, sophomore defenseman fof Wisconsin

6-0, 175 forward from Pori, FInland

Team: Omaha Lancers, USHL

Stats: eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 14 games; second on Lancers in scoring; had four goals in one recent game. Had 24 goals and 55 assists for 79 points for Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault last season in 49 games in 2008-09. Season before that played in under-20 junior league in Finland had had seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points in 40 games for team called Assat.

Bio: A seventh-round draft choice, picked 182nd, in 2009 NHL draft in June. Competed for Finland in under-18 World Championships the past two seasons. Had three goals to helps Finns earn bronze medal in 2008 event. Father is a hockey coach. Linemate of Seth Ambroz on Lancers. Haula plays center, Ambroz is his right wing.

Justin Holl

Team: Skippers

Stats: one goal and nine assists for 10 points last season. Had six goals and five assists for 11 points in Elite League this fall.

Bio: Team co-captain this season with Max Gardiner, another Gophers signee from Minnetonka. Participated in USA select camp the past two seasons. Played four games with Omaha Lancers this season and plans to rejoin USHL team after high school season. He is an 'A' honor roll student and had 34 on ACT test.

Nate Schmidt

6-0, 197 defenseman from St. Cloud

Stats: Has four goals and six assists for 10 points for Force in 13 games. Last season had 25 goals and 28 assists for 53 points for St. Cloud Cathedral in 31 games.

Bio: Led St. Cloud Cathedral to fourth place in Class 1A state tournament last season. Named to all-tournament team and was an Associated Press second-team, all-state pick. Helped under-17 U.S. select team finish second in the Five Nations Cup in the Czech Republic in 2007.