This is an interesting recruiting class for Frost. Sounds as if it is pretty talented, but includes only one Minnesota player. Three of players are from Canada, where Frost grew up, another from Wisconsin and another from Colorado.

So he is not just looking at Minnesota players. Wonder how this will play in Minnesota hockey circles, especially if Frost's teams don't win some WCHA and national titles.

The U of M news release, slightly edited, on the six women's hockey signings:

"We are extremely excited about the six student-athletes who have chosen to become Minnesota Golden Gophers," Frost said. "They are world-class athletes, students and people who will help continue the great tradition of the women's hockey program here at the University of Minnesota."

The six, listed in alphabetical order:

Bethany Brausen, a 5-5 forward, enters her senior year with Roseville Area High School. As a junior, Brausen was named the Pioneer Press girls hockey player of the year, a Star Tribune first-team all-metro selection and all-state honoree by the Associated Press.

In her junior year, Brausen was a team captain and led Roseville to the section finals and its fourth conference championship. She was later named the team's MVP after she recorded 28 goals and 27 assists for 55 points.

As a sophomore, Brausen was an all-state honorable mention, helped the Raiders to a 21-4-2 and was an all-conference selection. She tallied 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points and was a team captain as a sophomore.

This past fall, Brausen was a member of the East Metro Team in the Elite League for the second-straight season. Brausen is a standout softball player as well, already being named the team captain for the 2010 season.

Brausen is on the A honor roll and holds a grade point average of 3.83

"Bethany is a fast forward with a great knack around the net," Frost said. "She is very conscious at both ends of the rink and will add to our team speed with her great skating ability. We are very proud to sign another player from the great hockey city of Roseville. Bethany is a wonderful person who understands what it will mean to be a "student-athlete" here at the U." "Playing for the University of Minnesota has always been a dream of mine, like many others who have grown up in Minnesota," Brausen said. "I am honored to be given the opportunity to play for such a well-coached team with such passionate players. The university offers a phenomenal education program and supportive staff. I am confident through the years it will make me a much better player and person." Sarah Davis, a 5-4 forward, plays at Warner Hockey School and is a member of the Canadian Under-18 Team. Recently Davis competed with Team Atlantic at the Under-18 National Championship, where she finished tied for fourth overall in scoring with five points. Davis played in the Canada/USA Under-18 Series this past summer, which Canada won. She has attended Canada's strength and conditioning/skating camp for three years and the selection camps the past two. Last year with Warner, Davis scored 50 goals and 39 assists for 89 points in 54 games played and was an alternate captain. She was named the Warriors' top forward and the team's MVP in 2008-09. This season Davis has played in 27 games and notched 32 goals and 16 assists for 48 points. She has also played for Newfoundland and Labrador at six Atlantic Challenge Cups (2003-08), winning two silver medals (2006, 2007) and two bronze medals (2004, 2008). "Sarah is a strong forward with great hands and vision," Frost said. "She distributes the puck extremely well and makes her linemates better hockey players. Sarah is coached by former NHL player Mikko Makela and has a great knowledge of the game of hockey and how it should be played. She was on Canada's U-18 team this past summer and continues to make her mark within the hockey world. Sarah is the daughter of an educator and will be a great fit here at the U." "I chose the University of Minnesota because of the great academics and hockey program," Davis said. "I'm excited to attend the University and get started on what should be a great experience." Baylee Gillanders, a 5-11 defenseman, plays at Warner Hockey School and is also a member of the Canadian Under-18 Team. She most recently played with Team Saskatchewan at the 2009 Under-18 National Championships. Gillanders played in the Canada/USA Under-18 Series this past summer in which Canada won and hopes to look for a spot on the team at the Under-18 World Championships in April. She has attended both the Under-18 selection and strength and conditioning/skating camps in 2009. Gillanders is in her first year with the Warner Warriors and has played in 24 games this season, scoring six goals and eight assists for 14 points. Before joining Warner, Gillanders played with Swift Current and helped the team reach the SFMAAAHL in 2007, 2008 and 2009. She was a member of the Wildcats team that won the Mac's Midget Tournament with in 2007 and 2008, being named the top defenseman and to the first all-star team in 2008. Baylee is the third sibling in her family to play college hockey. Her brother, Dustin, played at Colgate and her sister, Kali, plays at Clarkson. "Baylee is a good skating defenseman with great size," Frost said. "She is very solid in her own zone and has tremendous vision. Baylee has gained some very valuable experience playing on Canada's U-18 team that will help her make the transition smoothly to the next level. (She) is a very good student who cares about her academics." "I chose to go to Minnesota because it is a well respected program that has a great atmosphere," Gillanders said. "The programs at the University of Minnesota seemed to fit with what I wanted to take. The coaching staff is well respected and I feel the women's hockey program will benefit and help me reach my hockey goals." Amanda Kessel, a 5-6 forward, has played with Shattuck-St. Mary's for the past three seasons and has been a member of the U.S. Under-18 Team. In 2009 with the U.S. Under-18, she was named the tournament's most valuable forward when she scored six goals and 13 assists for 19 points to lead Team USA to a gold medal. In the 2008 World Championships, Kessel played in five games with Team USA and tallied 11 points, ranking third among all players in scoring. Last year with SSM, Kessel scored 44 goals and 56 assists for 100 points in just 34 games played en route to a U-19 national championship. This season Kessel has accumulated 32 goals and 25 assists for 57 points in 20 games played. In 2007, Kessel was a member of SSM that won the U-19 national championship, a season in which she had 102 points in 56 games. Before SSM, Kessel played for the Madison Capitols Bantam boys' team in 2005-06 and helped the team to state and regional championships. Kessel is the third sibling in her family to compete at a Division I school and second at the University of Minnesota. Her brother, Phil, played for Minnesota in 2005-06, while younger brother, Blake, is a defenseman at New Hampshire. "Amanda has been a leading performer at the U-18 level for Team USA and will bring some great speed, vision and scoring ability to our team," Frost said. "She has made her mark at Shattuck-St. Mary's over the past few years and we are very excited to have her joining our program. "Amanda is the type of player that plays big in important games and will make her linemates better each and every shift. She is well coached and an elite player. Amanda is an all around person who excels both on the ice and in the classroom." "Minnesota was my gut feeling and I knew it would be the right fit for me," Kessel said. "I feel Minnesotawill help me achieve my dreams of winning a collegiate national championship and playing in the Olympics. The facilities are unbelievable along with the coaches and the team. I am thrilled to be a Gopher." Kelly Terry, a 5-6 forward, recently helped the Ontario Red to an Under-18 National Championship for the second straight year. A member of the Canadian Under-18 Team, Terry played in the Canada/USA Under-18 Series this past summer in which Canada won. Terry also was invited to the strength and conditioning/skating camp in May 2009 and will look for a spot on the team at the Under-18 World Championships in April. Playing with the Whitby Wolves, Terry is a two-time team captain for her hometown team. In 2008-09, Terry led the Wolves in scoring with 23 goals and 19 assists for 42 points. She enters this weekend's play with 11 goals and nine assists for 20 points in 10 games. She also was a member of the 2008 high school girls' hockey all-star team. Kelly will graduate from Sinclair Secondary School this spring. Her father, William, played his collegiate career at Michigan Tech and played five games with the Minnesota North Stars during the 1987-88 season. "Kelly is a smooth skating forward whose vision on the ice is tremendous," Frost said. "Her speed is top notch and she creates many great opportunities because of it. She is very sound in all three zones and does a great job at moving the puck quickly and effectively. "Kelly was a member of Canada's U-18 team this summer and most recently an assistant captain for Ontario Red which won the gold medal at the U-18's. We are very excited about having Kelly be a part of the Gopher family as she is a great player and top notch student." "I chose Minnesota because I instantly loved the atmosphere there and the hockey and academic programs fit me perfectly," Terry said. Elizabeth Turgeon, a 5-10 forward, was a part of the 2008 U.S. Under-18 Team where she helped Team USA win a gold medal. During her stint at the Under-18 World Championships, Turgeon saw action in every game and tallied an assist en route to the title. Attending four USA Hockey national camps, she has been attending the development camps since a Pee-Wee hockey player. With the Colorado Selects, Turgeon is in her final season and has played in nine games and has six goals and six assists for 12 points. Last year Turgeon played in 54 games and netted 47 goals and 32 assists for 79 points, while also holding a plus/minus rating of +52. Turgeon has played with the Colorado Selects since her second year Bantam. Turgeon will graduate in the spring from Valor Christian High School. Her father, Pierre, was a 19-year professional hockey player. "Liz has deep hockey roots," Frost said. "She has grown up around the game and is a big, strong forward who can put the puck in the net. She sees the ice well and works extremely hard both on and off the ice. Liz played on the United States U-18 team that won gold in 2008 and has made a huge impact with her Colorado Select team. She is a very likeable and mature person who will fit in great with our team both on the ice and in the classroom." "After meeting with the coaching staff and the players, I know that the University of Minnesota is where I belong," Turgeon said. "I look forward to pursuing my dreams in the Twin Cities and becoming a Gopher." Name Pos. Ht. DOB S/C Hometown/Current Team Bethany Brausen F 5-5 5/16/92 L Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS Sarah Davis F 5-4 6/23/92 L Paradise, N.L./ Warner Warriors Baylee Gillanders D 5-11 8/9/92 L Kyle, Sask./ Swift Current Wildcats Amanda Kessel F 5-6 8/28/91 R Madison, Wis./Shattuck St. Mary's Kelly Terry F 5-6 6/6/92 R Whitby, Ont./Whitby Wolves Elizabeth Turgeon F 5-8 7/24/92 L Cherry Hills Village, Colo./Colorado Selects