University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gopher Men's Hockey Program Signs Six Top Recruits
11/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Michael Carman, a 6-0, 179-pound forward from Apple Valley, Minn., joins the Golden Gophers from the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. A member of the NTDP Under-18 Team this season, Carman has three goals and four assists in 13 games. In 2004-05, he competed with the NTDP Under-17 Team, posting totals of 14-24--38 and 80 penalty minutes in 53 games. That season, Carman helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the Four Nations Cup in Rochester, N.Y., with 1-6--7 in four games. A top two-way player, Carman attended the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minn., during his freshman and sophomore seasons. In 2003-04, he had 19-37--56 in 31 games and was named St. Paul Pioneer Press all-state honorable mention and Missota All- Conference. He was named to the Minnesota State High School All-Tournament team after posting totals of 3-3--6 to help lead the Stars to the consolation championship. Carman had 3-3--6 during his freshman season to help Holy Angels to third place at the state tournament.
David Fischer, a 6-3, 175-pound defenseman from Apple Valley, Minn., is entering his senior season at Apple Valley High School. During his junior year, Fischer led the team’s defensemen and finished 20th overall in the Lake Conference in scoring with 8-20--28 in 17 games. The Eagles posted a 21-6-1 record and fell to Holy Angels in the Section 5AA finals. A strong skater and puck-handler for a player of his size, Fischer had 2-9--11 in his sophomore season at Apple Valley.
Ryan Flynn joins the Golden Gophers as a 6-3, 212-pound forward from Lino Lakes, Minn. Currently a member of the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-18 Team, Flynn has five goals and four assists in 13 games this season. In 2004-05, he competed with the Under-17 Team with totals of 15-13--28 in 54 games. Prior to his time in Ann Arbor, Flynn attended Centennial High School and was a key player on the 2003-04 Cougars state championship team that also featured current Golden Gopher defenseman R.J. Anderson. During that season, Flynn finished third on the team in scoring with 29 -39--68 in 30 games and was named North Suburban All-Conference and all-state honorable mention by the Pioneer Press. Flynn was the lone freshman on the 2002-03 Centennial team, posting totals of 15-2439 in 28 games to finish fifth on the team in scoring.
Erik Johnson, a 6-5, 227-pound defenseman from Bloomington, Minn., joins the Maroon and Gold from the U.S. National Team Development Program. A member of the NTDP Under-18 Team this season, Johnson is third on the team in scoring with 5-7--12 in 13 games. In 2004-05, he played 42 games with the Under-17 team and eight games with the Under-18 Team, totaling 11-14--25. That season, Johnson helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the Four Nations Cup in Rochester, N.Y., with 1-3--4 in four games. Rated as one of the top defensemen prospects in the nation, Johnson attended the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minn., during his freshman and sophomore seasons. In 2003-04, he had 13-21--34 in 31 games and was named Missota All-Conference during the Stars’ consolation championship season. Johnson had 2-9--11 during his freshman season to help Holy Angels to third place at the state tournament.
Kyle Okposo is a 6-1, 20-5-pound forward from St. Paul Minn. Currently a member of the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Through 16 games this season, he is second on his team and ninth in the league in scoring with 8-10--18. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 USHL Draft, Okposo currently leads the league in plus/ minus at +14. Prior to joining the Buccaneers, he helped guide his Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep team to the Midget Major AAA National Championship in 2004-05. Considered one of the premier players in the country for his age group, Okposo is a powerful skater with natural competitive instincts and excellent hockey sense. Okposo will become the first African-American hockey player to play for Minnesota, and will be the first player to list one of the Twin Cities as his hometown since former Golden Gophers Matt Koalska (St. Paul) and Troy Riddle (Minneapolis) joined the team in 2000.
Kevin Wehrs, a 5-10, 170-pound defenseman from Plymouth, Minn., comes to the Maroon and Gold from the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL. In 16 games this season, Wehrs is tied for the team lead in scoring among defensemen with 2-8--10. He also played four games during the 2004-05 playoffs, helping Cedar Rapids to the Clark Cup and Anderson Cup Championships. Earlier this summer, Wehrs played for the U.S. Under-18 Select Team that competed in the Under-18 Junior World Cup in Piestany, Slovakia and Bredac, Czech Republic. Before joining the RoughRiders, Wehrs was a standout defenseman at Wayzata High School. In 2004-05, he tallied 13 goals and 19 assists in 23 games to finish fourth on the team in scoring with 32 points. During his 2003-04 sophomore season, Wehrs had totals of 4-17--21 in 31 games as the Trojans claimed fourth place at the Minnesota State High School Tournament.
