UMD announces early signing period commitments

From the UMD Bulldogs Athletic Site...

Five talented prospects from an assortment of hockey backgrounds -- forwards Joe Basaraba (Shattuck-St. Mary's), forward J.T. Brown (Waterloo Blackhawks/United States Hockey League), defenseman Justin Faulk (U.S. National Under-18 Team), forward Caleb Herbert (Bloomington Jefferson High School) and defenseman Luke McManus (Tri-City Storm/USHL) -- have all signed national letters of intent to attend and play hockey for the University of Minnesota Duluth.

The following is a brief look at each of the six signees:

Joe Basaraba (Forward • 6-2 • 165 • Fort Frances, Ontario) -- Is the second Shattuck-St. Mary's product to enlist his services with the Bulldogs (left winger Michael Gergen, 2005-09, was the first) ... has rolled up 13 points (five goals and eight assists) in 15 games thus far -- good for the No. 3 spot on the Shattuck-St. Mary's scoring charts ... played two years for the Fort Frances High School Muskies prior to signing on with Shattuck-St. Mary's for the 2008-09 season.

J.T. Brown (Forward • 5-10 • 165 • Burnsville, Minn.) -- Is currently in his second year of United States Hockey League competition with the Waterloo Blackhawks ... has collected 13 points (five goals and eight assists) in 12 games this winter, good for the No. 2 spot on the Waterloo scoring charts ... closed out his USHL debut year with 14 goals and 32 assists in 36 outings ... missed the opening two months of the 2008-09 regular season while nursing a wrist injury ... graduated from Rosemount High School in 2008 ... was a finalist for the Minnesota Mr. Hockey award that year in addition to receiving Minneapolis Star-Tribune All-Metro and Associated Press All-State (honorable mention) acclaim ... is the son of former Minnesota Viking star running back Ted Brown (1979-86).

Justin Faulk (Defenseman • 5-11 • 200 • South St. Paul, Minn.) - Leads the U.S. National Under-18 Team in goals (nine) and power play tallies (seven) at the 20--game mark of the 2009-10 season ... also ranks third among his puckmates in points with 14 ... represented the U.S. at the 2009 National Under-18 Four Nation's Cup earlier this fall (he and his puckmates went 3-0-0 to capture the tournament title) ... spent the 2008-09 season with the U.S. National Under-17 Team and was that club's top scoring defensemen (12 goals and 21 assists in 64 games) ... left South St. Paul High School following his sophomore year to join the Ann Arbor-based program ... was an All-Conference honorable mention selection in 2007-08 ... took part in the 2008 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament and topped all Team USA blueliners with three points in four games.

Caleb Herbert (Forward• 5-9 • 180 • Bloomington, Minn.) - Will soon embark on his farewell season at Bloomington Jefferson High School ... reigned as the Upper Midwest High School Elite League's top scorer this past fall ... collected a team-leading 53 points (29 goals and 24 assists) in 27 games one year ago en route to landing a spot on the Associated Press All-State Team (honorable mention) ... was sidelined for a good chunk of his sophomore year with a broken leg ... competed for the U.S. Under-18 Select Team at the 2008 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament in the Breclav, Czech Republic.

Luke McManus (Defenseman • 6-1•190 • Apple Valley, Minn.) - Now makes his hockey home in Kearney, Neb. where he has generated two assists in 10 games for the USHL's Tri-City Storm ... began the 2008-09 season -- his first in the USHL -- with the Omaha Lancers before being traded to the Indiana Ice ... was credited with 10 regular season points (all assists) that winter ... is a 2008 graduate of Rosemount High School.

Player Pos Hgt Wgt Birthdate Hometown Current Team (League)
Joe Basaraba F 6-2 165 5/2/92 Fort Frances, Ontario Shattuck-St. Mary's
J.T. Brown F 5-10 165 7/2/90 Burnsville, Minn. Waterloo/USHL
Justin Faulk D 5-11 200 3/20/92 South St. Paul, Minn. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Caleb Herbert F 5-9 180 10/12/91 Bloomington, Minn. Bloomington Jefferson H.S.
Luke McManus D 6-1 190 5/9/90 Apple Valley, Minn. Tri-City/USHL