Mutt and Jeff Recruiting Update

North Dakota got a big signing, in the most literal sense, on Tuesday when 6’7” 233 lbs. defenseman Joe Finley committed for next season.

Finley had completed his junior year of high school in June, but with the possibility of playing college hockey this upcoming season, Finley decided to accelerate his studies. He should graduate from high school in August, allowing him to start at North Dakota immediately.

Finley was offered a scholarship by North Dakota and Boston University, as well as a partial scholarship to Minnesota. With the likelihood of defenseman Matt Greene leaving for the NHL, as well as the off-chance of Matt Smaby going pro, and the uncertainty of Robbie Bina’s health, North Dakota was in need of another defenseman.

At 6’7”, Finley will be the tallest player in college hockey, along with Michigan Tech defenseman John Scott. He’ll join three other freshmen defenseman on the Sioux blueline this year, in Zach Jones, Brian Lee, and Taylor Chorney, all of whom made Western College Hockey’s Top 10 Defensive Recruits for this year. Finley will add a lot of bulk and toughness to the Sioux blue line to complement the other, more offensive-minded defenseman. The Sioux are also trying to recruit 6’5” hitting machine Tysen Dowzak for the class of 2006 to help fill that role.

Minnesota also added a new recruit to their team. It’s being reported that Academy of Holy Angels forward Jay Barriball will become the first member of the Gophers class of 2007. I don’t have much on Barriball other than that he was the leading scorer on a very good high school hockey team, and at 5’7 140 lbs, he probably isn’t being brought in for his physicality.