The University of Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey team, a perennial national power, has signed three future Bulldogs in the NCAA’s early signing period that traditionally takes place in November.

UMD announced on Wednesday (Nov. 15) that forwards Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, ONT), Marie-Andreé Leclerc-Auger (Sherbrooke, QUE) and defenseman Tara Gray (Toronto, ONT) have signed national letters of intent to play for the Bulldogs starting in the 2007-08 season.

Irwin hails from Thunder Bay, Ontario, and was a member of Team Ontario, the undefeated 2003 Canada Winter Games Gold Medalists and the 2005 Canadian National U18 Champions. She currently plays for the Mississauga Aeros in the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL). Haley was captain of the Toronto Jr Aeros team that went undefeated in regular season in 2005-06 and finished with back-to-back Ontario Provincial Gold Medals and PWHL League championships in 2005 and 2006.

She also won a national championship and NWHL Championship with the Senior Aeros in 2005. Haley was invited by Hockey Canada to attend the National Team U-22 Camps in 2005 and 2006 and the Senior Camp in 2006. She has also competed with Team Ontario, wining a national championship in February 2005 in Salmon Arm, British Columbia.

Regarding Irwin, UMD head coach Shannon Miller stated, “Haley is an extremely talented forward with the ability to set up others and score big goals in key games. Haley is expected to be an impact player right away.”

Leclerc-Auger continues the excellent tradition of Quebec born players in the Bulldog program. She currently plays for St. Jerome in the highly competitive CEGEP league in Quebec. Miller sees Leclerc-Auger as “a power forward with size, strength, speed and possessing a powerful shot. As a freshman this young woman will make a difference immediately.” Marie-Andreé played with Team Quebec in the 2005 Canadian National U-18 Championship against fellow recruits Irwin and Gray.

Along with Irwin, Gray also comes to the Bulldogs from the Mississauga Areos of the NWHL who she currently plays for. She was also a member of Team Ontario, the undefeated 2005 Canadian National U18 Champions.

“Tara is a big strong defensemen that can play in all three zones and has a great shot from the point,” said Miller. “Tara will enhance the Bulldogs depth on the blue line as a consistent contributor. She has great potential due to her coach-ability, work ethic and attitude.”

Tara was also an alternate captain of the Toronto Jr Aeros team that completed an undefeated regular season in 2005-06 and finished with back-to-back Ontario Provincial Gold Medals and PWHL League championships in 2005 and 2006.