Three talented prospects -- forwards Rob Bordson (Cedar Rapids of the United States Hockey League), defenseman Chad Huttel (Hermantown High School) and goaltender Kenny Reiter (Fairbanks/North American Hockey League) -- have signed national letters of intent to attend and play hockey for the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2007-08.



That trio joins early signees Cody Danberg (Nanaimo/British Columbia Hockey League) and Justin Fontaine (Bonnyville/AJHL), both forwards, as the 2007-08 Bulldog recruits.

\"Each of these five incoming freshmen brings something different to our program in terms of skill, speed, and athleticism,\" said Scott Sandelin, the 2003-04 Spencer Penrose Award recipient (NCAA I Coach of the Year) who will begin his eighth year behind the Bulldog bench this fall. \"Most importantly, they are good character kids with tremendous work ethics.\"



The complete list of the 2007-08 UMD recruiting class signees is as follows:

Player Pos Hgt Wgt Birthdate Hometown Previous Team (League)

Rob Bordson F 6-2 175 6/9/88 Duluth, Minn. Cedar Rapids/USHL

Cody Danberg F 6-0 185 3/5/87 Canwood, Saskatchewan Nanaimo/BCHL

Justin Fontaine F 6-0 160 11/6/87 Bonnyville, Alberta Bonnyville/AJHL

Chad Huttel D 5-9 195 12/5/88 Hermantown, Minn. Hermantown H.S.

Kenny Reiter G 5-10 160 11/24/86 Pittsburgh, Penn. Fairbanks/NAHL



Rob Bordson (6-2, 175, Forward) -- Made his United States Hockey League debut last winter as a member of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders ... placed sixth on the club in regular season scoring with six goals and 29 assists for 35 points in 45 games ... was shelved for eight outings after coming down with mononucleosis ... totaled 76 points on 36 goals and 40 assists in 31 games to finsh as the Marshall's No. 1 scorer in 2005-06 ... played an integral part in the Hilltoppers' Section 2A conquest and a runnerup finish at the Minnesota State Class A Tournament (where he was an All-Tournament Team pick) that winter ... also attained Associated Press all-state second team and Duluth News-Tribune All-Area first team recognition as a senior ... was a two-time member of the All-Lake Superior Conference team ... spent his sophomore and junior seasons skating with the Duluth Denfeld High School varsity.

Cody Danberg (6-0, 185, Forward) -- Recently wrapped up his second season -- albeit an injury-plagued one -- of BCHL competition .... underwent shoulder surgery this past December, but returned to the Nanaimo Clipper lineup for the BCHL Playoffs ... still mustered 19 regular season points (nine goals and 10 assists) for a respectable 1.19 points per outing average ... helped lead the Clippers to the 2007 BCHL playoff title befor bowing out to (Alberta Junior Hockey League playoff champion) Camrose Kodiaks in the 2007 Doyle Cup final ... added another seven goals and 14 assists -- the third best figure on the club -- in 23 BCHL post season assignments ... was forced to turn down an invitation to play for Canada West at the inaugural World Junior A Challenge last fall because of his ailing shoulder ... closed out his maiden BCHL season manning the No. 7 spot on Nanaimo's scoring charts with 17 goals and 27 assists for 44 points while suiting up in all 60 regular season games -- one of just two Clippers to do so ... captained the Saskatoon Contacts AAA Midgets to the 2004-05 Canadian national title when he was named the club's Most Valuable Player after captaining that club to the Canadian national championship ... also did a brief stint two years ago with the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Melfort Mustangs, playing in four games and picking up a pair of goals.

Chad Huttel (5-9, 195, Defenseman) -- Won't have to travel far for his post-secondary puck education -- comes to UMD fresh off a rewarding hockey career at nearby Hermantown High School ... handled the team captaincy responsibilities for a Hermantown club which went unbeaten (29-0-2) and skated off with the 2007 Minnesota Class A crown in March ... set a Hawk single-season record for defensemen with 55 points which included 20 goals and 35 assists ... landed a spot on the 2007 Minnesota State All-Tournament Team and was the recipient of the Herb Brooks Award for Class A at that event ... was a member of the St. Paul Pioneer Press All-State, the Duluth News-Tribune All-Area and All-Lake Superior Conference first teams as a senior ... also received Associated Press All-State honorable mention status ... stationed himself on the Hawk blueline for three seasons and accumulated 112 points during that time ... was a track (sprinter) and football (halfback and middle linebacker) standout at Hermantown High School as well.

Justin Fontaine (6-0, 160, Forward) -- Flexed plenty of offensive muscle around the Alberta Junior Hockey League the past two winters ... finished as the Bonnyville Pontiacs' top point producer for the second consecutive season in 2006-07 ... his 71 regular season points (30 goals -- including four shorthanders -- and 41 assists) were the eighth highest figure turned in by a AJHL combatant while his 1.4 point per outing average was bettered by only one other league player ... served as Bonnyville's 2006-07 team captain ... chipped in another eight points (tops among Pontiacs) in five AJHL playoff engagement this past spring ... was a two-time AJHL All-Star Game participant ... skated for tournament champion Canada West at the 2006 World Junior A Challenge last November ... became the first Pontiac player to ever receive the AJHL Outstanding Rookie of the Year Award after leading all 2005-06 league newcomers in regular season scoring (and finishing fifth overall) with 26 goals and 55 assists for a team-leading 81 points. ... was one of four AJHL skaters selected to participate in the 2005 Canadian Junior 'A' Hockey League Prospects Game, which featured 40 of the top under-19 players in the CJHL, and also took part in the 2006 Viking Cup.

Kenny Reiter (5-10, 160, Goalie) -- His pre-NCAA I preparation included three years of North American Hockey League seasoning ... began 2006-07 in St. Louis, where he posted nine wins in his first 13 appearances, before a mid-season trade sent him to Fairbanks ... placed second among all NAHL goalies in saves percentage (.926) during the regular season while his 2.69 goals against mark ranked eighth ... compiled a 22-7-4 record with two shutouts in 34 regular season appearances ... called Cleveland home the previous winter and was 16-9-4 with a Baron-leading 2.39 goals against average and a .923 saves percentage ... made his NAHL debut in 2004-05 with the Texarkana Bandits ... his older brother, Kevin, stopped pucks for four seasons (2001-04) at the University of Alaska Anchorage and holds down the No. 6 spot on the school's all-time saves percentage charts ... becomes the first Pennsylvania native to commit to the Bulldog puck program.

UMD, which lost four seniors to graduation and two underclassmen (sophomores Mason Raymond and Matt Niskanen) to the professional ranks, closed out the 2006-07 season with an 13-21-5 overall record and was 8-16-4 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play (ninth place).

(All signings are contingent upon admission to UMD, and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Clearninghouse).