A quintet of United States Hockey League talents -- forwards Jackson Cates (Waterloo Black Hawks), Noah Cates (Omaha Lancers), Charlie Dovorany (Tri-City Storm) and Cole Koepke (Sioux City Musketeers) and defenseman Hunter Lellig (Waterloo Black Hawks) have signed a National Letter of Intent to attend and play hockey for the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2018-19.

"We are excited to have these five young men -- all of whom are great character kids -- become Bulldogs next year," said UMD head coach Scott Sandelin. "They obviously are a bit older with most having a couple of years of junior experience. I like what I see in their speed, skill and athleticism."

Jackson Cates (Forward • 6-0 • 175 • L • 9/26/97 • Stillwater, Minn. • Waterloo/USHL) -- Is in his second full season of USHL warfare  ... currently ranks second on the Waterloo scoring charts with eight points (five goals and three assists) in 12 games ... was teammates with current UMD rookies Mikey Anderson and Nick Swaney in Waterloo last winter and with 2018-19 UMD recruit Hunter Lelig this season .. graduated from Stillwater High School in 2016 ... racked up 27 goals and 34 assists as a senior while helping lead the Ponies to the Minnesota Class AA Tournament ... was the recipient of the 2016 Class AA Herb Brooks Award (given to the most qualified hockey player in the state tournament who strongly represents the values, characteristics, and traits that defined hockey legend Herb Brooks) ... rolled up 53 points in 25 games during his farewell prep season ...is the older brother of fellow incoming Bulldog freshman forward Noah Cates and the son of Jeff Cates, a four-year hockey defenseman at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.



Noah Cates (Forward • 6-1 • 180 • L • 2/15/99 • Stillwater, Minn. • Omaha/USHL) -- Was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the fifth round (137th pick overall) in the 2017 National Hockey League draft ... has three points through 12 games with the 2017-18 Omaha Lancers ... played for that USHL franchise during the offseason of both his junior and senior years at Stillwater High School (some 13 games worth) ... capped off a rewarding career with the Ponies by being chosen to the 2016-17 Associated Press All-State first team after a 65-point senior season (20 goals and 45 assists in 25 games) ... also was a Minneapolis Star Tribune All-Metro Team honoree and the St. Paul Pioneer Press East Metro Player of the Year that winter ... served as a team captain with the 2016-17 Ponies ...  his older brother, Jackson Cates, is part of UMD's 2018-19 recruiting class, while his dad, Jay Cates, played four seasons of hockey at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (1990-94).