Wisconsin men’s hockey signed five players on Tuesday on Early Signing Day. Each plans on enrolling for the fall of 2019 and most are expected to see the ice next season.
Forwards Cole Caufield, Dylan Holloway, Owen Lindmark, and Alex Turcotte, and defenseman Michael Vorlicky join Wisconsin for the 2019–20 season.
The incoming 2019 recruiting class continues the Wisconsin connection with the U.S. Under-18 Development Team, as three of the five signees come from that squad.
The class features prominently in the NHL Central Scouting rankings, which grades players on where they might fall in the draft. Caufield and Turcotte both received “A” rankings, a first-round grade. Lindmark received a “C” ranking, signifying a fourth/fifth/sixth-round grade.
Let’s take a look at the incoming Badgers.
Cole Caufield, F (Stevens Point, Wisconsin)
A prolific goal-scorer, Caufield plays for the U.S. National Under-18 Development Team. Splitting his time between U-17 and U-18 teams last year, Caufield netted 47 points in 27 games. Caufield is the brother of current Wisconsin player Brock Caufield.
Dylan Holloway, F (Bragg Creek, Alberta)
Holloway, a 6’1, 192-pound forward from Bragg Creek, Alberta, Canada, has played the past three seasons for the Okotok Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Following a 2017–18 season in which he amassed 27 points in 28 games for the Oilers, Holloway has already netted 40 points in 25 games in 2018–19, leading the AJHL.
Owen Lindmark, F (Naperville, Illinois)
Owen Lindmark, a 6’0, 184-pound forward from Naperville, Ill., spent last season with the U.S. Under-17 Developmental Team netting 19 points in 34 games. Lindmark is on the U.S. National Under-18 Development Team for 2018–19.
Alex Turcotte, F (Island Lake, Illinois)
Like Caufield, Turcotte split 2017–18 between the U-18 and U-17 squads, scoring 31 points in 27 games. During his press conference, Granato said that Turcotte may be a top-10 selection in the upcoming NHL Draft.
Michael Vorlicky, D (Edina, Minnesota)
Vorlicky, a 6’1, 165-pound defenseman plays for Edina (MN) High School. Vorlicky netted 16 points last season as a junior for Edina.