Wisconsin hockey recruiting: Dominick Mersch gives verbal pledge to Badgers

	Class	Position	Shoots	Height	Weight
	2017	Forward	Left	6'0	180
	Team		Hometown		DOB
	Chicago Mission U16		Park Ridge, Ill.		12/16/1998

One Mersch may be leaving the Wisconsin hockey program but the Badgers have another lined up for the future. Michael Mersch just wrapped up a four-year career at UW, recently signing an NHL contract with the Los Angeles Kings.

On Saturday, Dominick Mersch, Michael's younger brother, announced he will be wearing the cardinal and white in the future.

Honored to announce my commitment to The University of Wisconsin. Thank you to everyone who has helped me and proud to be a badger!

— Dominick Mersch (@dommersch) April 19, 2014

When reached for comment on Saturday Mersch said it was a pretty easy decision.

"It really can't be beat," Mersch said when asked why he picked the Badgers. "Having my brother go there I know what it's like socially and what it's like being part of the (Wisconsin) program, what they can do for you on the ice and off."

The Park Ridge, Ill., native made his final decision during a campus visit on Saturday and said he also made an unofficial campus visit for the Michigan State series in February.

Mersch said he also visited Miami and had a future campus visit scheduled for Princeton.

Playing at the same school where his older brother was one of the top scorers of the Mike Eaves era was something Mersch said was important to him.

"It's exciting," Mersch said. "When he comes back to skate with with us in the summers and just to have that bond with both of us playing for Wisconsin, it's really special."

A 6-foot, 180-pound wing, Mersch plays a much more rigid game than his older brother.

"I'm not a 1-on-1 guy that's going to go out and beat a bunch of guys. But I'll get the dirty goals and I'm physical, have good vision and can make plays," Mersch said. "I'm a blue-collar guy."

Mersch also showed off his sense of humor.

"I'm also a lot better skater than my brother," Mersch joked.

USA Hockey recently deemed Mersch one of the top forwards in the 1998 birth year, inviting him to the NTDP Evaluation camp last month.

As a freshman in high school Mersch will spend another season in midget hockey and likely two years in the USHL before coming to Madison in the fall of 2017.

Mersch is the second 98-born forward to commit to the Badgers this week. Wisconsin received a verbal commitment from St. Louis area center Trent Frederic on Thursday. Frederic will join UW in the class of 2016.

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