Wisconsin hockey recruiting: Potential recruits Fabbro, Jost to play in BCHL next season

College hockey received positive news this week as blue-chip prospects Tyson Jost and Dante Fabbro announced they will play with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League next season.

Wisconsin has strong connections with Penticton. Goaltender Joel Rumpel and forward Jedd Soleway both starred for the Vees before making the move to Madison. Additionally, former Badger Ron Vincent is the current managing partner for the Penticton franchise.

Huge honor to be able to wear a Penticton Vees sweater next year . Can't wait to kick things off .

— Dante Fabbro (@17Fabbro) May 28, 2014

huge honour to be committed to the Pentiction Vees next season, can't wait to get things started !

— Tyson Jost (@josty_17) May 28, 2014

Jost and Fabbro, who are considered two of the top 1998-born prospects in Canada, are former first round draft picks in the Western Hockey League Draft. If the duo chose to play in the WHL, however, they would forfeit their collegiate eligibility as the NCAA considers the "dub" a professional league. Playing in the BCHL next season will allow the prospects to retain their NCAA eligibility.

Jost (Leduc, Alberta) was selected No. 7 overall in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft by the Everett Silvertips, while Fabbro (Coquitlam, British Columbia) was selected with the next pick (No. 8 overall) by the Seattle Thunderbirds.

	Name	Position	Shoots	Height	Weight
	Dante Fabbro	Defense	Right	6'0	175
	Team		Hometown		DOB
	Vancouver NW Giants		Coquitlam, British Columbia.		6/20/1998

Fabbro, who idolizes former Wisconsin defenseman Justin Schultz, played Major Midget this season with the Vancouver NW Giants. Fabbro led the British Columbia MM League in scoring among defensemen with 22 goals and 39 assists for 61 points in 38 games and was named to the league's all-star team. Fabbro's 61 points were a league record for defensemen.

A 6-foot blueliner, Fabbro was named British Columbia's 2013 minor hockey player of the year. Hockeyprospect.com called Fabbro "A big, physical defenseman who is the complete package." Fabbro toured Madison with his father, Steve, during an unofficial campus visit last winter for the Penn State series. He also had trips planned to visit Boston College and Boston University. It's also believed that North Dakota is in the recruiting race for Fabbro.

Fabbro's grandfather, Gerry, played at Michigan Tech and was team captain for the 1960-61 season. Gerry Fabbro was inducted into the Michigan Tech athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

	Name	Position	Shoots	Height	Weight
	Tyson Jost	Wing	Left	5'11	175
	Team		Hometown		DOB
	Okanagan Rockets		Leduc, Alberta.		3/14/1998

Like Fabbro, Jost had one of the most dominating seasons in British Columbia MML history. A 5'11 winger, Jost led the league in scoring with 88 points in just 36 games, and set a new league record by scoring 44 goals. Jost also led the league in scoring during the playoffs, adding nine goals and nine assists in seven games as Okanagan took home the league title.

"I think the best thing you can say about Tyson is that he's a complete player," Okanagan GM David Michaud said in a recent interview. "Our staff likes to call him a 200-foot player. There's not an area of the game where Tyson doesn't work hard."

"He shoots the puck like a pro even though he's only 15 years-old," added Okanagan head coach Mack O'Rourke. "When he's on the ice he's a difference maker every time. Whether it's beating a couple of defensemen and getting to the net, or whether it's in our end, defending our zone and getting the puck out -- he can do it all. He seems to do it all with ease as well."

Like Fabbro, Jost was named to the BCMML all-star team following his historic season. Both players also represented British Columbia earlier this year at the Western Canada Challenge Cup, taking home a silver medal. Both Jost and Fabbro were named to all-star team for their performances during the tournament.

While Wisconsin and college hockey in general still have work to do to secure commitments from these elite prospects, knowing they are keeping their options open is a major step forward in that process.

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