Thursday, January 14, 2010

Burkemper Commits to Minnesota State

Press Release

The Des Moines Buccaneers announced that forward J.P. Burkemper will attend Minnesota State University, Mankato following his USHL career.

The 18-year-old native of St. Louis, Missouri has appeared in 17 games for the Buccaneers this season and recorded seven points (3g, 4a). He has scored two of his three goals over his past three games. Burkemper is playing in his second USHL season after posting 22 points (6g, 16a) in 55 games for Des Moines during the 2008-09 season.

Burkemper will be joined by Buccaneers teammate Danny Heath at Minnesota State in addition to six other current USHL players who are committed to the school; Josh Berge (Lincoln Stars), Zach Palmquist (Waterloo Black Hawks), Zach Lehrke (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Chase Grant (Fargo Force), Matt Leitner (Fargo Force), and Corey Leivermann (Fargo Force).

The Minnesota State Mavericks are a member of the WCHA and have 15 former USHL players on the roster for the 2009-10 season; Cameron Cooper (Tri-City Storm), Rylan Galiardi (Sioux City Musketeers), Jerad Stewart (Waterloo Black Hawks), Tyler Elbrecht (Omaha Lancers), Michael Dorr (Des Moines Buccaneers), Jason Wiley (Indiana Ice), Andrew Sackrison (Tri-City Storm), Kurt Davis (Green Bay Gamblers), Tyler Thompson (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Eriah Hayes (Waterloo Black Hawks), Joe Schiller (Green Bay Gamblers), Brett Peterson (Indiana Ice), Channing Boe (Green Bay Gamblers), Eli Zuck (Tri-City Storm), and Kevin Murdock (Lincoln Stars).

In addition, Mavericks associate coach Darren Blue played two seasons in the USHL (Des Moines, 1989-91) while assistant coach Todd Knott both played (Lincoln Stars, 1998-99) and coached (Des Moines, 2005-08 and Sioux City, 2008-09) in the League.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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