They keep getting younger and younger.
In a year during which both MSU and Michigan will rely on 17-year-old starting goaltenders, the Spartan hockey team got a verbal commitment from a 16-year-old defenseman last week.
A.J. Thelen, a native of Savage, Minn., said he chose MSU over Minnesota and U-M. Thelen is currently a member of the Under-17 U.S. National Development Team based in Ann Arbor.
He will speed up his high school curriculum to graduate a year early and enroll at MSU next fall.
The 6-foot-3, 186-pounder’s birthday is March 11, so he’ll be 17 for nearly his entire freshman season at MSU.
“I think I’m ready,” Thelen said Monday night. “And the coaches think I’m ready, too, which is a big inspiration.”
Per NCAA rules, MSU coaches can’t comment on recruits until they have signed a National Letter of Intent. That will probably happen next month for Thelen.
Thelen describes himself as a “two-way” defenseman, meaning he is capable offensively and defensively.
But in 10 games with the Under-17 U.S. team so far this season, Thelen has no points and 30 penalty minutes.
He scored 42 goals and 50 assists in two seasons with the Shattuck St. Mary’s Midget AA team before joining the U.S. program.
Thelen said he picked the Spartans over the Golden Gophers and Wolverines because he liked MSU’s coaching staff and campus.
“I showed up on a football game day and saw everyone doing their little tailgating, and I really liked the atmosphere on campus,” said Thelen, who plans to study architecture. “I liked the coach’s style and I think it fits my game the best.
“I like to be physical and move the puck and get up into the play. I can pass the puck and then go up the weak side like a second attack. We didn’t really have a hockey program in Savage when I was a kid, so my dad kind of let me go all over the ice.”
Under-17 team head coach David Quinn said if he could be anyone on the U.S. team, he would be Thelen.
“He’s big and he skates well, and those things are not going to change,” Quinn said. “I told him that if he keeps doing what he does well, he’ll be playing for a long time.
“He’s not the kind of player that’s ever going to be judged on points, although he can jump into the play sometimes. But he’s such a presence on the blue line that he’s as capable as anyone to make the jump to college hockey at such a young age.”
Thelen is the fourth member of what is expected to be a relatively small 2003-04 Spartan recruiting class.
East Lansing forward Drew Miller has already signed a letter of intent, while Ohio forward Tommy Goebel and Clinton Township goaltender Dominic Vicari have verbally committed to MSU.
The Spartans are only expected to sign five or six players overall.
Miller demoted
As was anticipated, the Buffalo Sabres sent former MSU goalie Ryan Miller to the minor leagues Monday. Miller, who left school after his junior year to sign with Buffalo, will likely be the starting goalie for the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League this season.
One up, one same
After beating the Under-18 U.S. National Development Team 4-3 in an exhibition game Saturday night, the Spartans moved into a tie for sixth with Maine in this week’s USA Today/American Hockey Magazine national poll.
The Spartans still are No. 7 in the USCHO.com poll.
Comley on the air
The premiere of the Rick Comley Radio Show is 6 p.m. today on WVFN (730-AM). The hour-long show is broadcast from Reno’s East Side Sportsbar & Grill, 1310 Abbott Road, every Wednesday during the season.
Munn Ice Arena public address announcer Jerry Marshall hosts the program.
