Michigan State University Athletics
Hockey Inks Six To National Letters Of Intent
11/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 11, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State hockey coach Rick Comley has announced the signing of six student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Forwards Justin Abdelkader (Muskegon, Mich./Cedar Rapids), Tim Kennedy (Buffalo, N.Y./Sioux City) and Nick Sucharski (Toronto, Ont./Wexford Raiders); defensemen Brandon Gentile (Clarkson, Mich./U.S. National Under-18 Team) and Ryan Turek (Northville, Mich./Omaha); and goaltender Jeff Lerg (Livonia, Mich./Omaha) will join the Spartan program.
"We are thrilled with this year's class," said Comley. "It is a great recruiting class. The coaches did an outstanding job. We have added an outstanding goaltender that will create a competitive situation at that position. We added two defensemen who have excellent skills. They skate very well, move the puck and think the game very well. I really believe that we have upgraded our overall talent at the position.
"In addition, we are bringing in three forwards, who fit the character and profile that we are trying to add to our team right now. They are intelligent players, move up and down the ice well and will compliment the returning players that we have in our system.
"Overall, I think this is an excellent class. They can step in and fill the holes that we lose with our good graduating senior class."
Justin Abdelkader, F, 6-1, 195, Shoots: L; Birthday: Feb. 25, 1987; Muskegon, Mich./Cedar Rapids Rough Riders (USHL)
Is in his first season with Cedar Rapids of the United States Hockey League ... Has six points (three goals, three assists) in 11 games to rank tied for third on the team in scoring ... Is a senior in high school this year ... Named Mr. Hockey 2004 by the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches as a junior ... Member of the 2004 Dream Team and an all-state selection ... Tallied 80 points (37 goals, 43 assists) in 28 games for Muskegon Mona Shores High School one year ago ... Mona Shores fell to Trenton 4-3 in the 2004 Michigan Division 2 state final ... As a sophomore in 2002-03, recorded 23 goals and 29 assists for 52 points ... At the USA Hockey Select-17 Festival in St. Cloud, Minn., in July 2004, tied for the festival lead in goals with five in six games while playing for Team Michigan.
Brandon Gentile, D, 6-0, 190, Shoots: L; Birthday: April 23, 1987; Clarkston, Mich./U.S. National Under-18 Team
Is in his second season with the U.S. National Team program in Ann Arbor ... Has appeared in 15 games with one goal and two assists for three points ... Ranks fourth on the team with 27 penalty minutes ... As a member of the U.S. Under-17 Team in 2003-04, recorded two goals and nine assists for 11 points in 67 games ... Also tallied 93 penalty minutes ... At the 2004 World Under-17 Challenge in St. Johns, Newfoundland, recorded two assists in six games for Team USA ... The U.S. team lost to Quebec in the bronze-medal game ... Skated at the USA Hockey Select-17 Festival in St. Cloud, Minn., in July 2004 ... Prior to the U.S. Team, played Michigan midget hockey for Little Caesars.
Tim Kennedy, F, 5-11, 170, Shoots: L; Birthday: April 30, 1986; Buffalo, N.Y./Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
Is in his second season with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League ... Has played in 13 games in 2004-05, posting five goals and five assists for 10 points ... Is tied for fourth on the team in scoring ... Has one power-play goal, one shorthanded marker and one gamer winner among his five goals ... Also has 22 penalty minutes ... In 2003-04, recorded 9-10--19 totals in 56 games for Sioux City ... Finished with two game-winning goals, a +13 plus/minus rating and 42 penalty minutes ... In seven playoff games in 2004, recorded two goals, two assists and a +2 plus/minus rating ... Played midget hockey with current MSU freshman Chris Mueller.
Jeff Lerg, G, 5-6, 150, Catches: L; Birthday: April 9, 1986; Livonia, Mich./Omaha Lancers (USHL)
Is in his second season with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League ... Has appeared in 12 games in 2004-05, posting a 9-2 record along with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .922 saves percentage ... Ranks second in the league in GAA and third in saves percentage ... Has one shutout ... In 2003-04, posted 24-5-2 record along with a 2.20 GAA and a .917 saves percentage in 35 games ... Also recorded four shutouts ... Teammate of Spartan recruit Ryan Turek at Omaha ... Father Ken played hockey at Ohio State from 1969-72 ... Uncle Dan Lerg played hockey at Michigan from 1977-80 ... Cousin Bryan is currently a freshman forward at MSU.
Nick Sucharski, F, 6-1, 175, Shoots: L; Birthday: Nov. 15, 1987; Toronto, Ont./Wexford Raiders (OPJHL)
Is in his second season with the Wexford Raiders of the Ontario Provincial Junior "A" Hockey League ... Serves as an assistant captain ... Has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 18 games this season ... Also has 45 penalty minutes ... In 2003-04, posted 15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points in 43 games ... Also finished with 48 penalty minutes ... Attends Upper Canada College, a prep school in Toronto ... Is taking an international baccalaureate program at UCC ... Hopes to enroll in MSU's Honors College ... Attends the same high school that produced former Spartan Mike Burkett (1990-94).
Ryan Turek, D, 5-11, 178, Shoots: R; Birthday: Sept. 22, 1987; Northville, Mich./Omaha Lancers (USHL)
Is in his first season with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League ... Has played in all 13 games with one goal and three assists for four points ... Also has 16 penalty minutes ... Teammate of Spartan recruit Jeff Lerg at Omaha ... Spent the 2003-04 season with the Texarkana Bandits of the North American Hockey League ... Recorded six goals and seven assists for 13 points and 90 penalty minutes in 29 games ... Member of the 2003 United States Under-17 Select Team that captured the gold medal at the Five Nations Tournament in Prievidza, Slovakia ... Also played for the Detroit Honeybaked AAA Midget team.
