Head women's hockey coach Mark Johnson has announced that four student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Forwards Meghan Duggan (Danvers, Mass.), Emily Kranz (Waukesha, Wis.), Kyla Sanders (Parrish, Fla.) and goaltender Alannah McCready (Blaine, Minn.) will attend the University of Wisconsin beginning with the 2006-07 school year.
'We're happy,' said head coach Mark Johnson. 'The recruiting battle is changing every year and this year is no different. We've got quality kids, quality players and any time you can make those additions, you have to be happy with it. It's a great start.'
A brief breakdown of each player along with comments from Coach Johnson is provided below in alphabetical order:
Alannah McCready
Goaltender - 5-6
Blaine, Minn. (Centennial)
Prep: Played in 67 games in three years at Centennial High School ... has 12 career shutouts ... made 1,541 saves ... named team rookie of the year and to Centennial holiday all-tournament team as a freshman ... two-time team defensive player of the year ... Star Tribune third team all-metro selection as a sophomore ... Pioneer Press and Associated Press all-state honorable mention; all-conference selection sophomore and junior years ... as a junior team placed second in northwest suburban conference, section 3AA champions and state consolation champions ... trains at Robb Stauber's Goalcrease year round ... plays on Minnesota Lightning U-19 team (2000-present) ... toured with Lightning in Brandon, Manitoba ... also plays with Minnesota Rapids U-19 team ... chosen for Minnesota Selects 2001, 2002 ... chosen for Minnesota Elite Classic 2002, 2003 ... attends Jon Elkin goalie school in Toronto, Canada (1999-present) ... maintains a 3.6+ GPA ... three-year academic letterwinner ... also participated in lacrosse ... hockey coach is Mike Diggins ... heavily involved in singing'school a cappella and national anthem choirs, sings the anthem for high school and other local events ... volunteers as an instructor at Centennial youth hockey summer camps ... Personal: Born 12/30/87 ... parents are Pat and Diana McCready ... has brother Ryan (14) ... intends to major in psychology ... catches left ... playing since age 10
'Alannah (McCready) is someone we brought in to offset the loss of Meghan (Horras). She's coming into a similar situation that Meghan came into where we have a couple of goalies. Still, when you lose a goalie, you have to find someone that you think can fit into your program and who has the potential to get into a few hockey games. We see that in her. Losing one, we needed to find someone who has the capabilities to be not only a good goaltender, but someone that can win us hockey games. I think as she goes through the program she's going to be able to do that.'
Meghan Duggan
Forward ' 5-9
Danvers, Mass. (Cushing Academy)
Prep: Attended Lake Placid Olympic Festival Camp U 16/17, 2003-04-05 ... Three-year recipient of the Bette Davis award for the finest contribution to the advancement of athletics in her class ...all-around athlete participating at the varsity level in soccer, softball (Fr./So.), lacrosse (Jr./Sr.) ... soccer awards include offensive player award (Fr.), finest contribution to the sport (So., Jr.) ... softball awards include sportsmanship award (Fr.), team defensive player award (So.) ... four-year class president ... received 1888 award for highest academic average in the freshman class ... received award for exemplary scholarship, leadership, character and service junior year ... Personal: Born 9/3/87 ... parents are Bob and Mary Duggan ... has sister Katelyn (23) and brother Bryan (21) ... roomed with current Badger Erika Lawler at Cushing Academy ... shoots right ... started skating at age 3
'Meghan (Duggan) was roommates with Erika (Lawler) at Cushing Academy. We're very excited with her decision to come here. Not only is she a good hockey player but academically she is very strong. She's got great character and should be a real positive influence on our team.'
Emily Kranz
Forward ' 5-7
Waukesha, Wis. (Shattuck-St. Mary's, Minn.)
Prep: Played with Madison Capitols U-15 and U-19 teams, 2002-04 ... U-15 teams placed second at 2003 USA Hockey National Championship (Anchorage, Alaska) ... scored 46 goals and 55 assists (101 points) in 61 games on Capitols U-19 team in 2003-04 ... played at Shattuck-St. Mary's from 2004-present ... 2004-05 team record was 51-3-8, winning USA Hockey national championship ... individual stats: 43-68=111 ... named to MWEHL U-19 second team ... 2005-06 assistant captain ... U-12 USA Hockey national champion with Wisconsin Challengers ... participated in Hockey Night in Boston and Prospects in Toronto ... four-year participant in USA Hockey national development camps ... also competed in volleyball and golf ... Personal: Born 1/26/88 ... parents are David and Maribeth Kranz ... has brother Eric (24) and sister Jennifer (25), who played hockey at Providence from 1998-2002 ... shoots left ... started playing at age 4
'Emily (Kranz) is a Wisconsin girl that I really wanted to be part of the program having grown up playing in the state for the Madison Capitols. Heading over to Shattuck has really made a lot of improvements in her game in the last couple of years and it will certainly help us. I know she's excited and we 're excited to have her.'
Kyla Sanders
Forward ' 5-6
Parrish, Fla. (North American Hockey Academy ' Stowe, Vt.)
Prep: Played for U-16 Lady Eels freshman and sophomore years ... team was district champions both years ... registered 75 goals and 58 assists in the two years ... junior year U-19 Lady Eels were district champions ... registered 47 goals and 41 assists ... attended North American Hockey Academy (NAHA) ... team named champions at Fire on Ice, Charles River, Northwood ... named Northwood MVP ... received Chicago Showcase Cammi Granato award ... named offensive player of the year at NAHA with 34 goals and 32 assists ... three-year participant at national camp ... member of honor roll and national junior honor society ... competed in golf, track and roller hockey ... Personal: Born 5/17/87 ... parents are Joe and Gale Sanders ... has brothers Joey (19) and Jari (17) ... shoots right ... started playing at age 11
'Kyla Sanders is another individual who moved away during the school year at young age to try to become better at hockey with the NAHA (North American Hockey Academy) program, the same one Mikka (Nordby) played in. She is from Florida, but she spent the last couple winters up in Vermont playing with Bill Driscoll 's program up there. Through that she has made big strides in improvement and will be a nice player.'
