Photo by: Spencer Natzke
Men’s hockey signs four in early signing period
November 14, 2016 | Men's Hockey
Badgers ink two from USNTDP, two from USHL
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin men's hockey program and head coach Tony Granato unveiled the program's four-member early signing recruiting class on Monday. All four have signed National Letters of Intent and are set to join the program at the start of the 2017-18 school year, pending acceptance into school.
Among those signing to join Wisconsin are forward Tarek Baker (Verona, Wisconsin), brothers and forwards Jason and Sean Dhooghe (Aurora, Illinois), as well as defenseman Tyler Inamoto (Barrington, Illinois).
"All four of these guys add to our culture," Granato stated. "They will push it and make it even better. In between games, the preparation, the determination, the commitment and passion – they have all those qualities that will and can upgrade what we are doing here. They prepare very well every day. They are determined to achieve in this sport.
"They are not just happy to come to Wisconsin. These four kids are not going to be settled for mediocrity. They want success here and team success. That is what I see. Knowing all four of these kids, they will have a huge impact on what we are trying to do here."
Tarek Baker
Baker, who stands at 5-9 and 183 pounds, currently serves as the captain in his third year with the Bloomington Thunder in the USHL. He has scored five goals, including a game-winning goal, and six points through 14 games this season, and earlier this season set the Thunder's all-time leader with his 70th career point in his 123rd game played. He now has 31 goals and 72 points for his career.
He posted 20 goals, 29 assists and 49 points over 60 games for the Thunder last season to share the team scoring lead. Baker scored two goals and added three assists in 10 playoff games last season, as well, to help the team reach the Eastern Conference Final in the USHL playoffs.
A native of Verona, Wisconsin, Baker played at Verona Area High School during the 2011-12 season, when he scored 41 points in 23 games played. He then moved on to play with the Omaha AAA Lancers 16U team for two seasons, serving as their captain in 2013-14. Baker also played with the Des Moines Buccaneers briefly in the USHL and the USA U-17 team in 2013-14.
"He's been fun to watch," Don Granato said. "He was in the discussion to make the national team program and he was very close to making it four years ago with the '97 group. You always leave good players off and he was one of those guys. Since then, he has done everything he needed to do. He went to places to play that were challenging and he's gotten better because of it.
"He's a leader. They had a very good year in Bloomington last year. He's become a leader in the USHL, which is an elite league and feeder league for college hockey. He's another guy who will add to our culture in a very positive way."
Jason Dhooghe
Jason, the older brother, has played for the Green Bay Gamblers over the past three seasons. This season, he has tallied two goals and two assists over 16 games after scoring 14 points over 53 games last year. The 5-8, 165-pound forward played games under Don Granato on the U.S. U-18 team during the 2014-15 season, the same team Luke Kunin played for. The left-handed forward has also spent time playing for the Springfield Jr. Blues in the NAHL as well as the Chicago Mission U16 and U18 teams.
"Jason Dhooghe actually played one game with us at the NTDP against Michigan State when I had the '97s, so with Auston Matthews and that group," Don Granato said. "We had some injuries and brought him in. He was great. He showed, much like his younger brother, speed, quickness. He plays a bit feisty and determined game.
"The leadership and the initiative he takes day-to-day are real key attributes beyond a good skill level. Playing in the USHL and then having a little bit of that hindsight playing that one game against Michigan State. He was really good."
Sean Dhooghe
Dhooghe, a 5-3, 139-pound forward, will arrive in Madison from the U.S. Under-18 Team. Through 20 games in 2016-17, he has four goals and six points and leads the team with 53 shots. The Aurora, Illinois, native has been in the NTDP program for the past two seasons, scoring 20 goals while adding 10 assists over 54 games last season for Don Granato and the U.S. Under-17 Team. His goal total ranked second on the squad.
A right-handed shot, Dhooge boasts international experience playing in the 2016 U17 Five Nations Tournament in Michigan, posting four goals and five points in four games. He also had three goals and four points in four games during the 2015 U17 Four Nations Tournament in Slovakia, and three goals in six games at the 2015 World Under 17 Challenge in British Columbia.
Four current Badgers came from the USNTDP program, including Luke Kunin, JD Greenway, Ryan Wagner and Trent Frederic.
"Sean is a dynamic player," UW associate head coach Don Granato said. "He's a competitor, but dynamic in the sense that he has some game-breaking attributes – speed, quickness and goal-scoring ability. He has pretty much proven that consistently.
"He is coming in with 15 games of college experience because of playing at the NTDP, Inamoto as well. That is a big factor for us. We can watch them against college teams. Obviously, we watched them against us. They are going to have that hindsight as a freshman of knowing what college hockey is and the competitive level. That is a bonus for Inamoto and Dhooge."
Tyler Inamoto
A 6-2, 196-pound defenseman, Inamoto currently plays for the U.S. National U-18 team and is set to join the Badgers next season. Through 19 games so far this season, the 17-year-old has scored one goal and added four assists.
Playing for the U.S. Under-17 Team during the 2015-16 season, Inamoto recorded three assists in 27 games. That includes international experience with Team USA at the 2016 U17 Five Nations Tournament that was played in Michigan.
Before joining the U.S. Development Program, Inamoto played for Shattuck St. Mary's High School in Faribault, Minnesota. Inamato scored two goals and 23 points in 49 games for Shattuck, ranking second among team defensemen in scoring. He helped the team that year win the 2015 USA Hockey Youth Tier I 16U National Championship.
While his current hometown of Barrington, Illinois, is located outside of Chicago, Inamoto grew up in the New Jersey Colonials hockey program.
"Inamoto is a predator," Don Granato stated. "He is a physical, hungry, intimidating player. And he is a great athlete. He's big, strong and has a mean streak. He's another guy with two years of experience with the national team. He has great experience coming in and international experience in pressure situations. He has college experience. He'll have played Minnesota, Michigan, Boston University and also played here.
"He'll be a physical impact player right away next year. He's strong enough already to play a physical game at the college level."
Among those signing to join Wisconsin are forward Tarek Baker (Verona, Wisconsin), brothers and forwards Jason and Sean Dhooghe (Aurora, Illinois), as well as defenseman Tyler Inamoto (Barrington, Illinois).
"All four of these guys add to our culture," Granato stated. "They will push it and make it even better. In between games, the preparation, the determination, the commitment and passion – they have all those qualities that will and can upgrade what we are doing here. They prepare very well every day. They are determined to achieve in this sport.
"They are not just happy to come to Wisconsin. These four kids are not going to be settled for mediocrity. They want success here and team success. That is what I see. Knowing all four of these kids, they will have a huge impact on what we are trying to do here."
Tarek Baker
Baker, who stands at 5-9 and 183 pounds, currently serves as the captain in his third year with the Bloomington Thunder in the USHL. He has scored five goals, including a game-winning goal, and six points through 14 games this season, and earlier this season set the Thunder's all-time leader with his 70th career point in his 123rd game played. He now has 31 goals and 72 points for his career.
He posted 20 goals, 29 assists and 49 points over 60 games for the Thunder last season to share the team scoring lead. Baker scored two goals and added three assists in 10 playoff games last season, as well, to help the team reach the Eastern Conference Final in the USHL playoffs.
A native of Verona, Wisconsin, Baker played at Verona Area High School during the 2011-12 season, when he scored 41 points in 23 games played. He then moved on to play with the Omaha AAA Lancers 16U team for two seasons, serving as their captain in 2013-14. Baker also played with the Des Moines Buccaneers briefly in the USHL and the USA U-17 team in 2013-14.
"He's been fun to watch," Don Granato said. "He was in the discussion to make the national team program and he was very close to making it four years ago with the '97 group. You always leave good players off and he was one of those guys. Since then, he has done everything he needed to do. He went to places to play that were challenging and he's gotten better because of it.
"He's a leader. They had a very good year in Bloomington last year. He's become a leader in the USHL, which is an elite league and feeder league for college hockey. He's another guy who will add to our culture in a very positive way."
Jason Dhooghe
Jason, the older brother, has played for the Green Bay Gamblers over the past three seasons. This season, he has tallied two goals and two assists over 16 games after scoring 14 points over 53 games last year. The 5-8, 165-pound forward played games under Don Granato on the U.S. U-18 team during the 2014-15 season, the same team Luke Kunin played for. The left-handed forward has also spent time playing for the Springfield Jr. Blues in the NAHL as well as the Chicago Mission U16 and U18 teams.
"Jason Dhooghe actually played one game with us at the NTDP against Michigan State when I had the '97s, so with Auston Matthews and that group," Don Granato said. "We had some injuries and brought him in. He was great. He showed, much like his younger brother, speed, quickness. He plays a bit feisty and determined game.
"The leadership and the initiative he takes day-to-day are real key attributes beyond a good skill level. Playing in the USHL and then having a little bit of that hindsight playing that one game against Michigan State. He was really good."
Sean Dhooghe
Dhooghe, a 5-3, 139-pound forward, will arrive in Madison from the U.S. Under-18 Team. Through 20 games in 2016-17, he has four goals and six points and leads the team with 53 shots. The Aurora, Illinois, native has been in the NTDP program for the past two seasons, scoring 20 goals while adding 10 assists over 54 games last season for Don Granato and the U.S. Under-17 Team. His goal total ranked second on the squad.
A right-handed shot, Dhooge boasts international experience playing in the 2016 U17 Five Nations Tournament in Michigan, posting four goals and five points in four games. He also had three goals and four points in four games during the 2015 U17 Four Nations Tournament in Slovakia, and three goals in six games at the 2015 World Under 17 Challenge in British Columbia.
Four current Badgers came from the USNTDP program, including Luke Kunin, JD Greenway, Ryan Wagner and Trent Frederic.
"Sean is a dynamic player," UW associate head coach Don Granato said. "He's a competitor, but dynamic in the sense that he has some game-breaking attributes – speed, quickness and goal-scoring ability. He has pretty much proven that consistently.
"He is coming in with 15 games of college experience because of playing at the NTDP, Inamoto as well. That is a big factor for us. We can watch them against college teams. Obviously, we watched them against us. They are going to have that hindsight as a freshman of knowing what college hockey is and the competitive level. That is a bonus for Inamoto and Dhooge."
Tyler Inamoto
A 6-2, 196-pound defenseman, Inamoto currently plays for the U.S. National U-18 team and is set to join the Badgers next season. Through 19 games so far this season, the 17-year-old has scored one goal and added four assists.
Playing for the U.S. Under-17 Team during the 2015-16 season, Inamoto recorded three assists in 27 games. That includes international experience with Team USA at the 2016 U17 Five Nations Tournament that was played in Michigan.
Before joining the U.S. Development Program, Inamoto played for Shattuck St. Mary's High School in Faribault, Minnesota. Inamato scored two goals and 23 points in 49 games for Shattuck, ranking second among team defensemen in scoring. He helped the team that year win the 2015 USA Hockey Youth Tier I 16U National Championship.
While his current hometown of Barrington, Illinois, is located outside of Chicago, Inamoto grew up in the New Jersey Colonials hockey program.
"Inamoto is a predator," Don Granato stated. "He is a physical, hungry, intimidating player. And he is a great athlete. He's big, strong and has a mean streak. He's another guy with two years of experience with the national team. He has great experience coming in and international experience in pressure situations. He has college experience. He'll have played Minnesota, Michigan, Boston University and also played here.
"He'll be a physical impact player right away next year. He's strong enough already to play a physical game at the college level."
| NAME | POS | SHOT | HT | WT | HOMETOWN | CURRENT TEAM |
| Tarek Baker | F | L | 5-10 | 184 | Verona, Wis. | Bloomington Thunder (USHL) |
| Jason Dhooghe | F | L | 5-8 | 165 | Aurora, Ill. | Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) |
| Sean Dhooghe | F | R | 5-3 | 139 | Aurora, Ill. | U.S. Under-18 Team (NTDP) |
| Tyler Inamoto | D | L | 6-2 | 196 | Barrington, Ill. | U.S. Under-18 Team (NTDP) |
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