Wisconsin men's hockey announces signing class

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin men's hockey welcomes six forwards, four defensemen, and one goaltender to their incoming class of 2022 signees, head coach Tony Granato announced on Tuesday.

The class of signees incudes Boston Buckberger (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), Brady Cleveland (Wausau, Wisconsin), Aidan Fink (Calgary, Alberta), Quinn Finley (Valparaiso, Indiana), William Gramme (Stockholm, Sweden), Owen Mehlenbacher (Fort Erie, Ontario), Joe Palodichuk (Cottage Grove, Minnesota), Sawyer Scholl (Green Bay, Wisconsin), Zach Schulz (South Lyon, Michigan), and William Whitelaw (Rosemount, Minnesota). Buckberger actually signed during 2021 but is included in this class.

"This group is made up of high character culture kids," said Granato about the incoming class. "They are highly thought of as people. Every kid has compete to their game with offensive instincts and upside. The guys who defend really well, they still have an offensive dynamic piece to their game. The class in its entirety hinges on how hard each one competes. Every guy is similar. High hockey IQ, high compete and great kid. That's what every coach looks for and that's what every guy has. We love this group."

Boston Buckberger
Defense, 5-11, 172, L
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Lincoln Stars, (USHL)

Buckberger joins the Badgers from the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League. The defenseman has three goals and 14 assists for 17 points in 18 games so far this season and serves as alternate captain for the Stars. He earned USHL Defenseman of the Week earlier this season, as well.

Buckberger previously skated with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League during the 2021-22 season where he tallied 13 goals and 31 points in 59 games and helped the Bandits to the league championship. He was also named to the AJHL All-Rookie team in 2022.

Granato on Buckberger: "He's very, very gifted offensively. He sees the ice extremely well and he's done well on power plays wherever he's been. He'll be an experienced defenseman coming in which is going to be really nice for us and for him and I think the transition will be pretty seamless. He's a leader."

Brady Cleveland
Defense, 6-4, 201, L
Wausau, Wisconsin
U.S Under-18 Team

A member of the U.S Under-18 Team, Cleveland has two assists in 19 games against college and USHL opponents this season. He tallied three points in 26 games with the U-17 squad last season and was called up to the U-18 team for 17 games and notched one point. Cleveland helped Team USA to a silver medal in the 2022 U18 World Championship.

Before joining the NTDP, Cleveland skated for Team Wisconsin and Wausau West High where he racked up 10 goals for 25 points in 18 games during the 2020-21 season.

Granato on Cleveland: "He's an in-state player who bleeds Red and White. When you talk to people at the USNTDP they talk about him as a culture guy and a leader. You can't teach what he has in size, skating ability and has snarl to his game. He's got sneaky good offensive instincts, as well."

Aidan Fink
Forward, 5-9, 150, R
Calgary, Alberta
Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

One of the youngest new signees, Fink currently skates with the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL. He leads the AJHL with 25 goals and 66 points in 31 games, averaging over two points per game. Fink tallied 19 goals and 53 points in 60 games with the Bandits over the 2021-22 season and helped his team to the 2022 AJHL championship.

According to NHL Central Scouting, Fink is a projected fourth-to-sixth-round candidate for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Granato on Fink: "Aidan is a smaller player in stature but plays big and plays hard. He's hungry to have the puck and is a pure point-getter."

Quinn Finley
Forward, 6-0, 179, L
Valparaiso, Indiana
Madison Capitols (USHL)
New York Islanders, Third round, No. 78 overall, 2022

Finley was selected by the New York Islanders in the third round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He currently skates down the road from UW campus with the Madison Capitols of the USHL and totals eight goals and 21 points in 16 games played this season. He was also just named to Team USA for the 2022 World Junior A Challenge that will take place from Dec. 11-18 in Cornwall, Ontario.

Last season, Finley skated alongside current Badger freshmen Ben Dexheimer and Jack Horbach and helped the Capitols to their best season on record and first Clark Cup appearance. He racked up 12 goals for 29 points in 39 games over the 2021-22 season.

Before joining the Capitols, Finley skated for the Chicago Steel (USHL) and Green Bay Gamblers AAA program.

Granato on Finley: "Quinn has high offensive IQ and work habits. He's also a good skater. He's gotten great experience in the USHL which will help him. He's another guy who bleeds Red and White."

William Gramme
Goaltender, 6-4, 201, L
Stockholm, Sweden
Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL)

Gramme hails from Stockholm, Sweden, and currently plays for the Lone Star Brahmas of the NAHL. He maintains a 1.72 goals against average and .931 save percentage in 12 games this season. Before joining the Brahmas, Gramme skated with AIK U20 in the Swedish national junior league.

Granato on Gramme: "William is a mature kid and a big kid. He'll be a 21-year old freshman who is experienced. He's humble, knowledgeable and calm, but also plays the puck very well and skates very well as a goalie."

Owen Mehlenbacher
Forward, 6-2, 190, L
Fort Erie, Ontario
Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Detroit Red Wings, 7th-round, #201 overall, 2022

The Detroit Red Wings selected Mehlenbacher in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The forward serves as captain of the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL and has four goals for eight points in 13 games so far this season. He tallied 17 goals and 25 assists for 42 points in 56 games over the 2021-22 season and was named to the USHL's All-Academic Team. Mehlenbacher previously played for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 15U AAA and Southern Tier Admirals U15 AAA programs.

Granato on Mehlenbacher: "Owen is a leader and he's detailed at everything he does. He's got a high IQ and a big body to go along with it. He plays strong down the middle as a center and is another competitor."

Brett Moravec
Forward, 5-10, 176, L
Airdrie, Alberta
Penticton Vees (BCHL)

Moravec joins the Badgers from the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League. He totals 10 goals for 23 points in 23 games this season. He helped the Vees to the BCHL league championship in 2022 with 22 goals and 41 points in 49 games and four goals and 13 points in 17 playoff contests. Moravec previously skated with the Calgary Canucks and Okotoks Oilers of the AJHL from 2019-21.

Granato on Moravec: "Brett is a smaller, skilled, speedy forward with high grit. He makes a living around the net and plays on the edge. He's an unreal character kid who has played a lot of junior hockey, which will serve him well jumping into college."

Joe Palodichuk
Defenseman, 6-0, 174, L
Cottage Grove, Minnesota
Fargo Force (USHL)

Palodichuk comes to Wisconsin from the Fargo Force of the USHL. He has two goals and 12 points in 17 games this year and netted six goals for 25 points in 53 games during the 2021-22 season. Palodichuk previously skated for the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League and Hill-Murray School in Minnesota.

Granato on Palodichuk: "Joe is an unreal leader and great kid. His teammates will love him and like everyone in this class, has a high-level compete to his game. He's a good skater who is sneaky good offensively skilled. He's a throwback -- not afraid to block shots and good around the net defensively."

Sawyer Scholl
Forward, 6-2, 188, L
Medford, Wisconsin
Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)

A Wisconsin native, Scholl has three goals for three points for the Sioux City Musketeers in 17 games so far this season. He previously skated for his home-state team the Green Bay Gamblers for the 2021-22 season and tallied seven goals and 22 points in 58 games. Before joining the Gamblers, Scholl played for Team Wisconsin and Notre Dame Academy and was named to the 2019-20 USHS-WI All-State Team.

Granato on Scholl: "He loves Badger hockey. He grew up with it. If you talk to him, that's what he talks about first. He doesn't want to talk about his game, or his points, he is more about the team. He's a leader who understands his role and understands who he is."

Zach Schulz
Defenseman, 6-0, 183, L
South Lyon, Michigan
U.S Under-18 Team

The youngest incoming Badger, Schulz skates with the U.S Under-18 Team at USA Hockey's NTDP. He has two assists in 15 games this season and tallied one goal and 12 points in 51 games with the Under-17 squad during the 2021-22 season. Before joining the NTDP, Schulz skated for Honeybaked AAA and served as captain of their 2021 national championship team.

Granato on Schulz: "Zach has a big body and uses it when he skates and competes. He's strong and very physical as a player."

William Whitelaw
Forward, 5-9, 172, R
Rosemount, Minnesota
Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

Whitelaw is a top prospect eligible for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and who NHL Central Scouting has as a second or third-round pick. The Minnesota native tallied nine goals for 17 points in 17 games with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL this season. Before joining the Phantoms for a nine-game stint last season, Whitelaw skated with Shattuck St. Mary's 18U team where he racked up 46 goals and 64 assists for 110 points in 55 games over the 2021-22 season.

Whitelaw also competed for Team USA in the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he notched two goals and two assists in four games.

Granato on Whitelaw: "He's a hockey rink rat. He loves to be around and work at his craft. He's a high-level skater who's going to score. He's a non-stop shooter who is relentless around the net."

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Wisconsin men's hockey announces signing class

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