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Two more players will be officially suiting up for the Gopher men's hockey team this fall.
Minnesota announced Wednesday that forward Robin Höglund and goaltender Nick Lehr, both of whom previously made verbal commitments in February, have signed Acceptance of Admission agreements to the University and will be a part of the 2014-15 roster. Both players will be making the jump from NAHL to Big Ten play.
At nearly 20, Höglund, a 6'3", 205 lbs forward from MöIndal, Sweden, spent last season with the Janesville Jets. He finished the regular season second on the Jets with 47 points (24 G - 23 A) in 57 games. (Jets goalie Logan Halladay, who also committed to Minnesota, likely is playing in the USHL next season. The 18 year-old was picked up by expansion Bloomington Thunder.)
A native of Roseville, Minnesota, Lehr has played for the Austin Bruins (MN) each of the last three seasons. In his time there he broke the Bruins' career records for wins, saves and shutouts. This past season the 21 year-old finished with a NAHL-leading 35 wins in 49 games and posted a .932 save percentage as Austin won the NAHL Central Division before losing in the Robertson Cup finals to Fairbanks.
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With Michael Shibrowski graduating after last season, Lehr is expected to back up Hobey Baker and Mike Richter Award finalist Adam Wilcox (Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick).
Höglund and Lehr join five other players - forwards Leon Bristedt and Jack Ramsey along with defensemen Ryan Collins, Jack Glover and Steven Johnson - that each signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period back in November. All are expected to be on campus this year with the possible exception of Ramsey.
Bristedt, a native of Waxholm, Sweden, and Höglund will be the first two Swedes (and third and fourth Europeans after Thomas Vanek and Erik Haula) to play for the Gophers.
The final 2014-15 roster has yet to be released. While Mike Reilly announced he would return to the Gophers for his junior season last week, a couple players - last year's co-captain Kyle Rau, in particular - still have to make a decision. (Besides Shibrowski, forwards Nate Condon and Tom Serratore along with defensemen Justin Holl and Jake Parenteau graduated from last year's team, which lost to Union 7-4 in the 2014 National Championship)
Assuming no one leaves and Ramsey, a 2014 Draft Eligible from Chanhassen who spent last season with Penticton (BCHL), heads back to British Columbia, head coach Don Lucia would have 15 forwards, 8 defensemen and 3 goalies.
Minnesota begins its quest for a fourth consecutive conference title October 10th against Minnesota-Duluth in the Ice Breaker tournament played in South Bend, Indiana.
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Nathan Wells is a college hockey columnist for SB Nation. You can also follow him on Twitter -- Follow @gopherstate