:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47576481/GettyImages-479932455.0.jpg)
According to a report on Twitter, University of Wisconsin freshman forward Luke Kunin is expected to leave school to sign with the Ontario Hockey League's Sarnia Sting.
Source tells me Luke Kunin is telling people @ Wisconsin that he's going to #OHL. All but done, huge get for the Sarnia #Sting #2016NHLDraft
— OHLInsiders (@OHLinsiders) November 3, 2015
A late '97, the Chesterfield, Mo. native is a first time eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft. He had two goals and four assists in eight games played for the Badgers. He had two goals in the USA Hockey/CCM All-American Prospects Game back in September. He has an elite, pro-ready shot. In the Preliminary Rankings, he was rated an A prospect by NHL Central Scouting Service.
It's been a rough two weeks from NCAA hockey as Kunin will join Jeremy Bracco and Warren Foegele in heading north of the border. Bracco left Boston College to sign with Kitchener Rangers while Foegele left UNH for the Kingston Frontenacs.
UPDATE (2:45 p.m. CT): Kunin took to Twitter to throw water on the rumors that he is Sarnia-bound. For now, it looks like a crisis averted for Wisconsin.
Can't wait to play North Dakota this weekend. #Badgers
— Luke Kunin (@lukekunin9) November 3, 2015
This follows reports from The Hockey News' Ryan Kennedy that Kunin skated and lifted with the team Tuesday and that his father "shot down" the rumor his son was headed to the OHL. UW play-by-play man Brian Posick also discredited the OHL Insiders report.
----
Jeff Cox covers college, junior, high school and prep hockey, NCAA recruiting and NHL Draft prospects. Follow him on Twitter @JeffCoxSports.