:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47398772/Bob_Fallen-USHL.0.jpg)
Monday capped an award-winning weekend for two players with Gopher verbal commitments.
Omaha Lancers forward Brannon McManus and Madison Capitols goaltender Ryan Edquist were both recognized by the USHL for their play over the weekend.
McManus (Newport Beach, CA) was named co-forward of the week along with Grant Jozefek (Northeastern commit). The 1999-born forward, who won a gold medal at the U-17 5 Nations Tournament with fellow commits Sammy Walker and Clayton Phillips, had 2 goals - his first two in the USHL during his first year - and 2 assists in two games. McManus currently has 5 points (2G-3A) in 6 games this season.
Edquist (Lakeville, MN) was honored as goaltender of the week for his 40 save shutout against Muskegon.
So far this season the 17 year-old has made 63 saves on 65 shots. His.969 save percentage over two games leads the USHL in this early (aka small sample size) stage of the year. He played in last month's All-American Prospects Game.
Other USHL nuggets include Tarek Baker (Verona, WI/Bloomington Thunder) extending his point streak to three games in a weekend sweep over Ryan Zuhlsdorf's (Edina, MN) Sioux City squad.
In addition, the United States U-17 team was in town this weekend. The U-17s feature three Minnesota commits in forward Scott Reedy and defensemen Nate Knoepke and Josh Maniscalco. They played against Elite League teams, which include commits Jaxon Nelson, Blake McLaughlin and Casey Mittelstadt (Eden Prairie), who currently leads the Elite League in scoring
-------------------
Nathan Wells is a college hockey columnist for SB Nation mostly covering both the University of Minnesota and Big Ten. You can also follow him on Twitter -- Follow @gopherstate