Minnesota Wildcats Junior Hockey Team

With the completion of its final Open Tryout of 2009, the Minnesota Wildcats have come to agreements with another half-dozen newcomers. Details of the signings will be announced shortly once all of the paperwork has been processed.

The Wildcats have officially tendered five players for the 2009-10 Minnesota Junior Hockey League season: Defensemen Steven Terry (Santee, CA) & Cody Hasbargen (Baudette, MN) and forwards Josh Smart (Baudette, MN), Dan Pletta (West Concord, MN) and Kyle Roberts (Mandan, ND). In addition, forward Jordan Christianson (International Falls, MN) will play prior to the Minnesota high school hockey season.

The Minnesota Wildcats are pleased to announce the signing of six players for the 2009-10 Minnesota Junior Hockey League Season. Please welcome the newest members of the 'Cats.

JORDAN CHRISTIANSON - International Falls, MN

Forward, Age 16, 5'6, 135 lbs, International Falls High School. Highly-skilled centerman will skate with the Cats until the beginning of the high school season in November.

CODY HASBARGEN - Baudette, MN

Defenseman, Age 17, 6'0, 190lbs. Lake of the Woods High School. Big, strong, poised defenseman brings much-needed stability to the blue line.

DAN PLETTA - West Concord, MN

Forward, Age 18, 6'1, 200 lbs, Dodge County High School. Big power forward is strong at both ends of the ice.

KYLE ROBERTS - Mandan, ND

Forward, Age 17, 5'11, 150 lbs, Mandan (ND) High School. Solid two-way forward will be a high-school senior in his first year of junior hockey.

JOSH SMART - Baudette, MN

Forward, Age 18, 5'11, 175 lbs. Lake of the Woods High School. Solid two-way player with good hands and great hockey sense.

STEVEN TERRY - Santee, CA

Defenseman, Age 17, 5'11, 185 lbs, River Lakes (MN) High School. Highly-talented offensive defenseman from Southern California is sure to bring the fans to their feet this winter in Maple Grove. 

Photo: Forward Dan Pletta (West Concord, MN) is the among six players who have committed to play for the Minnesota Wildcats this season. Pletta played last year for Dodge County.

The Minnesota Wildcats were on the cover of the January 2009 edition of USA Junior Hockey Magazine. The article featured Cats' players AJ Martini, Shane Fabian, Alex Langiewicz, Derek Budde and others.

Read the whole story www.usajuniorhockey.com

"As a coaching staff we have had success with athletes who have chosen the ‘always play up’ model," Wildcats Coach Stu Ronsberg told the magazine. "When they move up to the next level they are ready. And we see other programs such as the USA National Development Team having success, as well. We’re not suggesting that we’re the next NTDP but we are a more convenient option for Minnesota kids who want to play up. For a lot of them, it’s playing way up."