This spring/summer I plan to do an update on every currently known UW committed recruit. (I'm going to try and do it alphabetically by last name if possible) I have no idea if that will be once a week or once a month, it all depends on my free time. The first recruit to be profiled is Tyler Barnes from Burnsville high school in Minnesota.Tyler Barnes-Forward-Burnsville H.S. Minnesota
Tyler Barnes had a very solid season for Burnsville high school. He notched 23 goals and 27 assists for 50 points in 24 games. Fellow future D-1 forward Jake Hendrickson (committed to UMD) had 47 points for the Blaze. You want to talk about consistency? Tyler notched a point in every single game he played this season. He also contributed 14 multi-point games. Barnes highest scoring game came in an early December contest vs. Apple Valley where he scored 3 goals and added a helper for a nice 4 point night.
For all of his successes this season he was rewarded by being named to the All State second team by the associated press. The Star Tribune named Barnes to it’s second team all Metro team. And the Pioneer press honored Barnes by naming him an Honorable mention All State forward. Perhaps the biggest personal highlight of the season for Barnes was being named as one of the top 10 Mr. Hockey finalists. While he didn’t win the award, (It went to Roseau’s Aaron Ness) it’s one hell of an accomplishment.
While his team, the Burnsville Blaze didn’t make it to the state tournament, they still had a very successful season. With a 22-6 overall record and a 17-3 conference record they won the Lake Conference. Burnsville ended their season in an overtime thriller in which they lost to Edina 4-3. Barnes notched 1 goal in the game. Edina ended up making it to the state championship before losing to eventual champion Hill-Murray.
Barnes chose Wisconsin over Denver, Colorado College and St. Cloud State. After last seasons Minnesota State hockey tournament, the US hockey report had this to say about Barnes: "Very skilled, good stick... Came through at key times in the tournament -- a goal and assist vs. Blaine; two goals vs. Grand Rapids… A difference maker." NHL Central Scouting has Barnes ranked as the 112th best North American hockey player for the upcoming draft.
It’s hard to project exactly when Barnes will come to the University of Wisconsin. Next season he will for sure play with Waterloo in the USHL which drafted him in the futures draft. Depending on how many early departures UW has, and how successful he is in the USHL will determine when he enters the Madison campus. Right now he’s projected to be a 2009 entry but could very likely wait until 2010.
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