Joe Faust liked the idea of playing at Wisconsin from the start.
“I liked everything about it,” the former Bloomington Jefferson standout defenseman said about his recruiting visit to Madison last summer.
After a detour that almost landed him in New Jersey at Princeton University, Faust on Tuesday, July 6, committed to play for the Badgers.
Faust, who initially committed to play at Princeton last fall, said he recently became uneasy about the choice and on June 15 informed the Tigers’ coaching staff he would not be joining the program.
With the recruiting process restarted, he re-opened communication with the Badgers, who previously had offered him a scholarship.
“They were the first ones I went after,” said the 5-11, 194-pound Faust, who was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the fourth round (114th overall) of the NHL Draft on June 26.
Although he had fully intended to play for the United States Hockey League’s Des Moines Buccaneers this season, Faust said he instead will begin his college career with the Badgers right away.
"They have a full defensive corps and I’m a young guy coming in," he said. "I’m going to have to work hard and prove myself."
Faust, was a second-team Hockey Hub all-state selection last season as a senior when he scored 14 goals and added 32 assists.
Name | High School | Year | Pos. | College | Verbal Committ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark Alt | Cretin-Derham Hall | Senior | D | Minnesota | Yes |
Joey Benik | St. Francis | Senior | F | St. Cloud State | Yes |
Nick Bjugstad | Blaine | Junior | F | Minnesota | Yes |
Chris Casto | Hill-Murray | Senior | D | UM-Duluth | Yes |
Willie Corrin | International Falls | Senior | D | UM-Duluth | Yes |
Justin Crandall | St. Thomas Academy | Senior | F | UM-Duluth | Yes |
Cal Decowski | Andover | Senior | F | UM-Duluth | Yes |
Joe Faust | Bloomington Jefferson | Senior | D | Wisconsin | Yes |
Danny Fick | Forest Lake | Senior | D | Harvard | Yes |
Tyson Fulton | Breck | Senior | F | Union | Yes |
Max Gaede | Woodbury | Senior | F | MSU-Mankato | Yes |
Max Gardiner | Minnetonka | Senior | F | Minnesota | Yes |
Zane Gothberg | Thief River Falls | Senior | G | North Dakota | Yes |
Garrett Hendrickson | Virginia | Junior | F | St. Cloud State | Yes |
Caleb Herbert | Bloomington Jefferson | Senior | F | UM-Duluth | Yes |
Troy Hesketh | Minnetonka | Senior | D | Wisconsin | Yes |
Justin Holl | Minnetonka | Senior | D | Minnesota | Yes |
Christian Isackson | St. Thomas Academy | Senior | F | Minnesota | Yes |
Adam Krause | Hermantown | Senior | F | UM-Duluth | Yes |
Tanner Lane | Detroit Lakes | Junior | F | Nebraska-Omaha | Yes |
Tony Larson | Blaine | Senior | D | Alaska-Anchorage | Yes |
Ben Marshall | Mahtomedi | Junior | D | Minnesota | Yes |
Michael Morin | Breck | Senior | F | Colorado College | Yes |
Brock Nelson | Warroad | Senior | F | North Dakota | Yes |
Kyle Osterberg | Lakeville South | Freshman | F | UM-Duluth | Yes |
Brett Patterson | Benilde-St. Margaret's | Senior | F | Dartmouth | Yes |
Andrew Prochno | Minnetonka | Senior | D | St. Cloud State | Yes |
Ethan Prow | Sauk Rapids | Junior | D | St. Cloud State | Yes |
Kyle Rau | Eden Prairie | Junior | F | Minnesota | Yes |
Connor Reilly | Holy Angels | Senior | F | Minnesota | Yes |
Ryan Reilly | Holy Angels | Senior | F | Minnesota | Yes |
Eric Scheid | Blaine | Senior | F | Alaska-Anchorage | Yes |
Archie Skalbeck | Hopkins | Senior | F | Colorado College | Yes |
Brady Skjei | Lakeville North | Sophomore | D | Minnesota | Yes |
Brett Stern | Centennial | Senior | D | MSU-Mankato | Yes |
Andy Welinski | Duluth East | Junior | D | UM-Duluth | Yes |
Adam Wilcox | South St. Paul | Junior | G | Minnesota | Yes |
Sam Windle | Osseo | Senior | D | Bemidji State | Yes |