From the University of Minnesota sports website, April 17:

http://www.gophersports.com/sportsNews/press_release.asp?news_id=5
742&sport_id=mhock

Golden Gophers Sign Three Top Recruits To Men's Hockey Tenders

The University of Minnesota men's hockey program has announced the
signing of three student-athletes to national letters of intent to play for the
Golden Gophers beginning with the 2002-2003 season.

P.J. Atherton is a 6' 2", 195-pound defenseman from Edina, Minn., and
has spent the past two seasons playing for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders
in the United States Hockey League (USHL). This year, Atherton has
seven goals, 22 assists, 29 points and 107 penalty minutes in 58 games
with the Roughriders. Cedar Rapids has advanced to the semifinals of the
USHL playoffs. Atherton was selected to play in the USHL All-Star Game
in each of his two seasons, and was named the Team USHL Player of the
Game this past February. He was picked to represent the league on
Team USHL at the Top Prospects Tournament in December.

Tyler Hirsch, a 5' 10", 165-pound forward from Bloomington, Minn., is a
member of the Shattuck-St. Mary's Sabres in the Minnesota Junior
Hockey League. He is coached by former Golden Gopher Assistant
Coach Tom Ward. The right-winger amassed 58 goals, 80 assists and
138 points in 63 games this past season. He also collected 14 game-
winning goals. Hirsch is currently playing with the USA Under-18 Team
which is competing in Slovakia at the 2002 World Under-18
Championships. He was also a member of the 2001 USA Under-17
Team.

Peter Kennedy, a 6' 2", 175-pound defenseman from Brookfield, Nova
Scotia, Canada, spent this past season with the Ottawa Junior Senators
in the Central Junior Hockey League. In 69 games, he collected 14 goals
and 27 assists for 41 points. He was the recipient of the league's Rookie
of the Year Award.

"We are extremely pleased with the quality of student-athletes we are
bringing into this program," said Golden Gopher Head Coach Don Lucia.
"These three, along with the group of student-athletes we signed in the
fall, bring impressive credentials both on and off the ice. After this past
season and everything the team accomplished, this group of incoming
freshmen is looking forward to carrying on that tradition and becoming a
part of Golden Gopher Hockey."