From yesterday's Ann Arbor News (thanks AA News and Antione Pitts),
 
Josh Blackburn, currently of the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints, has
verbally committed to the University of Michigan and intends to sign a
letter of intent today.  Finding a netminder, I'm sure, has been a top
priority for Michigan as both Marty Turco and Gregg Malicke are in their
senior seasons.
 
Blackburn (current USHL stats: 7-5, 2.99 GAA, .926 save percentage)
apparently is one of the premier goalies of the USHL, but the Fighting
Saints are a perennial sub-.500 team.  Fighting Saint GM Brian Gallagher
notes, "Of our 17 wins last season, Josh personally stole half of them for
us."
 
Blackburn, of Choctaw, OK, has been selected to be a member of the 1997-98
USHL All-Star team that will be playing in the next week's "King of the
Hill" Tournament, which includes All-Star teams from 4 Junior-A leagues:
the United States Hockey League, the American Frontier Hockey League, the
Eastern Junior Hockey League and the North American Hockey League.
 
Former USHL players who are now Wolverines include Scott Matzka (Omaha
Lancers), Josh Langfeld (Lincoln Stars), Bill Trainor (Des Moines
Buccaneers) and Kevin Magnuson (Dubuque).
 
For the full story, please see the Ann Arbor News article:
http://aa.mlive.com/sports/puxgoalie.htm
 
USHL web site:
http://www.ushl.com
 
Dubuque Fighting Saints:
http://www.ushl.com/db.htm
// Roger L. Spurgeon             [log in to unmask]
// Assistant Director / Technology Coordinator
// Univ. of Mich. Dept. of Recreational Sports
 
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