Badger Recruit Mega-Linkorama

I thought I'd dig up some links on two of the Badger's newer recruits since their Minnesota High School seasons are now underway: Jake Gardiner of Minnetonka and Tyler Barnes of Burnsville.

Jake Gardiner
Jake Gardiner is off to a great start this season with 4 goals and 5 assists in 5 games from his new position as a defenseman. Let's Play Hockey just put out a new article on Jake today.

His goals have often been timely, like notching a goal just 2:30 into the Skippers' game against Cloquet. Other timely goals include the game winner against #7 ranked Duluth East to win 3-2, and a goal in the waning moments of the third period against #2 Duluth Marshall to help Minnetonka to another 3-2 victory.

Tyler Barnes
Tyler Barnes has 6 goals and 5 assists in just 4 games so far this season for the Burnsville Blaze. He and his linemates Jake Hendrickson and Adam Perisic put up 169 points last season and lead the Blaze to their first State Tournament berth last season, so there are pretty high expectations for Tyler to live up to. Of that total, Barnes had 28 goals and 26 assists for 54 points last season leading the team in goals and finishing with the second highest point total.

The Blaze got the season off to an exciting start with a 5-4 overtime victory against Bloomington Jefferson.

As it turns out, the Head Coach at Burnsville played his high school and college hockey in Superior.

Following two wins against Lakeville North and Lakeville South, Barnes and the Blaze lost a 3-2 overtime heart-breaker to #2 Edina giving up a late third period goal and another early in overtime. Since then, the Blaze crushed Apple Valley 8-2 and was shutout 4-0 by Eagan.