Minnesota State Gets Quintet of Men’s Hockey Commitments During Early Signing Period

    Mankato, Minn. --- Men’s hockey coach Troy Jutting has announced that five student-athletes
have signed NCAA Letters of Intent to attend Minnesota State University.

Committing to MSU during the NCAA early signing period are forwards Josh Berge
(Oklahoma City, Okla./Tri-City (USHL)), Chase Grant (Oklahoma City, Okla./Fargo (USHL)), Corey Leivermann (Mankato, Minn./Fargo (USHL)),
Matt Leitner (Los Alamitos, Calif./Fargo (USHL)) and Zach Lehrke (Park Rapids, Minn./Cedar Rapids (USHL)).

This year’s fivesome joins Danny Heath, a defenseman playing with Des Moines (USHL),
who committed to MSU last year but delayed coming to MSU until next year due to an injury. 
Heath (2-5--7 in 9 GP this year) is serving as an assistant captain for the Buccaneers in 2009-10.

Josh Berge, Forward, Shoots right, 5-9. 160, Oklahoma City, Okla./Tri-City (USHL)
In second season with Tri-City of the United States Hockey League where he serves as team captain...
Has tallied 1-9--10 in 11 games with the Storm this year, totalled 8-23--32 in 2008-09...Named
Tri-City’s Most Inspirational Player as a rookie...Younger brother of former MSU forward
Mick Berge (MSU 2005-09, 42-43--85 in 137 GP)...Father Mark Berge was a defenseman at
North Dakota from 1976-81 recording 7-24--31 in 107 GP.

Chase Grant, Forward, Shoots right,  5-11, 175. Oklahoma City, Okla./Fargo (USHL)
Currently in second season with Fargo of USHLwhere he serves as team captain... Has 2-2--4 in ten
games played for 2009-10...Totalled 10-18--28 in 57 games as a rookie with the Force in
2008-09... Captained 2007-08 Dallas Stars Midget AAA team.

Matt Leitner, Forward, Shoots left, 5-9, 170, Los Alamitos, Calif./Fargo (USHL)
In second season as a member of Fargo of the United States  Hockey League...Currently leads the
Force with 6-7--13 in seven games...Had 14-43--60 in 56 games last year as was a three-time
USHL Player of the Week... Scored game-winner for USA in gold medal game in 2009 Junior A
Challenge Cup held in Prince Edward Island Nov. 1-8...Was fourth in overall scoring and second
for the U.S. team with 1-6--7 assists in five games at the 2009 Challenge Cup.

Zach Lehrke, Forward, Shoots right, 5-7, 173, Park Rapids, Minn./Cedar Rapids (USHL)
In second season as a member of Cedar Rapids of USHL...Owns 6-8--14 in 12 games with t
he Roughriders, had 5-11--16 in 45 games during rookie season in 2008-09...Finalist for 2008
state of Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award...Earned First Team All-State honors in 2007-08.

Corey Leivermann, Forward, Shoots right, 5-11, 175, Mankato, Minn./Fargo (USHL)
In second year with Fargo and currently ranks second on team in scoring with 5-6--11 in
11 games...Registered 8-14--22 in 49 games as a rookie in 2008-09 in helping the Force
advance to the USHL Clark Cup finals...2008 Mankato West grad was an all-state honorable mention
pick as a senior in leading the Scarlets to their first Minnesota State High School
Tournament appearance...Three-time All-Big Nine pick was a four-year team captain for West.