Mankato, Minn. --- Men's hockey coach Mike Hastings has announced that forward Zach Stepan has signed a scholarship tender to attend Minnesota State University.

Stepan (Faribault, Minn./Waterloo (USHL)) will begin attending Minnesota State in the fall of 2013.

The announcement that Stepan is joining MSU's recruiting class for this fall gives the Mavericks seven freshman for 2013-14 as he joins defensemen Casey Nelson (Wisconsin Rapids/Johnstown (NAHL)), Sean Flanagan  (Kindersley, Sask./Salmon Arm (BCHL)) and Carter Foguth (Fenton, Mich./Muskegon (USHL)), along with goaltender Cole Huggins (Englewood, Colo./Coquitlam (BCHL)) and forwards Mike Huntebrinker (Chesterfield, Mo./Waterloo (USHL)) and Jordan Nelson (Williston, N.D./Fargo (USHL)).

Stepan's biography is listed below.

Zach Stepan, Forward, 6-0, 165, Faribault, Minn./Waterloo (USHL)
Selected in the fourth round (112th overall) by Nashville in 2012 National Hockey League Draft...Ranked third in the United States Hockey League in scoring in 2012-13 with 32 goals and 46 assists for 78 points in 56 games with Waterloo...Earned three awards at Waterloo's end-of-the-year banquet:  Booster Club Award, Front Office Award and Unsung Hero...Shattuck-St. Mary's product racked up 22-43--65 in 50 games with the Sabres in 2011-12 and 25-39--64 in 54 games in 2010-11...Member of USA U17 team that captured Five Nations Tournament title in 2010 in Switzerland...Member of USA U19 team that captured 2012 World Junior A Challenge Tournament title in 2012 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia...Cousin of New York Ranger forward Derek Stepan.

He has received an invitation to the USA Hockey Junior Evaluation Camp.  That release is located HERE.

All signings are contingent upon admission to MSU and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Clearinghouse.