Local Product Luke Salazar Commits To DU

(left) Thornton product Luke Salazar

Fresh off being named the "NAHL South Player of The Week," Denver native Luke Salazar committed to the University of Denver this week according to Heisenberg's website. Salazar is a 5'7 155 lbs. center from Thornton (suburb of Denver).

Salazar is the leading goal scorer in the NAHL with 39 goals and 46 assists in 52 games. He is also a remarkable +34 for the season. He has led Wichita Falls to the second best record in the NAHL this season (38-12-2).

Salazar rang up four goals and six assists last week as the Wildcats fashioned a perfect 6-0 record in Alaska. After assisting on Sean McKenzie's game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Fairbanks on Monday, the 19-year-old scored the game-winner the next night as the Wildcats again bested the Ice Dogs, 2-1. On Friday, Salazar recorded a hat trick, including the game-winning goal, and two assists in a 6-5 win over Alaska. Salazar wrapped up his week with a three-assist effort, including one on Adam Cardwell's game-winning goal, as Wichita Falls downed the Avalanche, 6-4. He was also a plus-4 on the week.

"Luke was a force offensively last weekend and he came up big in some critical moments," said Wildcats coach-GM John Bowkus. "I don't think there's any question he's one of the league's elite forwards."

DU Recruiting Classes

2008
F Nate Dewhurst (Des Moines, USHL)
F Joe Colborne (Camrose, AJHL)
D John Lee (Waterloo, USHL)
F Stepan Novotny (Indiana, USHL)
D David Carle (Shattuck-St Mary's HS)
F Luke Salazar (Wichita Falls, NAHL)

2009
D William Wrenn (U.S. Under-17)
D Matt Donovan (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
D Paul Phillips (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
G Adam Murray (U.S. under-17)
F Drew Shore (U.S. Under-17)
F Shawn Ostrow (Camose, AJHL)*

*Could be either a 2009 or 2010 recruit

2 comments:

Twister said...

Looks like another good freshman class in 2008.

dggoddard said...

Dewhurst's stats have picked up in the second half of the USHL season.

Lee looks to be very steady based on a few game reports.

Colborne should be a stud. I hope he goes in the first round of the NHL draft.

Novotny probably could use another year in the USHL, but if he's eventually going to go pro we might as well get him at DU early.

Carle should be exciting to watch.

Salazar might finally provide what has been missing for the past three seasons. Some excitement and scoring from the third or fourth line.