One of Minnesota’s top men’s hockey goaltender prospects verbally committed to the Gophers on Saturday.

Jeff Frazee, a junior playing for the USA Under-17 development team in Ann Arbor, Mich., will come to the University in 2005, he confirmed Tuesday.

“I really trust Don Lucia, and it’s every Minnesotan’s dream to play for the Gophers,” Frazee said.

Last season, as a sophomore, Frazee led the Academy of Holy Angels to third place in the Minnesota state high school hockey tournament.

Frazee’s record for the Stars in 2002-2003 was 16-1-1, and he posted a .947 saves percentage. The goalie is listed at 6-foot-1, 196 pounds.

“Ultimately (Minnesota) is where he wants to play, and it’s where we as parents want him to play,” said Jim Frazee, Jeff’s father.

Two other Minnesota recruits, junior Ryan Stoa and freshman Peter Mueller, play with Frazee on the Under-17 team. Frazee’s record so far is 3-1-1.

Frazee said Minnesota offered him a scholarship at the same time as Stoa and Mueller. Frazee committed five days after Mueller.

But the recruiting process happened a year earlier than Frazee’s parents expected.

“I warned him that goalies are usually the last to be recruited, so not to worry when the other guys start committing,” Jim Frazee said. “He turned out to be one of the first recruited, so we were a little surprised that he committed already.”