Grand Rapids star forward Blake McLaughlin met with University of Minnesota Coach Don Lucia and his Staff Tuesday morning and gave them his verbal commitment to play for the Golden Gophers in the Fall of 2018. The prolific goal scorer has yet to play a high school game for the Thunderhawks, but has impressed enough hockey people this Summer to garner a scholarship offer from a premiere NCAA hockey program like the University of Minnesota.

McLaughlin cannot sign a National Letter of Intent until his Senior year, but all signs pointed to him playing for the Gophers even prior to his visit to Dinkytown Tuesday. McLaughlin's step father Grant Bischoff and his step brother Jake Bischoff bleed Maroon and Gold (Grant played for the Gophers from 1987-91 and Jake is currently a Junior for the Gophers). 

YHH caught up to McLaughlin after his commitment - he was very thankful for the opportunity and said he owes a lot to his family and friends. "I want to thank my brother Jared and my mom Tammi (Bischoff) for all they did to help me get to the U." He went to thank his teammates that helped push him to get better. "(Grand Rapids Sophmores) Gavin (Hain) and Zach (Stejskal) and the rest of my whole team were a big part of pushing me to improve."