Minnesota recruit Ness to accelerate to 2008

Roseau High School defenseman Aaron Ness -- a Gopher recruit -- will accelerate his schooling to enroll at Minnesota in the fall of 2008, according to Brad Schlossman's blog. Minnesota is slated to lose only one defenseman after this season (senior Derek Peltier) and the only other flight risk is sophomore David Fischer, who is likely to stay in school for his junior season unless he makes major strides this upcoming season.

Ness will join U.S. NTDP member Sam Lofquist as Gopher freshmen blueliners next year. Lofquist is also accelerating his schooling to enroll next fall. Fellow NTDP member Grant Scott, who was at one time penciled in as a defenseman, shifted to forward at the Select 17s this past summer and will play the position full-time for the NTDP this year, so it appears as though his move to forward will carry over to into career at Minnesota.

Here is some recent video of Ness playing in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League last weekend.