Gopher commit Robbie Stucker traded to Fargo

Minnesota commit Robbie Stucker was traded Monday from Chicago (USHL) to Fargo.

The Force acquired Stucker as part of a eight player deal that also saw two picks trade hands.

Stucker, who committed to the Gophers in December, has 19 points (4G-15A) in 34 games this season with the Steel. The defenseman is a 2017 7th round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets and a St. Paul native.

In a roundabout way, Stucker heading to Fargo helps the Force replace an offensive defenseman hole opened when current Gopher Clayton Phillips was traded to Muskegon in October. Phillips spent two months in Muskegon before enrolling a semester early. The Force being able to trade a 2nd round USHL Phase 1 pick was helped by receiving an extra one in the Phillips trade.

Fargo is currently fifth place in a tight USHL Western Conference. Three points separate first and fifth place. Chicago, the defending champion, is tied for third in the USHL Eastern Conference with 40 points.

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Stucker isn't the only Gopher commit traded in the USHL this week as teams ramp for Tuesday's trade deadline. Rhett Pitlick's affiliate rights were also traded this weekend.

Pitlick the younger's USHL rights went from Central Illinois to Omaha. He currently is a sophomore at Chaska (HS-MN) where he leads the Hawks in goals with 17. Previous Gophers to have played for Omaha include current players Brannon McManus and Steve Johnson along with Minnesota alums Ben Marshall, Seth Ambroz and Erik Haula.

Robbie Stucker commits to Minnesota

Defenseman Robbie Stucker verbally committed Christmas Day to Minnesota.

Proud and excited to announce my commitment to further my education and hockey career at The University of Minnesota! @GopherHockey #SKI-U-MAH〽️

— Robbie Stucker (@Rob_Stucks3) December 25, 2017

Stucker, a native of St. Paul and 1998 birth year, previously was committed to Colorado College.

The 19 year-old currently plays for the USHL Chicago Steel (whose associate coach Ben Gordon previously was Minnesota's Director of Operations), where he has 3 goals and 12 points in 21 games. That total is tied with several players, including new Minnesota freshman Clayton Phillips, for the seventh-most points by a USHL defenseman. Prior to this season, Stucker played high school hockey at St. Thomas Academy.

With Phillips coming in this semester and Nate Knoepke departing for the USHL to get more playing time, the Gophers had an opening for 2018-19 with no defensive commits. Stucker, a right-handed shot listed at 6'3", 185 lbs, fills that role.

Stucker is a 2017 Columbus Blue Jackets 7th round pick. For more on his recent development, Alison Lukan interviewed Stucker earlier this month for The Athletic.

Recent Gopher men's hockey verbal commitments:
-Jared Moe - New Prague
-Joe Miller - Minneapolis
-Noah Tussey - Stillwater
-Nick Williams - Edina
-Rhett Pitlick - Chaska
-Jake Braccini - Buffalo
-Chaz and Cruz Lucius