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Ford commits to Wisconsin

By Michael Trzinski, 09/09/12, 10:42PM CDT

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Will join the Badgers for the 2014-15 season

"It's the perfect situation!"

Excuse Keegan Ford for floating on cloud nine, but when he talked to Wisconsin Head Coach Mike Eaves this afternoon and made a verbal commitment to play in Madison, well, it really was the perfect situation.

Ford will spend the next two years playing junior hockey for Dubuque of the USHL and is expected to arrive at the UW in time for the 2014-15 season.

"A couple things made it great for me," stated Ford. "It's close to home (Waunakee) and I really like the coaching staff and what they are all about. Add to that the fact that my dad played and coached there and it is pretty cool."

The junior had "about 15" D1 schools show interest since the June 15 first contact day and he made unofficial visits (since he is not yet a senior) to Ohio State and North Dakota.

"Coach Eaves and his staff sounded pretty excited," said Ford.

Ford will be one of three full-ride freshmen defensemen to join the Badgers in 2014, and should find a full-time role almost immediately, as there will be three other scholarship players plus two others that are expected to join the club.

The 5'9", 175# blueliner is looking forward to working hard and hopes to improve on a few things in the next couple years.

Ford is no stranger to hard work and certainly has the hockey genetics to be successful.

Dad Pat Ford played for UW from 1984-88 and scored 126 points (48g-78a) in 155 games. Ford was an assistant to Coach Jeff Sauer from 1994-2002 after two years at Northern Michigan. He was also a coach at the University of Findlay (OH) for two years before the school scrapped the hockey program.

But at heart, Pat is a Badger and was happy and proud to hear of his son's commitment to play 20 minutes from their home.

"Dad said it was totally my decision, but when he found out he was pretty excited," said Keegan Ford.

Brother Jason will join Keegan on the Dubuque Fighting Saints roster this year, so the Fords will stay together for at least one more year after two seasons as high school teammates.

"I am proud to say I am a Wisconsin Badger," said Ford on his Facebook page today.

We're proud of you too, Keegan!


Keegan Ford