Spartans get 2009 verbal commitment

Matt Duchene's verbal commitment to play hockey at Michigan State University is not a bargaining ploy - the decision has deep family roots.

The 15 year-old from Haliburton is considered Ontario's next elite hockey talent (1991) birthday and according to International Scouting Services the favourite to be the number one draft pick in the OHL next spring.

"At this point, Matt is committed to playing at Michigan State," said father Vince Duchene, a real estate salesman in Haliburton. "Part of the reason for making this decision early is to avoid all the hype. We've given them a verbal commitment and that's all we can do right now. We feel less pressure now than we have in five years (having made this decision) and now Matt can go out and play."

The rest of the article, from TSN, is HERE.