After originally committing to NCAA Division I Michigan State University in October 2017, Tanner Kelly made it official last week by signing his national letter of intent.

Kelly, a 2002-born San Diego native, is playing the 2020-21 season with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks where he ranks third for the Lumberjacks and is tied for 11th in the USHL in points (25) and is tied for seventh in the league in goals (12) in his second full USHL season.

“Relentless two-way forward that plays fast and is constantly pursuing the puck,” said Michigan State head coach Danton Cole. “Has a good stick around the net. Excellent special teams player is a very good shot blocker and provides a strong net-front presence on the power play.”

Also this season, Kelly is third for the Lumberjacks in total shots on goal (73) and has recorded seven multi-point games and a pair of four-game point streaks so far in 2020-21. He had 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 42 games in his first full USHL season in 2019-20. Made his USHL debut in 2018-19, playing six games for Muskegon after racking up 101 points (35 goals, 66 assists) in 69 games for Little Caesars U16.

“I chose Michigan State because I’m really excited to play for Danton Cole and the awesome program that he is putting together,” Kelly told MiHockey. “Also, playing in the Big Ten is going to be awesome because there is so much good competition so there will be many rivalries and I love playing in big games like that when the pressure is on.”

In California, Kelly played for the San Diego Jr. Gulls and Anaheim Jr. Ducks.

Photo/Muskegon Lumberjacks

(Feb. 18, 2021)