Two curious twists of fate led to Mark Zengerle becoming the latest recruit to commit to the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team.

Zengerle, a 19-year-old center, is one of the top scorers in the British Columbia Hockey League, with 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points in 21 games for Salmon Arm.

A native of Rochester, N.Y., he wound up with the Silverbacks in part because of a trade that sent another UW recruit — center Derek Lee — from Salmon Arm to Victoria.

Zengerle heard from his friend Conor Morrison, a Silverbacks winger who attended the Northwood School in Lake Placid, N.Y., with Zengerle, that there was a roster opening for a strong playmaker. Zengerle headed for Salmon Arm.

By virtue of his quick start, Zengerle attracted interest from U.S. colleges. He had visits lined up for the likes of North Dakota and Boston University, but decided not to take them after visiting UW last week. Quinnipiac and Northeastern also had strong interest.

"After I saw Wisconsin, that's where I knew I wanted to be," Zengerle said Thursday. "It's an amazing place."

The opportunity to visit UW only came up because Zengerle, listed at 5-foot-11 and 172 pounds, suffered a separated left shoulder that has kept him sidelined the last two weeks.

"Funny how that worked out," Zengerle said.

Zengerle is projected to join UW for the 2010-11 season, part of a group that includes defenseman Chase Drake and wingers Gavin Hartzog, Tyler Lapic and Cody Strang.

"I'm OK with (waiting until 2010)," Zengerle said. "It will give me more time to get bigger and stronger."