University of Minnesota Athletics
Six Golden Gophers Selected in 2007 NHL Entry Draft
6/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
One future and one current University of Minnesota men’s hockey player centers Patrick White (Grand Rapids, Minn.) and Jim O’Brien (Maplewood, Minn.) were selected in the first round of the 2007 National Hockey League Entry Draft last night at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Incoming freshman White was selected with the 25th overall pick by the Vancouver Canucks, while sophomore-to-be O’Brien was taken at No. 29 by the Ottawa Senators.
Later in the draft, incoming forward Mike Hoeffel (North Oaks, Minn.) was selected in the second round by the New Jersey Devils with the 57th overall pick, followed by incoming defenseman Cade Fairchild (Duluth, Minn.) to the St. Louis Blues in the fourth round with the 96th pick, incoming center Taylor Matson (Mound, Minn.) to the Canucks in the sixth round with the 176th pick and incoming center Nick Larson (Stillwater, Minn.) to the Washington Capitals in the seventh round with the 185th pick.
White, a 6-1, 190-pound forward from Grand Rapids, Minn., recently completed his senior year at Grand Rapids High School. A finalist for the 2007 Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award, White posted totals of 18-31--49 in 30 games to lead the Thunderhawks to second place at the Minnesota State High School Class AA Tournament, earning All-Tournament Team honors. A finalist for the 2007 Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award, White was named the Associated Press Player of the Year. He also played 12 games with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, scoring eight goals and one assist. This past April, White helped Team USA capture the silver medal at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship. In 2005-06, White led Grand Rapids in scoring with 23-29--52 in 30 games to help the Thunderhawks to a 21-9-0 record and a runner-up finish at the Class AA State Tournament. With 5-1--6 in three games, he was named to the All-Tournament Team. For the season, White was named AP all-state honorable mention, Duluth News Tribune second team all-area and Iron Range all-conference. In 2004-05, he had 18-15--33 in 26 games to help Grand Rapids to a 15-11-0 record. White had 2-5--7 during his freshman season.
O’Brien, a 6-2, 189-pound forward, was a freshman for the Golden Gophers during the 2006-07 season. In 43 games, O’Brien compiled totals of 7-8--15 and 24 penalties for 51 minutes. This past April, O’Brien helped Team USA capture the silver medal at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship. Prior to joining the Maroon and Gold, he spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. In 2005-06, O’Brien had totals of 17-24--41 and 76 penalty minutes in 51 games Under-18 Team. He competed with the Under-17 Team in 2004-05, posting totals of 16-18--34 and 51 penalty minutes in 54 games.
Hoeffel will join the Golden Gophers as a 6-2, 190-pound forward from North Oaks, Minn. Most recently a member of the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-18 Team, Hoeffel had 16 goals and seven assists in 44 games during the 2006-07 season. Prior to his time in Ann Arbor, Hoeffel attended Hill-Murray School, helping the Pioneers to a 27-3-1 record and fourth place at the Class AA State Tournament during his junior season. With totals of 27-44--71 in 31 games, Hoeffel finished 11th in the state in scoring and was named AP all-state honorable mention, Minneapolis Star Tribune first team all-metro and Classic Suburban all-conference. During his sophomore season, he posted totals of 24-19--43 in 26 games to help the Pioneers to a 17-8-1 overall record.
Fairchild, a 5-11, 186-pound defenseman from Duluth, Minn., will come to Minnesota after two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. A member of the NTDP Under-18 Team in 2006-07, Fairchild had three goals and 16 assists and 40 penalty minutes in 40 games. This past April, Fairchild helped Team USA capture the silver medal at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship. In 2005-06, he competed with the NTDP Under-17 Team, posting totals of 10-16--26 and 16 penalty minutes in 68 games. A strong skater and playmaker, Fairchild attended Duluth East High School prior to coming to Ann Arbor. In 2004-05, he had totals of 10-30--40 in 31 games to help the Greyhounds to third place at the Minnesota State High School Class AA Tournament. He was named to the All-Tournament team after posting totals of 0-4--4 in three games. Fairchild will become the first native of Duluth to wear the Maroon and Gold since forward Chad Roberg in 2002-03 and defenseman Nick Angell in 2001-02.
Matson, a 5-10, 175-pound forward from Mound, Minn., recently completed his senior year at the Academy of Holy Angels. In 19 games during the 2006-07 season, Matson scored 17 goals and 19 assists to help the Stars to a 26-1-1 overall record., falling to Burnsville in the section final. A finalist for the 2007 Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award, Matson was named AP honorable mention all-state. During his junior year, Matson led the team and finished 12th in the state in scoring with 29-41--70 in 27 games. The Stars posted a 23-2-2 record and fell to Apple Valley in Section 5AA semifinals. Matson was named AP second team all-state, Star Tribune third team all-metro and Missota all-conference. In 2004-05, he posted totals of 28-31--59 in 30 games to finish 31st in the state and second on the team in scoring (behind current Golden Gopher freshman Jay Barriball’s 32-49--81). Matson helped Holy Angels to a 26-3-1 record and the 2005 Minnesota State Class AA championship, earning AP all-state honorable mention.
Larson will join the Maroon and Gold as a 6-1, 180-pound forward from Stillwater, Minn. He recently completed his senior year at Hill-Murray School. In 2006-07, Larson finished first on the team and tied for 32nd in the state in scoring with totals of 31-30--61 in 29 games. A finalist for the 2007 Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award and an AP all-state honorable mention player, Larson helped the Pioneers to a 23-6-1 record and a berth in the Class AA State Tournament. He also played 10 games with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL, scoring three goals and two assists. During his junior year, Larson led the team and finished fifth in the state in scoring with totals of 38-39--77 in 31 games. Larson helped the Pioneers to a 27-3-1 record and fourth place at the State Tournament, earning all-tournament honors with 5-1--6 in three games. He was also named AP all-state honorable mention, St. Paul Pioneer Press first team all-state, Star Tribune third team all-metro and Classic Suburban all-conference. During his sophomore season, Larson posted totals of 9-11--20 in 26 games to help the Pioneers to a 17-8-1 overall record.
With six players selected in the 2007 Draft, 19 current Golden Gophers now have their rights owned by NHL franchises, including first-round picks Blake Wheeler (Phoenix, fifth in 2004), Kyle Okposo (N.Y. Islanders, seventh in 2006), David Fischer (Montreal, 20th in 2006), White and O’Brien, and second-round selections Ryan Stoa (Colorado, 34th in 2005), Jeff Frazee (New Jersey, 38th in 2005), Hoeffel and Alex Goligoski (Pittsburgh, 61st in 2004).
With two first-round selections on Friday night, the Golden Gophers have now had 15 players drafted in the first round in program history. Minnesota has had at least one player drafted in the first round for six consecutive years.
2007 NHL Entry Draft Round 1 Golden Gopher draftees
25. Vancouver Canucks Patrick White, C (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids HS) incoming freshman
29. Ottawa Senators Jim O’Brien, C (Maplewood, Minn./USNDT) sophomore-to-be
Round 2 Golden Gopher draftees
57. New Jersey Devils Mike Hoeffel, F (North Oaks, Minn./USNDT/Hill-Murray HS) incoming freshman
Round 4 Golden Gopher draftees
96. St. Louis Blues Cade Fairchild, D (Duluth, Minn./USNDT/Duluth East HS) incoming freshman
Round 6 Golden Gopher draftees
176. Vancouver Canucks Taylor Matson, C (Mound, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) incoming freshman
Round 7 Golden Gopher draftees
185. Washington Capitals Nick Larson, C (Stillwater, Minn./Hill-Murray HS) incoming freshman
