University of Minnesota Athletics
Bjugstad Drafted No. 19 by Panthers
6/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Incoming Gophers forward Nick Bjugstad was selected as the No. 19 overall pick on Friday night at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles.
Bjugstad, a 6-5, 190-pound center, led Blaine to the Class AA state tournament this season and finished the year with 35 goals and 34 assists for 69 points in 30 games. He was plus-23 for the season and was named Minnesota's Mr. Hockey Award winner. Bjugstad was a junior this past season, but accelerated his classes to graduate a year early. As a sophomore, he totaled 31 goals and 27 assists for 58 points in 31 games. He was ranked No. 12 in the NHL Central Scouting Service rankings for the 2010 draft.
Bjugstad is the 14th Gopher selected in the first round during Minnesota head coach Don Lucia's tenure with the program and the 18th first round pick in school history. Minnesota's 2010-2011 roster features 14 drafted players including forward Josh Birkholz, who was also drafted by Florida in the third round last year.
Bjugstad's uncle, Scott, tallied 163 points for the Gophers from 1979-83 and played nine seasons in the NHL, including five seasons with the Minnesota North Stars.
Gophersports.com will continue to cover the remaining six rounds of the draft throughout the day tomorrow.
