University of Minnesota Athletics
Okposo Skates in 500th NHL Game
2/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Feb. 10, 2016 
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) – Just days after notching his second career hat trick, Gopher Hockey alum Kyle Okposo added to his accomplishments on Tuesday by skating in his 500th NHL game with the New York Islanders. The forward tallied an assist as the Islanders topped Columbus by a 3-2 margin.
A native of St. Paul, Minn., Okposo has 347 career points (132 goals, 215 assists) in his 500 games while adding seven points (five goals, two assists) in 13 playoff games. In 50 games this season, the forward leads New York with 42 points and 27 assists.
Okposo skated in 58 games for the Gophers from 2006-08, scoring 51 points (26 goals, 25 assists). A WCHA All-Rookie Team honoree and Minnesota’s Frank Pond Rookie of the Year, Okposo helped the Gophers sweep the WCHA titles in 2006-07, winning both the MacNaughton Cup and the Broadmoor Trophy. Okposo is the second member of the 2006-07 freshman class to skate in 500 career games (Erik Johnson skated in his 500th NHL game earlier this month) and the fourth overall member of the 2006-07 Minnesota squad to do so (Blake Wheeler, Alex Goligoski).
Noteworthy
*Goligoski had a goal in Dallas’ 4-3 overtime win over Minnesota last night.
*Erik Haula (1-1—2) and Thomas Vanek (0-2—2) – two of only four non-North American skaters to play at the University of Minnesota – skated on the same line last night for the Wild and combined for four points.
*Nick Bjugstad added a pair of assists in a 7-4 Florida win over Buffalo.
-Pride On Ice-
A native of St. Paul, Minn., Okposo has 347 career points (132 goals, 215 assists) in his 500 games while adding seven points (five goals, two assists) in 13 playoff games. In 50 games this season, the forward leads New York with 42 points and 27 assists.
Okposo skated in 58 games for the Gophers from 2006-08, scoring 51 points (26 goals, 25 assists). A WCHA All-Rookie Team honoree and Minnesota’s Frank Pond Rookie of the Year, Okposo helped the Gophers sweep the WCHA titles in 2006-07, winning both the MacNaughton Cup and the Broadmoor Trophy. Okposo is the second member of the 2006-07 freshman class to skate in 500 career games (Erik Johnson skated in his 500th NHL game earlier this month) and the fourth overall member of the 2006-07 Minnesota squad to do so (Blake Wheeler, Alex Goligoski).
Noteworthy
*Goligoski had a goal in Dallas’ 4-3 overtime win over Minnesota last night.
*Erik Haula (1-1—2) and Thomas Vanek (0-2—2) – two of only four non-North American skaters to play at the University of Minnesota – skated on the same line last night for the Wild and combined for four points.
*Nick Bjugstad added a pair of assists in a 7-4 Florida win over Buffalo.
-Pride On Ice-
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