University of Minnesota Athletics
Lindgren, Pitlick Selected in NHL Draft
6/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
BUFFALO, N.Y. (GopherSports.com) - The Gopher Hockey program featured a pair of prospects selected in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday as Ryan Lindgren was picked in the second round by the Boston Bruins and Rem Pitlick was selected in the third round by the Nashville Predators.
A native of Minneapolis, Minn., Lindgren was selected 49th overall (second round) by the Boston Bruins, the highest Gopher Hockey draft pick since Brady Skjei was picked 28th overall by the New York Rangers in 2012. Like Skjei, Lindgren is a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program and a veteran of international play with USA Hockey. The defenseman is the fourth Gopher Hockey player selected by Boston after Phil Kessel, Ben Clymer and Jay Moser. Lindgren's father, Bob (Michigan) and older brother, Charlie (St. Cloud State), were both college hockey goalies.
A native of Plymouth, Minn., Pitlick was selected 76th overall (third round) by the Nashville Predators, making him the 200th Gopher Hockey prospect picked in the NHL Entry Draft. The forward hauled in a slew of honors during the 2015-16 season including USA Hockey Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year, United States Hockey League (USHL) Player of the Year, USHL Forward of the Year and First Team All-USHL honors. He led the USHL with 89 points (46 goals, 43 assists) in 56 regular-season games for the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Pitlick is the fifth Gopher Hockey prospect selected by Nashville - joining Tommy Novak, Zach Budish, Ryan Flynn and Matt Koalska. His father, Lance, also skated for the Gophers and was drafted 180th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in 1986 before an eight-year NHL career.
Both players previously skated at Shattuck-St. Mary's and helped the program capture the 2014 Tier I Boys 18 and Under National Championship with current Gophers forward Ryan Norman.
Lindgren and Pitlick have both been invited to the 2016 USA Hockey Junior Evalutation Camp later this summer in Ann Arbor, Mich.
-Pride On Ice-
