University of Minnesota Athletics
Lettieri Inks Deal with Rangers
3/27/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) - Gopher Hockey senior forward Vinni Lettieri has signed a two-year, entry-level deal with the New York Rangers and will join the organization's America Hockey League affiliate in Hartford.
"Being a Gopher is something I will be proud of for the rest of my life, and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to play here at the University of Minnesota," Lettieri said. "It's bittersweet to be moving on from a place you love so much, but this has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, and I'm thrilled to be signing with the Rangers organization."
A native of Excelsior, Minn., Lettieri played in 149 career games at Minnesota with 83 points (37 goals, 46 assists). He posted his best season with the Gophers as a senior, averaging nearly a point a game with a career-high 37 points in 38 games. His 19 goals as a senior were also a career high as Lettieri was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and was the recipient of Minnesota's Mike Crupi Most Determined Player Award. The forward was also Minnesota's best man in the faceoff circle for the second-straight year, winning .551 of his draws.
"I am so proud of the player and the person that Vinni has become during his time with the program," Minnesota head coach Don Lucia said. "I don't think there is anyone who has worked harder for an opportunity like this, and we know Vinni will bring that same level of commitment to the New York Rangers. We wish him nothing but the absolute best."
As a member of the 2016-17 Gopher Hockey senior class, Lettieri helped the Maroon & Gold win the first four Big Ten regular-season conference championships in league history and set a new NCAA record with the program's sixth-straight overall regular-season conference title. The class made three trips to the NCAA tournament including a national championship game appearance in 2014 while their final NCAA tournament berth stands as Minnesota's 37th - also an NCAA record.
Lettieri joins former Gophers teammate Brady Skjei with the Rangers organization.
-Pride On Ice-
