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2019 Gopher Hockey NHL Draft Guide
6/11/2019 2:40:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS -- Before the 2019 NHL Entry Draft later this month, catch up on Pride on Ice's illustrious history at the event with the 2019 Gopher Hockey NHL Draft Guide. The University of Minnesota is once again anticipated to feature a number of NHL draft selections this year at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia. The 57th draft in league history will feature seven rounds, running from June 21-22. Players that were born between Jan. 1, 1999 and Sept. 15, 2001 are eligible for selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.Â
Gopher Hockey NHL Entry Draft Notes
• The University of Minnesota has produced 208 total NHL draft picks including 20 first round picks.Â
• The first Gopher ever selected in the NHL draft was Wally Olds, taken by Detroit with the 57th pick (fifth round) in 1969. Olds never played in the NHL, electing to play in the WHA instead.Â
• Erik Johnson (1st overall in 2006 by St. Louis) is Minnesota's highest draft pick.Â
• At least one Gopher has been drafted in 44 of the last 45 NHL Entry Drafts dating back to 1974 with 2001 being the only exception.Â
• Minnesota featured nine draft picks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft (Patrick White, Jim O'Brien, Nico Sacchetti, Mike Hoeffel, Jake Hansen, Cade Fairchild, Kent Patterson, Taylor Matson and Nick Larson) -- a program record.Â
• The Dallas Stars (previously the Minnesota North Stars) have drafted more Gophers than any other NHL team with 23 selections. However, the organization has only drafted two Gophers (Nico Sacchetti in 2007 and Gino Guyer in 2003) since moving to Dallas.Â
• Every current NHL organization has drafted at least one Gopher Hockey player with the exception of the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas acquired former Gophers Nate Schmidt, Erik Haula and Jake Bischoff in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft.Â
• Five times in program history has a Gophers family featured a father and son that were both drafted -- Jack/Mike Ramsey, Rem/Lance Pitlick and Tyler/Marty Nanne, Mike/Mike Reilly and Jake/Grant Bischoff. Additionally, Blake McLaughlin is the stepson of Grant Bischoff.Â
• Six sets of Gophers brothers have also been drafted -- the Brotens (Neal, Aaron, Paul), the Hankinsons (Peter, Ben, Casey), the Hendricksons (Darby, Dan), the Michelettis (Joe, Don, Pat), the Potulnys (Grant, Ryan) and the Richards (Todd, Travis). Additionally, stepbrothers Jake Bischoff and Blake McLaughlin have both been drafted.
• The 2018 NHL Entry Draft saw a pair of Gophers selected with back-to-back picks in Blake McLaughlin and Sampo Ranta -- the sixth time in program history that Gophers were taken with consecutive picks (Travis Boyd and Adam Wilcox in 2011, Mark Alt and Justin Holl in 2010, Craig Mack and Steve Orth in 1983, Tom Hirsch and David Preuss in 1981, Mike Greeder and Mike Reilly in 1977). Hirsh and Preuss were selected with consecutive picks by the Minnesota North Stars.Â
• The Gophers' most impressive round in the NHL Entry Draft came in 2006 (the last time that Vancouver hosted the NHL Entry Draft) when three Gophers were selected within the first seven picks of the draft – Erik Johnson (St. Louis, 1st overall), Phil Kessel (Boston, 5th overall) and Kyle Okposo (New York Islanders, 7th overall). David Fischer was later drafted with the 20th overall pick by Montreal, giving Minnesota four players in the first round of the 2006 draft.Â
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Gopher Hockey NHL Entry Draft Notes
• The University of Minnesota has produced 208 total NHL draft picks including 20 first round picks.Â
• The first Gopher ever selected in the NHL draft was Wally Olds, taken by Detroit with the 57th pick (fifth round) in 1969. Olds never played in the NHL, electing to play in the WHA instead.Â
• Erik Johnson (1st overall in 2006 by St. Louis) is Minnesota's highest draft pick.Â
• At least one Gopher has been drafted in 44 of the last 45 NHL Entry Drafts dating back to 1974 with 2001 being the only exception.Â
• Minnesota featured nine draft picks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft (Patrick White, Jim O'Brien, Nico Sacchetti, Mike Hoeffel, Jake Hansen, Cade Fairchild, Kent Patterson, Taylor Matson and Nick Larson) -- a program record.Â
• The Dallas Stars (previously the Minnesota North Stars) have drafted more Gophers than any other NHL team with 23 selections. However, the organization has only drafted two Gophers (Nico Sacchetti in 2007 and Gino Guyer in 2003) since moving to Dallas.Â
• Every current NHL organization has drafted at least one Gopher Hockey player with the exception of the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas acquired former Gophers Nate Schmidt, Erik Haula and Jake Bischoff in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft.Â
• Five times in program history has a Gophers family featured a father and son that were both drafted -- Jack/Mike Ramsey, Rem/Lance Pitlick and Tyler/Marty Nanne, Mike/Mike Reilly and Jake/Grant Bischoff. Additionally, Blake McLaughlin is the stepson of Grant Bischoff.Â
• Six sets of Gophers brothers have also been drafted -- the Brotens (Neal, Aaron, Paul), the Hankinsons (Peter, Ben, Casey), the Hendricksons (Darby, Dan), the Michelettis (Joe, Don, Pat), the Potulnys (Grant, Ryan) and the Richards (Todd, Travis). Additionally, stepbrothers Jake Bischoff and Blake McLaughlin have both been drafted.
• The 2018 NHL Entry Draft saw a pair of Gophers selected with back-to-back picks in Blake McLaughlin and Sampo Ranta -- the sixth time in program history that Gophers were taken with consecutive picks (Travis Boyd and Adam Wilcox in 2011, Mark Alt and Justin Holl in 2010, Craig Mack and Steve Orth in 1983, Tom Hirsch and David Preuss in 1981, Mike Greeder and Mike Reilly in 1977). Hirsh and Preuss were selected with consecutive picks by the Minnesota North Stars.Â
• The Gophers' most impressive round in the NHL Entry Draft came in 2006 (the last time that Vancouver hosted the NHL Entry Draft) when three Gophers were selected within the first seven picks of the draft – Erik Johnson (St. Louis, 1st overall), Phil Kessel (Boston, 5th overall) and Kyle Okposo (New York Islanders, 7th overall). David Fischer was later drafted with the 20th overall pick by Montreal, giving Minnesota four players in the first round of the 2006 draft.Â
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Gopher Hockey Senior Night
Wednesday, March 11
Coming Home: Danny Hendrickson
Tuesday, March 10
Highlights: Gophers 3, Michigan State 3
Friday, March 06
Highlights: Gophers 2, Michigan 4
Friday, February 27