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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Nelson Inks First Professional Contract
4/2/2024 9:15:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Two years as Gophers' captain in five-year tenure
MINNEAPOLIS - After spending five years on the Minnesota men's hockey team, Jaxon Nelson inked his first professional contract Tuesday, signing with the Boston Bruins to a one-year, entry-level contract. He will report to the Bruins' American Hockey League affiliate in Providence on an Amateur Tryout (ATO) through the remainder of 2023-24.
Nelson put the Golden Gophers on his back down the stretch, accounting for 13 points, 11 goals and two assists, across the final eight games of the season, including his first collegiate hat trick against Michigan (Mar. 1). That outing was one of four multi-goal performances over the last month, while he also recorded a plus-11 rating in that stretch and never finished a game in the negative. Nelson also started the year on a hot streak with a point in his first five outings, stretching his career-long point streak to nine games dating back to the end of the 2022-23 campaign. He totaled 14 points in the first 15 games of the season and finished his final year with career highs in goals (19) and points (31).
The Magnolia, Minn., product skated in 169 games for the Maroon and Gold since stepping on campus in the fall of 2019, which is 20th in program history. Nelson posted 42 goals and 47 assists for 89 points during five seasons and was one of the nation's best at the faceoff dot where he won 1,394 total draws at a 53.8 percent clip in his career.
No stranger to the big stage, Nelson recorded a point in six-straight NCAA Tournament games and had 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 11 career NCAA outings over the past four years. He celebrated his 24th birthday with his third goal of the 2024 NCAA Sioux Falls Regional and was named to the all-tournament team after pacing the Gophers with three of the team's six goals in the national spotlight.
Nelson put the Golden Gophers on his back down the stretch, accounting for 13 points, 11 goals and two assists, across the final eight games of the season, including his first collegiate hat trick against Michigan (Mar. 1). That outing was one of four multi-goal performances over the last month, while he also recorded a plus-11 rating in that stretch and never finished a game in the negative. Nelson also started the year on a hot streak with a point in his first five outings, stretching his career-long point streak to nine games dating back to the end of the 2022-23 campaign. He totaled 14 points in the first 15 games of the season and finished his final year with career highs in goals (19) and points (31).
The Magnolia, Minn., product skated in 169 games for the Maroon and Gold since stepping on campus in the fall of 2019, which is 20th in program history. Nelson posted 42 goals and 47 assists for 89 points during five seasons and was one of the nation's best at the faceoff dot where he won 1,394 total draws at a 53.8 percent clip in his career.
No stranger to the big stage, Nelson recorded a point in six-straight NCAA Tournament games and had 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 11 career NCAA outings over the past four years. He celebrated his 24th birthday with his third goal of the 2024 NCAA Sioux Falls Regional and was named to the all-tournament team after pacing the Gophers with three of the team's six goals in the national spotlight.
Highlights: Gophers 2, Michigan 4
Friday, February 27
Highlights: Gophers 4, Michigan 2
Thursday, February 26
Highlights: Gophers 2, Notre Dame 3
Saturday, February 14
Highlights: Gophers 2, Notre Dame 2
Friday, February 13