University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brady Paitrick
Gophers Add Six Via Transfer Portal
4/23/2026 1:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Newcomers set to join 'U' for 2026-27
MINNEAPOLIS - University of Minnesota head men's hockey coach Brett Larson announced the addition of six players via the transfer portal as he builds the roster heading into his first year behind the bench in 2026-27. The Golden Gophers welcome in forwards Austin Burnevik and Christian Humphreys, defensemen Tanner Henricks, Finn Loftus, and Evan Murr, and netminder Melvin Strahl.
"We are really excited about the additions we made through the portal," Coach Larson said. "The players coming in are the right pieces to the puzzle and fit what we need as a group. They're hungry to compete, ready to contribute, and will push our program forward right away. We can't wait to get them on the ice."
Austin Burnevik | Junior | Forward | Blaine, Minn.
Burnevik comes to Dinkytown with Coach Larson after playing two seasons of college hockey at St. Cloud State where he posted 66 points across 71 appearances as one of the NCHC's most dangerous scorers. As a sophomore, he earned All-NCHC Second Team honors behind a 20-goal, 38-point campaign that ranked him 13th in the NCAA for total goals and included a nine-game point streak to start the year. He burst onto the college scene as a freshman, landing on the All-NCHC Rookie Team after becoming the first player in SCSU to lead the Huskies in both goals and points. Prior to college, Burnevik starred for the USHL's Madison Capitols with a 40-goal season and All-USHL Third Team honors in 2023-24 after developing through USA Hockey's National Team Development Program for two years. The sixth-round selection of the Anaheim Ducks also won a gold medal at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Tanner Henricks | Sophomore | Defense | Mission Viejo, Calif.
Henricks also began his college career at St. Cloud State with Coach Larson, appearing in 14 games as a freshman defenseman, ranking third among Huskies' blueliners in goals. He finished the season strong after returning from injury to record six points on three goals and three assists. Drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fourth round, he opened his NCAA tenure with a three-game point streak, including an assist in his college hockey debut, while showing offensive flashes down the stretch. Before college, Henricks spent two seasons with the USHL's Lincoln Stars, helping capture the 2025 Anderson Cup and posting a 33-point campaign from the blue line in 2024-25. His development path also featured time at Shattuck-St. Mary's and a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Christian Humphreys | Sophomore | Forward | Pittsburgh, Pa.
Humphreys briefly began his college career at Michigan, appearing in 10 games in 2024-25 and recorded his first NCAA point before moving to the OHL midseason. A seventh-round draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche, he erupted offensively with the Kitchener Rangers, producing 33 points in 28 games aided by 11 multi-point outings to close the campaign. His numbers only increased in 2025-26 where he put up an 85-point regular season built on 27 goals and a team-leading 58 assists, while posting a plus-22 rating and a 14-game point streak. Humphreys' junior tenure also features two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program, including a 58-point U18 season and a silver medal at the 2024 IIHF Under-18 World Championship.
Finn Loftus | Junior | Defense | Blaine, Minn.
Loftus makes the short trek down I-94 to stay under the guidance of Coach Larson after skating in 36 games during his sophomore season at St. Cloud State. With the Huskies, he produced a 16-point campaign that ranked second among defensemen and featured a pair of power-play goals. He previously spent his freshman year at UMass, picking up his first NCAA point in his college hockey debut, and helped the Minutemen reach the NCAA Fargo Regional Final. Before college, he developed across two full USHL seasons with the Sioux City Musketeers, serving as an alternate captain and posting a 35-point year from the blue line in 2023-24. His path began at Blaine High School, where he became the program's all-time scoring leader among defensemen and was a three-time all-conference selection.
Evan Murr | Senior | Defense| Stillwater, Minn.
Entering his final year of college hockey eligibility, Murr brings a veteran presence to the Maroon and Gold lineup as a two-time CCHA Defenseman of the Year and three-time all-conference selection during his three years at Minnesota State. He was one of the nation's top offensive defensemen a year ago, earning AHCA All-America Second Team honors after leading the Mavericks to conference regular-season and tournament titles behind a career-best 30-point campaign. Murr's 10 goals ranked sixth among all NCAA defensemen in 2025-26 and the team was a perfect 9-0-0 when he found the back of the net. He closed his MSU tenure ranked 10th in program history in scoring by a defenseman with 83 points in 116 appearances, thanks to no fewer than 26 points in any season.
Melvin Strahl | Sophomore | Goaltender | Solleftea, Sweden
Strahl remains in the Big Ten Conference, coming to Minnesota after one season at Michigan State where he had an unbeaten record of 2-0-1 in three appearances. A fifth-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, he posted a .922 save percentage and a 2.27 goals-against average in his lone collegiate campaign. He made his NCAA debut with a 22-save victory over Northern Michigan in October and stopped a season-high 32 shots against the Gophers at 3M Arena at Mariucci in the regular-season finale. Strahl previously starred with Youngstown in the USHL, earning All-USHL Second Team honors and finished as a finalist for Goaltender of the Year after a league-leading 33-win season in 2024-25. He also brings international experience with Team Sweden from the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship following multiple seasons developing in Sweden's MoDo Hockey system.
Fans will get a chance to watch the new-look Gophers during Coach Larson's first year behind the bench from 3M Arena at Mariucci. The renewal deadline for current season ticket holders is May 7 (www.gophersports.com/renew), while new season tickets are available for purchase HERE.
"We are really excited about the additions we made through the portal," Coach Larson said. "The players coming in are the right pieces to the puzzle and fit what we need as a group. They're hungry to compete, ready to contribute, and will push our program forward right away. We can't wait to get them on the ice."
Austin Burnevik | Junior | Forward | Blaine, Minn.
Burnevik comes to Dinkytown with Coach Larson after playing two seasons of college hockey at St. Cloud State where he posted 66 points across 71 appearances as one of the NCHC's most dangerous scorers. As a sophomore, he earned All-NCHC Second Team honors behind a 20-goal, 38-point campaign that ranked him 13th in the NCAA for total goals and included a nine-game point streak to start the year. He burst onto the college scene as a freshman, landing on the All-NCHC Rookie Team after becoming the first player in SCSU to lead the Huskies in both goals and points. Prior to college, Burnevik starred for the USHL's Madison Capitols with a 40-goal season and All-USHL Third Team honors in 2023-24 after developing through USA Hockey's National Team Development Program for two years. The sixth-round selection of the Anaheim Ducks also won a gold medal at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Tanner Henricks | Sophomore | Defense | Mission Viejo, Calif.
Henricks also began his college career at St. Cloud State with Coach Larson, appearing in 14 games as a freshman defenseman, ranking third among Huskies' blueliners in goals. He finished the season strong after returning from injury to record six points on three goals and three assists. Drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fourth round, he opened his NCAA tenure with a three-game point streak, including an assist in his college hockey debut, while showing offensive flashes down the stretch. Before college, Henricks spent two seasons with the USHL's Lincoln Stars, helping capture the 2025 Anderson Cup and posting a 33-point campaign from the blue line in 2024-25. His development path also featured time at Shattuck-St. Mary's and a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Christian Humphreys | Sophomore | Forward | Pittsburgh, Pa.
Humphreys briefly began his college career at Michigan, appearing in 10 games in 2024-25 and recorded his first NCAA point before moving to the OHL midseason. A seventh-round draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche, he erupted offensively with the Kitchener Rangers, producing 33 points in 28 games aided by 11 multi-point outings to close the campaign. His numbers only increased in 2025-26 where he put up an 85-point regular season built on 27 goals and a team-leading 58 assists, while posting a plus-22 rating and a 14-game point streak. Humphreys' junior tenure also features two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program, including a 58-point U18 season and a silver medal at the 2024 IIHF Under-18 World Championship.
Finn Loftus | Junior | Defense | Blaine, Minn.
Loftus makes the short trek down I-94 to stay under the guidance of Coach Larson after skating in 36 games during his sophomore season at St. Cloud State. With the Huskies, he produced a 16-point campaign that ranked second among defensemen and featured a pair of power-play goals. He previously spent his freshman year at UMass, picking up his first NCAA point in his college hockey debut, and helped the Minutemen reach the NCAA Fargo Regional Final. Before college, he developed across two full USHL seasons with the Sioux City Musketeers, serving as an alternate captain and posting a 35-point year from the blue line in 2023-24. His path began at Blaine High School, where he became the program's all-time scoring leader among defensemen and was a three-time all-conference selection.
Evan Murr | Senior | Defense| Stillwater, Minn.
Entering his final year of college hockey eligibility, Murr brings a veteran presence to the Maroon and Gold lineup as a two-time CCHA Defenseman of the Year and three-time all-conference selection during his three years at Minnesota State. He was one of the nation's top offensive defensemen a year ago, earning AHCA All-America Second Team honors after leading the Mavericks to conference regular-season and tournament titles behind a career-best 30-point campaign. Murr's 10 goals ranked sixth among all NCAA defensemen in 2025-26 and the team was a perfect 9-0-0 when he found the back of the net. He closed his MSU tenure ranked 10th in program history in scoring by a defenseman with 83 points in 116 appearances, thanks to no fewer than 26 points in any season.
Melvin Strahl | Sophomore | Goaltender | Solleftea, Sweden
Strahl remains in the Big Ten Conference, coming to Minnesota after one season at Michigan State where he had an unbeaten record of 2-0-1 in three appearances. A fifth-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, he posted a .922 save percentage and a 2.27 goals-against average in his lone collegiate campaign. He made his NCAA debut with a 22-save victory over Northern Michigan in October and stopped a season-high 32 shots against the Gophers at 3M Arena at Mariucci in the regular-season finale. Strahl previously starred with Youngstown in the USHL, earning All-USHL Second Team honors and finished as a finalist for Goaltender of the Year after a league-leading 33-win season in 2024-25. He also brings international experience with Team Sweden from the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship following multiple seasons developing in Sweden's MoDo Hockey system.
Fans will get a chance to watch the new-look Gophers during Coach Larson's first year behind the bench from 3M Arena at Mariucci. The renewal deadline for current season ticket holders is May 7 (www.gophersports.com/renew), while new season tickets are available for purchase HERE.
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