Despite an early exit in the NCAA Fargo Regionals, the Gophers men’s hockey team had a standout season, earning numerous Big Ten accolades and seeing nine players advance to professional leagues.
Finishing with a 25-11 record, the Gophers secured several Big Ten awards. Standout players Sam Rinzel and Jimmy Snuggerud were among the top honorees.
Four additional Gophers—Connor Kurth, Liam Souliere, Matthew Wood, and Ryan Chesley—earned spots on the All-Big Ten honorable mention team.
Sam Rinzel
Sam Rinzel earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors, achieving a career-best 10 goals and 31 points. He ranked sixth nationally among defensemen for goals and points.
On March 29, Rinzel signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Speaking with CHGO Sports about his decision, Rinzel shared, “I felt ready to take the next step and pursue my dream. When that opportunity arises, it’s tough to turn down.”
Jimmy Snuggerud
Jimmy Snuggerud capped his college career with consecutive All-Big Ten First Team honors, achieving career highs of 51 points, 24 goals, and 27 assists this season.
Drafted in the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Snuggerud signed a three-year entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues, opting to skip his final year of college hockey.
In an interview with the Blues, Snuggerud reflected, “I was lucky to play with so many talented teammates at Minnesota. I love shooting the puck and setting up plays, and that works well when you’re surrounded by great players.”
Oliver Moore
On March 29, Oliver Moore signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, the same day as teammate Sam Rinzel.
Moore recorded 33 points over two seasons with the Gophers, hitting a career-high 12 goals this season.
Selected in the first round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft by Chicago, Moore now joins the pros.
Gophers assistant coach Ben Gordon expressed mixed feelings, saying, “It’s tough to see them go, but for some, it’s time to move on and take the next step.”
Matthew Wood
On March 29, Matthew Wood signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators, who selected him in the first round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
After transferring from UConn, Wood played one season with the Gophers, amassing 39 points with 17 goals and 22 assists.
He concluded his NCAA career with 101 points in 109 games.
Connor Kurth
On March 30, Connor Kurth signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, becoming the latest Gopher to join an NHL team.
Kurth achieved a career-high 39 points this season with the Gophers.
He will spend the rest of the season with the Syracuse Crunch, the Lightning’s AHL affiliate.
Mike Koster
On April 2, Mike Koster signed with the Iowa Heartlanders of the ECHL, an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild, after five seasons with the Gophers.
Koster played 180 games, ranking third in program history, and tallied 89 points during his time at Minnesota.
As a defenseman, he blocked 202 shots across those 180 games.
Ryan Chesley
On April 2, Gophers defenseman Ryan Chesley signed an amateur tryout with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, where he’ll play out the 2024-2025 season before joining the NHL’s Washington Capitals.
Over three seasons with Minnesota, Chesley recorded 38 points and blocked 202 shots in 115 games.
Mason Nevers
On April 4, Mason Nevers concluded his five-year Gophers career by signing with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads.
Nevers played 171 games, accumulating 66 points with 27 goals and 39 assists. During his tenure, he contributed to three Big Ten regular season titles and a Big Ten championship for Minnesota.
Aaron Huglen
On April 7, Aaron Huglen became the latest Gopher to go pro, signing with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, as of April 9.
In four seasons, the senior played 150 games for Minnesota, recording 32 goals, 41 assists, and 73 points.
Huglen earned the final Big Ten award for the team, named one of seven recipients of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Assistant coach Ben Gordon remains optimistic about the upcoming season despite the departures, stating, “New players will take on bigger roles. Everyone’s excited and knows this is part of the process.”
Leave a Reply