NASHVILLE - The Golden Gophers men's hockey team saw two players selected during the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Entry Draft Thursday. Beckett Hendrickson (Round 4, No. 124 - Boston Bruins) and
Luke Mittelstadt (Round 7, No. 197 - Montreal Canadiens) were both chosen during the final day of the draft inside Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.
With three total picks in 2023, Minnesota increased its all-time leading number of NHL Entry Draft selections by any NCAA men's hockey program up to 239.
Hendrickson played two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and finished ninth on the team totaling 34 points (13 goals and 21 assists) in 51 appearances during the 2022-23 campaign. Ranked as the No. 67 North American skater in the 2023 Central Scouting final rankings, the Minnetonka, Minn., native won a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship in Switzerland.
The son of former Gopher and current Minnesota Wild assistant coach Darby Hendrickson, he skated in the 2023 BioSteel All-American Game after seeing the ice in 52 games for the USNTDP U17's. Hendrickson spent the 2020-21 season skating for Minnetonka High School and signed his National Letter of Intent back in November.
Mittelstadt burst onto the collegiate scene for the Maroon and Gold in 2022-23 and appeared in 38 of 40 games, missing two due to injury. He became the first Gophers defenseman to reach the 20-point mark as a freshman since Erik Johnson had 24 points in 2006-07 behind a 21-point campaign (five goals and 16 assists). The native of Eden Prairie, Minn., earned a spot on the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team after recording the first multi-goal performance of his career, scoring twice in a span of 1:49 in the third period against Boston University, including the eventual game winner.
An All-Big Ten Freshman Team selection and a Big Ten First Star of the Week in November, Mittelstadt shined during B1G play, recording 15 points in 22 league games. He finished the season with a plus-22 rating and helped the Gophers to the NCAA's sixth-best goals against average allowing 2.3 goals per game on the way to an NCAA runner-up result and a Big Ten Conference regular season championship.
During the first round Wednesday night, Minnesota's incoming freshman Oliver Moore was selected No. 19 overall by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Minnesota Draft Notes
*At least one Gopher has been drafted in 48 of the last 49 NHL Entry Drafts dating back to 1974 with 2001 being the only exception. Minnesota's 27-consecutive drafts with a selection between 1974-2000 are tied for an NCAA record.
*Hendrickson is the first Gopher selected by the Bruins since Ryan Lindgren went in the 2016 second round (49th overall) and just the fifth all-time. Mittelstadt joins fellow Minnesota teammate
Rhett Pitlick (2019) as a pick of the Canadiens and the 10th-ever selection by Montreal.
*Luke joins his brother, Casey, as draft picks from the Mittelstadt family after the eldest brother was taken No. 8 overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2017.
*Hendrickson and his father, Darby, a fourth-round pick (73rd overall) of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1990 draft, become the seventh father/son duo in program history that were both drafted representing the Maroon and Gold. They join Jimmy/Dave Snuggerud, Jack/Mike Ramsey, Rem and Rhett/Lance Pitlick, Tyler/Marty Nanne, Mike/Mike Reilly and Jake/Grant Bischoff. Additionally, Blake McLaughlin is the stepson of Grant Bischoff.
*Erik Johnson remains the highest draft pick in Minnesota history, going No. 1 overall in 2006.
*Per NCAA rules, the Gopher men's hockey program cannot comment on unsigned prospects.
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