Gophers’ roster revamp begins with transfer portal opening

Former Gophers men’s hockey coach Bob Motzko said that your first season with a new team is always a challenge, as for the most part you’re leading someone else’s recruits. Although in the era of the transfer portal, that’s changing quickly.

Incoming Gophers coach Brett Larson has hit the ground running in Dinkytown, and on Day 1 of the portal opening, when players can officially announce their intent to change teams, a notable remake of the Minnesota roster has been underway.

On Monday morning, seven members of Motzko’s final Gophers roster entered the portal, including three defensemen, as Larson looks to revamp the Minnesota blue line. Not expected to return are goalie Nathan Airey, forwards Jimmy Clark, Erik Pahlsson and August Falloon, and defensemen Max Rud, Finn McLaughlin and Leo Gruba.

Per multiple reports, the Gophers landed three of the bigger in-state prizes available in the portal on Monday, with St. Cloud State defenseman Tanner Henricks and forward Austin Burnevik both choosing to follow Larson down Interstate-94.

Also, Minnesota State Mankato defenseman Evan Murr will use his final season of college eligibility in a Gophers sweater. Murr, who is from Stillwater, has been named the CCHA’s defenseman of the year for the past two seasons running.

In addition, the Minnesota blue line is expected to add two recruits for next season. Mace’o Phillips is a 6-foot-6 blueliner who played for Green Bay in the USHL last season after beginning his prep career at Benilde-St. Margaret’s. And last weekend the Gophers got a commitment for next season from Alex Lofgren, a 6-foot-4 Swede currently playing for Fargo in the USHL.

Luca DiPasquo, who transferred to the U from Michigan State two years ago, is the Gophers’ top returning goalie. He will be joined by another former Spartan, with Melvin Strahl, a 6-foot-3 Swede who will be a sophomore eligibility-wise, reportedly coming over from East Lansing.

Strahl was expected to be the heir apparent to Spartans star Trey Augustine, who led Michigan State to the past three Big Ten titles. But when the Spartans got a commitment this winter from Joshua Ravensbergen, a 6-foot-5 first round pick of the San Jose Sharks, Strahl’s future playing time prospects took a hit.

Gruba, who was a prep standout at Hill-Murray and was named the USHL’s top defenseman in 2024, never found his stride with the Gophers but is staying in the Big Ten, announcing he will transfer to Notre Dame.

McLaughlin will be heading to St. Cloud State, which on Sunday named former Huskies forward Nick Oliver as their next coach, replacing Larson.

Per NCAA rules, the college hockey transfer portal opens the Monday following the conclusion of the Frozen Four and is open for 15 days, during which time a student-athlete may switch schools without having to sit out a year. A player entering the portal may return to their original school, but risks having their scholarship revoked.