2023-09-21 21:29:01
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MANKATO, Minn. – Fourteen former Minnesota State hockey players have been invited to attend National Hockey League training camps beginning this week. Among them is 2023 Stanley Cup winner Teddy Blueger, who is currently with the Vancouver Canucks organization.
Teddy Blueger – Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver acquired Blueger’s rights on July 1, 2023 and will make $1.9 million for the 2023-24 season. The 29-year-old center was drafted 52nd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the 2012 entry draft. Blueger became the second former Maverick to win the Stanley Cup when the Golden Knights defeated the Florida Panthers in June.
Blueger was a four-year standout for the Mavericks from 2012-2016, appearing in 155 games, collecting 108 points on 31 goals and 77 assists. His 108 points is tied for the 14th most in program history. As a senior, Blueger was named the team’s MVP and was a First-Team All-WCHA selection as he led the Mavericks in scoring and assists with 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points.
Akito Hirose – Vancouver Canucks
The left defensemen signed with the Vancouver Canucks following appearing in 104 games with the Mavericks, finishing his career with seven goals and 61 assists for 68 points to go with a plus-53 rating. While at MSU, Hirose was part of teams that went 85-24-2, played on three MacNaughton Cup championship teams, two Mason Cup championship teams, qualified for three NCAA tournaments, two Frozen Fours, and one trip to the national title game.
He played seven games with the Canucks in 2022-23 with three assists, four penalty minutes, and a -1 rating.
Ryan Sandelin – Colorado Avalanche
Sandelin enters Avalanche training camp following a four-year career with the Mavericks spanning from 2019-23. Sandelin appeared in four games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) last season and scored one goal. The 24 year old from Hermantown, Minnesota totaled 43 goals, 33 assists, and 76 points in 128 games in an MSU uniform. Last season Sandelin tied for third on the team in points, goals, and assists. His seven power play tallies were second best on the squad. Sandelin is undrafted.
Ondrej Pavel – Colorado Avalanche
From Praha, Czech Republic, Pavel played two games for the Colorado Eagles (AHL) in 2022-23 following 39 games for the Mavericks in his third collegiate season. He is a left shot center. As a Maverick, Pavel appeared in 94 games with 18 goals, 23 assists, and 41 points. Last season he held a +6 rating with 34 penalty minutes, 30 blocked shots and one game-winning goal. He finished the spring with 15 points (six goals, nine assists).
Wyatt Aamodt – Colorado Avalanche
Aamodt is a left shot defensemen from Hermantown, Minnesota. He is due to become a restricted free agent at age 26 following this spring. Aamodt played 52 games for the Colorado Eagles (AHL) last season, totaling three goals, 15 assists, and 18 points with a +5 rating. The team captain for the Mavericks appeared in 123 career games in the purple and gold. He amassed 10 goals, 19 assists, and 29 points with a +42 rating over four collegiate seasons.
Walker Duehr – Calgary Flames
Duehr enters the 2023-24 campaign as a 25 year old right wing and 28 games of NHL experience playing for Calgary. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota native scored seven goals with four assists for 11 points in 27 games last year for the Flames, along with 26 points in 41 games for the Calgary Wranglers (AHL). As a four-year letterwinner for the Mavericks, Duehr finished his collegiate career with 25 goals, 25 assists, and 51 points in 102 games at MSU.
He also scored a goal and an assist in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinal game vs. St. Cloud State in 2021. He joined the Flames organization as an undrafted rookie.
Brendan Furry – Philadelphia Flyers
Forward Brendan Furry heads to the Flyers fresh off a three year Maverick career. Last spring, he appeared in three games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) and posted one goal and a pair of assists. In his final campaign at MSU, Furry collected nine goals, 19 assists, and 28 points in 39 games and tied for a team-best three game winning goals. He served as team captain as a senior and amassed 27 goals, 58 assists, and 85 points in 111 collegiate games.
Jake Livingstone – Nashville Predators
The durable defenseman made his NHL debut last year in Nashville, totaling one assist in five games for the Predators. Livingstone completed his MSU career with 21 goals, 59 assists, and 80 points in 111 games. Last season, he was named CCHA Defenseman of the Month, All-CCHA First Team, CCHA Defensemen of the Year, and ACHA Second Team All-America. Livingstone led the Mavericks with 27 assists and ranked 26th in the nation at 0.69 assists per game.
Livingstone signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract on June 27, 2023 with the Predators.
Tyler Pitlick – New York Rangers
Originally a Minnesota Mr. Hockey award recipient, Pitlick’s banner has been hanging in the rfollowings in downtown Mankato for 13 years since his final season ended at Minnesota State. Since then, the 31-year-old right wing has played NHL games for the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, and St. Louis Blues. Over his 386 games at the highest level, Pitlick has 55 goals, 50 assists, and 105 points, along with three playoff points.
He was drafted 31st overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2010 and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Connor Mackey – New York Rangers
Mackey is a 27 year old defenseman is set to make $775,000 for the 2023-24 season. Mackey made his NHL debut in 2020-21 for the Calgary Flames and split time between the NHL and AHL over the past two seasons. Last year, Mackey appeared in 20 games for the Arizona Coyotes and posted one goal, three assists, and four points, along with 39 penalty minutes.
As a Maverick, Mackey finished with 61 points and a +47 rating over 118 career games and three years. He was a 2019-20 All-WCHA First Team selection and was Minnesota State’s top scoring defensemen. He also led the team and ranked sixth in the nation with a +23 rating.
Julian Napravnik – Washington Capitals
Napravnik is looking to make his NHL debut this season following skating in 18 games for the Hershey Bears (AHL) in 2022-23. From Bad Nauheim, Germany, Napravnik enjoyed a steady four year career at Minnesota State. He finished ranking ninth on MSU’s career scoring list with 123 points and second in all-time game winning goals with 15. As a senior, Napravnik was named First Team All-CCHA following posting 18 goals, 31 assists, and 49 points in 38 games.
Benton Maass – Washington Capitals
Maass lettered in his first and only season with Minnesota State in 2021-22 and registered three goals, 11 assists, and 14 points with 68 shots on goal and a plus 20 rating. Listed as a right defenseman, Maass (Elk River, Minn.) was drafted 182nd overall by the Washington Capitals in the sixth round of the 2017 entry draft. He appeared in 55 games for the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) in 2022-23 and added four goals, seven assists, and 11 points with a +13 rating. He also skated in five playoff games.
CJ Suess – Winnipeg Jets
Suess was drafted 129th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL entry draft. He has played in five NHL games, including his debut with the Winnipeg Jets in 2019-20. Last season, Suess spent time in the AHL, with 46 games, 10 goals, 12 assists, and 22 points for the San Jose Barracuda. He signed a one year contract with the San Jose Sharks on July 14, 2022.
As a Maverick, Suess served as team captain in 2016-17 and 2017-18, totaling 157 career games, 57 goals, 70 assists, and 127 points to tie for fifth on Minnesota State’s career scoring list (NCAA DI-era). Among his many collegiate accolades include 2017-18 WCHA Player of the Year, 2017-18 All-WCHA First Team, and Top Ten Finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.
Nathan Smith – Arizona Coyotes
Smith was a Top 10 Hobey Baker Award finalist in 2021-22 following leading the Mavericks (and ranking second in the nation) in scoring with 19 goals, 21 assists, and 50 points in his final collegiate season. He closed out his three year campaign at MSU ranking 17th on Minnesota State’s career scoring list.
Smith is a 24-year-old center who is set to make $775,000 with the Arizona Coyotes in 2023-24. He was drafted 91st overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the third round of the 2018 entry draft and made his NHL debut with Arizona in 2021-22. His career has included 14 NHL games with four points. Last year, Smith played 64 games in a Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL) uniform and tallied 12 goals, 15 assists, and 27 points.
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