MINNESOTA WILD

Former Collegians

7 – Brock Faber – Minnesota (2020-23)

• First-team All-America selection as a junior
• Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team as a junior
• Honorable mention All-Big Ten and member of the all-freshman team in 2021
• Teammates included Ben Meyers, Sampo Ranta, Sammy Walker, Matthew Knies

8 – Zeev Buium – Denver (2023-25)

• Named first-team All-America each of his two seasons
• Hobey Hat Trick top 3 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 2024-25
• NCHC Player of the Year in 2024-25
• Won 2024 NCAA championship
• Named NCHC Rookie of the Year in 2023-24
• Two-time NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year
• Also a two-time first-team All-NCHC selection
• Led NCAA in defensemen scoring as a freshman

12 – Matt Boldy – Boston College (2019-21)

• First-team All-American and Hobey Baker Award finalist as a sophomore
• First-team All-Hockey East selection in 2021
• Hockey East All-Rookie Team selection

18 – Vinnie Hinostroza – Notre Dame (2013-15)

• First-team All-Hockey East as a sophomore
• Hockey East All-Rookie Team selection
• Teammates included Bryan Rust, Jake Evans, Jordan Gross, Anders Bjork, Steven Fogarty, Cal Petersen

78 – Nico Sturm* – Clarkson (2016-19)

• Hobey Baker Award finalist as a junior
• First-team All-ECAC Hockey as a junior and twice named the conference's Best Defensive Forward
• Teammates included Sheldon Rempal

Tyler Pitlick – Minnesota State (2009-10)

• Nephew of former NHL defenseman Lance Pitlick
• Cousin of NHL forward Rem Pitlick

* = on Injured Reserve

GM/President of Hockey Operations Bill Guerin – Boston College (1989-91)
Assistant General Manager Chris Kelleher – Boston University (1994-98)
Assistant General Manager Michael Murray – Dartmouth (1999-2003)
Head Coach John Hynes – Boston University (1994-97)
Associate Coach Jack Capuano – Maine (1985-88)
Assistant Coach Patrick Dwyer – Western Michigan (2001-05)
Skating and Skills Coach Andy Ness – Augsburg (1997-01)
Senior Director, Player Development Brad Bombardir – North Dakota (1990-94)
Player Development Coach Derek Stepan – Wisconsin (2008-10)
Director, Amateur Scouting Judd Brackett – Conn. College (1999-2000)
NCAA College Scout Brian Hunter – Michigan Tech (1993-96)
Amateur Scout J.P. Perpich – Augsburg (2008-12)
Pro Scout Mark Mowers – New Hampshire (1994-98)
European Scout Carl Hagelin – Michigan (2007-11)
AHL General Manager Matt Hendricks – St. Cloud State (2000-04)
AHL Head Coach Greg Cronin – Colby College (1982-86)
AHL Assistant Coach Ben Simon – Notre Dame (1996-2000)
AHL Goaltending Coach Richard Bachman – Colorado College (2007-09)
ECHL Associate Head Coach Mike Lysyj –SUNY-Cortland (2009-13)
ECHL Assistant Coach Brett Boeing – Michigan Tech (2015-16), UMass (2016-19)

Carter Allen – SUNY-Oswego (2017-20)

Lord-Anthony Grissom – Aurora University (2017-22)

Matt Kiersted – North Dakota (2017-21)

• First-team All-NCHC and second-team All-American as a senior
• Second-team All-NCHC as a junior
• Teammates included Shane Pinto, Jasper Weatherby, Cole Smith, Rhett Gardner

Mike Koster – Minnesota (2020-25)

• Captained the Golden Gophers in each of his last two years
• Named to 2021 NCAA All-Tournament Team
• Teammates included Brock Faber, Logan Cooley, Matthew Knies, Ryan Johnson, Ben Meyers, Jackson LaCombe

Gerry Mayhew – Ferris State (2007-11)

• First-team All-WCHA as a senior; second team as a junior

Bradley Marek – Ferris State (2021-23)

• CCHA Rookie of the Year in 2021-22
• Also named to CCHA All-Rookie Team

Elliott McDermott – Colgate (2020-22), UMass (2022-24), RPI (2024-25)

• Teammates at UMass included Scott Morrow

Ryan McGuire – Colgate (2021-24), Northeastern

• Teammates at Northeastern included Cam Lund

Yuki Miura – Lake Superior State (2017-21)

Luke Mobley – Clarkson (2020-23), Augustana (2023-25)

• Captained the Vikings in 2024-25
• Also earned second-team All-CCHA in 2024-25
• Teammates at Clarkson included Josh Dunne

Jaxon Nelson – Minnesota (2019-24)

• Captained the Golden Gophers in 2023-24
• All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2023-24
• Teammates included Logan Cooley, Brock Faber, Ryan Johnson, Matthew Knies, Jackson LaCombe, Ben Meyers

Wyatt Newpower – Connecticut (2016-20)

• Served as team captain as a senior
• Named Hockey East Association Best Defensive Defenseman as a senior
• Also earned All-Hockey East Second Team honors
• Teammates included Tage Thompson, Maxim Letunov

Jack Peart – St. Cloud State (2021-24)

• Second-team All-NCHC as a sophomore and junior
• Teammates included Nick Perbix
• Won bronze medal (USA) at 2023 World Junior Championship

Cal Petersen – Notre Dame (2014-17)

• Hockey East Goaltender of the Month for Jan. 2016
• Hockey East All-Rookie Team selection in 2015

Ryan Sandelin – Minnesota State (2019-23)

• Won four straight conference championships at MSU
• Led team in goals as a junior
• Teammates included Connor Mackey, Nathan Smith, Jaxson Stauber, Walker Duehr, Marc Michaelis
• Son of former NHL defenseman Scott Sandelin

Brandon Schultz – Northeastern (2017-19), Northern Michigan (2019-21)

• Teammates at Northeastern included Adam Gaudette, Jordan Harris, Cayden Primeau, Jeremy Davies, Ryan Shea, Dylan Sikura

Jonny Sorenson – Minnesota (2019-22), Alaska (2022-24)

• Captained the Nanooks in 2023-24
• Teammates at Minnesota included Brock Faber, Jackson LaCombe, Ryan Johnson, Matthew Knies, Ben Meyers

Will Zmolek – Bemidji State (2019-23)

• Served as assistant captain during senior year
• Older brother, Riese Zmolek, is a forward in the Minnesota system
• Son of former NHL defenseman Doug Zmolek

College Draft Picks

Nathaniel Benoit – Jr., D, Long Island – 6th (182), 2021

Jimmy Clark – Jr., F, Minnesota – 7th (213), 2013

Ryan Healey – Sr., D, Harvard – 4th (121), 2022

• Named to ECAC All-Rookie Team in 2022-23

Justin Kipkie – Fr., D, Arizona State – 5th (141), 2025

Rieger Lorenz – Sr., F, Denver – 2nd (56), 2022

• Won 2024 NCAA championship
• Named to 2024 NCAA All-Tournament Team
• NCHC Rookie of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year
• Also earned first-team All-NCHC honors

Kalem Parker – Fr., D, Michigan Tech – 6th (181), 2023

Aaron Pionk – Jr., D, Minnesota Duluth – 5th (149), 2023

• Brother of current Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk

Ryder Ritchie – Fr., F, Boston University – 2nd (45), 2024

• Son of former NHL forward Byron Ritchie
• Nephew of former NHL forward Andreas Johansson

Charlie Stramel – Sr., F, Michigan State – 1st (21), 2023

• Transferred from Wisconsin after sophomore season
• Won bronze medal (USA) at 2023 World Junior Championship