More Gophers head to NHL

Published 8:04 am Tuesday, April 9, 2013

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The final count is in for the Minnesota men’s hockey team. The Gophers have lost five players early to the pros.

Defenseman Mark Alt and forward Erik Haula are the latest to leave. They signed over the weekend.

Alt joined the Philadelphia Flyers organization on an entry-level contract. He was a second-round draft pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2010 whose rights were later traded to the Flyers.

Email newsletter signup

Haula signed an entry-level deal with the Minnesota Wild.

Forwards Nick Bjugstad and Zach Budish and defenseman Nate Schmidt previously left the Gophers for pro contracts. All five players were juniors this season.