Minnesota men’s hockey forward Jimmy Snuggerud announced Tuesday he will return to the Maroon and Gold for his junior season in 2024-25.
“I am excited to announce I’m coming back to the University of Minnesota next season,” Snuggerud said. “It was a tough ending to this season, and I feel like we have some unfinished business to accomplish. I am committed to this team and excited for the opportunity next year with the Gophers. I watched Brock Faber come back for his junior year and I feel like I can take the same path as Brock to the NHL, and help the Gophers win a national championship.”
Since being drafted No. 23 overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Snuggerud has posted 84 points with 42 goals and 42 assists in 79 career outings for the Gophers, showcasing his elite skills on the ice as a two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection. He was named the B1G First Star of the Week twice during his sophomore campaign, while his 21 goals this season led the team as did his six game-winning goals and six power-play tallies.
After returning to campus in January wearing a gold medal from Team USA’s victory at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship where he had eight points in six games, Snuggerud continued to light up the scoresheet. He posted a six-point weekend with five goals and an assist, aided by the second hat trick of his career in a win over Colorado College.
A native of Chaska, Minn., Snuggerud joined Nick Bjugstad, Ryan Potulny, Thomas Vanek, Troy Riddle, and Erik Westrum as Gophers to score 20 or more goals in back-to-back seasons since 2000 and only he and Vanek accomplished that milestone in their first two collegiate seasons.
(info courtesy of Gopher Sports)
(photo credit – Brad Rempel)
