Mittelstadt hoping to add NCAA championship to 2023 NHL Draft resume

TAMPA, Fla. -- Luke Mittelstadt didn't hear his name called during the 2022 NHL Draft, and partly because of that he has a chance to be called a national champion.

The freshman defenseman for the University of Minnesota scored two goals, including the game-winner, in a 6-2 win against Boston University in the first semifinal of the NCAA Frozen Four at Amalie Arena on Thursday. The Golden Gophers will play Quinnipiac University, which defeated the University of Michigan 5-2 in the other semifinal, in the NCAA championship game Saturday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, ESPN+).
Getting to the championship game is the culmination of an impressive season for Mittelstadt, the younger brother of Buffalo Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt.
The 20-year-old is fourth among Minnesota defensemen with 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) in 37 games, and his three power-play goals tied
Michael Koster
for first among Golden Gophers defensemen.
Luke made an impression on Minnesota coach Bob Motzko on the first day of practice.
"When we practiced at the start of the year, you notice] some of the good ones," Motzko said. "You just go, 'There's a good one,' and he had it right from the start. He's really been great from the first day that he stepped on the ice with us."
Motzko said Minnesota's group of defensemen is by far the deepest he's had during his coaching career, which includes 13 seasons at St. Cloud State University prior to his five seasons at Minnesota. With the Golden Gophers regularly playing seven defensemen, it meant that some of the upperclassmen have had to sacrifice ice time for freshmen like Mittelstadt, with the belief those sacrifices would pay off for the team.
Mittelstadt made good on the coaching staff's faith Thursday, scoring twice early in the third period to help Minnesota reach the NCAA championship game for the 13th time, and the first time since 2014.
The 20-year-old from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, made the left circle his office during the game. With the Gophers on a power play, Mittelstadt scored on a wrist shot to give Minnesota a 3-2 lead at 1:40 of the third period. He extended the lead to 4-2 with an even-strength goal from a similar spot at 3:29 of the period.
Minnesota forward
[Logan Cooley
, the No. 3 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes, scored two empty-net goals for the 6-2 final.
"I think Koster] gave me that first one and [forward
[Aaron Huglen
] set up a great screen," Mittelstadt said. "I don't think the goalie saw it for a second. All I had to do was put it on that right side and fortunate enough I did.
"On that second one, defenseman
[Ryan Chesley
] gave me a great pass and there was another screen out front. I think we had guys in front of the net all night. We just keep firing the puck and good things will happen."
It was a sweet moment for Luke, who is the youngest of the Mittelstadt brothers, each of whom has ties to the Golden Gophers. Casey, 24, had 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 34 games in 2017-18, his only NCAA season, before signing with the Sabres. John Mittelstadt, 21, is a Minnesota freshman forward who has four points (three goals, one assist) this season.
Luke says he often speaks with Casey and the message always is the same.
"We always talk, he just wants me to have fun and keep playing my game no matter what," he said. "I'm super fortunate to have him."
And Minnesota is super fortunate to have Luke Mittelstadt on the roster. Last season he had 55 points (19 goals, 36 assists) in 60 games with Madison of the United States Hockey League, third among USHL defensemen. He was No. 168 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters for the 2022 draft, but was passed over and decided to go to Minnesota.
Motzko has been more than happy to have him.
"We called USA Hockey and said, 'You've got to watch this guy. I know he wasn't drafted but he's a candidate for the World Junior team,'" Motzko said. "He had a terrific season last year in the USHL and he just continues to get better."
Mittelstadt had three assists in seven games to help the United States win the bronze medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.
His results this season have him No. 82 on
Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters
presented by BioSteel, making him a solid prospect to be selected in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, which will be held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on June 28-29.
Mittelstadt just hopes that he'll have an NCAA championship to add to his resume before that happens.
"It was a fun win," Mittelstadt said Thursday. "Now we've got to get ready for Saturday."
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