Seth Helgeson, Minnesota’s lone senior this season and an alternate captain on the 2012-13 squad, has signed an amateur tryout deal with the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Albany is the AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, who drafted Helgeson in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft (114th overall).
“I have had four great seasons at the University of Minnesota, and it is a somewhat bittersweet to be moving on,” Helgeson said. “Wearing the Minnesota jersey was a dream come true for me – one that I wouldn’t trade for anything. At the same time, I am excited to be taking the next step in my career.”
Minnesota’s most experienced skater on the 2012-13 roster, Helgeson played in 150 games over his career and amassed 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) in his four years with the Maroon and Gold. The Faribault, Minn., native was also the Gophers’ most durable player, ending his career with 122-consecutive appearances including every game of his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. In his final two campaigns with the program, the Gophers earned two-straight MacNaughton Cups as Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) regular-season champions as well as two NCAA tournament berths including the team’s run to the Frozen Four in 2011-12.
“Seth had a great career here at Minnesota, winning two MacNaughton Cups as an upperclassmen,” Minnesota head coach Don Lucia said. “He has been a great program guy, a leader on and off the ice, and I’m very happy for him.”
A physical defenseman, Helgeson played in 31 games with a goal as a freshman in 2009-10 and upped his offensive production to seven points and six assists as a sophomore. In 2011-12, Helgeson doubled his offensive production from the previous year with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) for his most productive season offensively as the Gophers captured the team’s first MacNaughton Cup since 2006-07 and returned to the NCAA Frozen Four for the 20th time in program history and the first time since 2005.