LOS ANGELES — On the second day of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Entry Draft at Peacock Theater, five incoming University of Minnesota men’s hockey players were drafted, boosting the Golden Gophers’ all-time draft pick total to 248, the highest among college hockey programs.
Jacob Rombach was selected first among the Gophers, picked 35th overall by the Nashville Predators in the second round. In the third round, Mace’o Phillips went 80th overall to the Calgary Flames, followed by Mason Moe at 90th to the New Jersey Devils. LJ Mooney was chosen in the fourth round at 113th by the Montreal Canadiens, and Jacob Kvasnicka rounded out the group in the seventh round, selected 202nd by the New York Islanders.
Rombach, a Blaine, Minn., native, played two seasons with the Lincoln Stars (USHL) from 2023-25, appearing in 116 games and recording 18 points in 2024-25 with a team-third +29 rating. He competed in the 2025 Chipotle All-American Game, won gold with Team USA at the 2024 World Junior A Challenge, and previously tallied 19 points in 26 high school games for Spring Lake Park/Coon Rapids.
Phillips, from Wayzata, Minn., skated two years (2023-25) with the USNTDP, recording six points in 60 games with the U18s in 2024-25 and leading the team in penalty minutes. He played in the 2025 Chipotle All-American Game, won bronze at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship, and earned gold at the 2024 U17 Five Nations. Before the NTDP, he had 21 points in 27 games at Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
Moe, from Eden Prairie, Minn., played parts of two USHL seasons with Sioux Falls, scoring 43 points in 63 games in 2024-25, including 12 power-play points. He also played six games with the USNTDP U18s, competed in the 2025 Chipotle All-American Game, and won gold at the 2024 World Junior A Challenge. At Eden Prairie High School, he led with 40 points in 27 games as a sophomore.
Mooney, from West Mifflin, Pa., played two seasons (2023-25) with the USNTDP, amassing 51 points in 51 U18 games in 2024-25. He earned bronze at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship with 11 points in seven games and won gold at the 2024 U17 Five Nations. He previously developed with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite AAA program.
Kvasnicka, a Wayzata, Minn., native, played two seasons with the USNTDP (2023-25), scoring 39 points in 66 U18 games in 2024-25. He contributed five points at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship and earned Player of the Game honors with a hat trick at the 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge. As a freshman at Wayzata High School, he led with 45 points in 28 games.
The Gophers begin the 2025-26 campaign on home ice at 3M Arena at Mariucci when they welcome former WCHA foe Michigan Tech for a series Oct. 3-4. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased HERE.
Minnesota Draft Notes
- At least one Gopher has been drafted in 51 of the last 52 NHL Entry Drafts dating back to 1974 with 2001 being the only exception. Minnesota’s 27-consecutive drafts with a selection between 1974-2000 are an NCAA record, while it is currently on a 24-year streak.
- After seeing five players selected, Minnesota now has three or more draft picks in 11 of the last 12 drafts.
- Moe is the 12th all-time Gopher selected by the Devils and first since 2009 when New Jersey picked Seth Helgeson (114th overall) in the fourth round. The 12 draftees are sixth-most of any NHL organization.
- Rombach is the 33rd Gopher to be selected in the second round and first since Ryan Chesley in 2022 (37th overall; Washington Capitals)
- Phillips is the first Gopher selected by the Calgary Flames since Kris Chucko was selected 24th overall in 2004.
- Erik Johnson remains the highest draft pick in Minnesota history, going No. 1 overall in 2006, as one of 26 all-time first-round selections.
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