MINNEAPOLIS – All-America candidate and Minnesota defenseman Nate Schmidt has signed a two-year entry level contract with the Washington Capitals, the National Hockey League (NHL) team announced on Tuesday.

“I wouldn’t trade my experience at the University of Minnesota for anything, and I am incredibly grateful to the team and staff for three great seasons at the ‘U,’ Schmidt said. “This wasn’t an easy decision to make, but it is the right decision, and I am looking forward to beginning the next chapter of my playing career.”

In 96 career games at Minnesota, Schmidt tallied 74 points and 12 goals as a two-time All-WCHA defenseman. In his final two seasons with the program, Schmidt and the Gophers won back-to-back MacNaughton Cups as Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season champions and made two trips to the NCAA tournament including the team’s run to the NCAA Frozen Four in 2011-12.

“Nate is a great example of someone who was overlooked in the draft but worked hard on and off the ice to put himself in great position to become our top defenseman the last two years. He had two tremendous years and felt he was ready to take his game to the next level,” Minnesota head coach Don Lucia said. “He has a great opportunity with Washington and I want to wish him the best as he turns pro and thank him for his contributions to Gopher hockey.”

After appearing in 13 games split between forward and defense in 2010-11, Schmidt posted a breakout season in 2011-12 with a career-high 41 points. The All-WCHA Second Team selection led NCAA defensemen and finished third overall in the nation with 38 assists (the sixth most assists in a season by a Gophers defenseman) as Minnesota captured its first WCHA regular-season title since 2006-07. The defenseman’s final goal of the season – a power-play blast that proved to be the game winner in a 2-1 victory over Wisconsin – clinched the MacNaughton Cup for Minnesota in the regular-season finale. The Gophers’ run continued in the postseason as the Gophers advanced to the Frozen Four for the 20th time in program history and the first time since 2005.

In what would be his final season with the Maroon and Gold, Schmidt developed into arguably Minnesota’s most valuable player in 2012-13. As a junior, the St. Cloud, Minn., native saw the ice in nearly every situation for the Gophers. In addition to backing the WCHA’s top defense, Schmidt quarterbacked the country’s top power-play unit and continued to contribute offensively with the top scoring program in the NCAA as Minnesota picked up a share of its second-straight MacNaughton Cup. Schmidt also saw time on the WCHA’s top penalty kill as the Gophers were ranked in the top 10 nationally in all four facets of the game.

Schmidt was named to the All-WCHA First Team in 2012-13 after leading the league in scoring by a defenseman. Schmidt currently ranks tied for third among all NCAA defensemen with 32 points this season including a career high nine goals. Schmidt also leads national defensemen and ranks tied for sixth among all skaters with 19 power-play points this season. Schmidt finished the year with a plus-15 rating.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The 2012-13 Minnesota men’s hockey season came to an end on Friday afternoon in a 3-2 overtime loss to Yale at the 2013 NCAA West Regional at Van Andel Arena.

The Gophers (26-9-6) rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime only to see the Bulldogs advance to the regional final with a goal just nine seconds into the added session.

After Yale (19-12-3) scored twice in the second with goals from Kenny Agostino and Gus Young, Minnesota picked up its pace in the third period. Nate Schmidt drew the Maroon and Gold within a goal with his ninth of the season at 8:12 of the third during a Minnesota power play and Zach Budish evened the contest with his 14th goal of the season at 13:40.

Erik Haula assisted on both goals, setting a new career high with his 50th and 51st points of the year.

In overtime, however, Yale would make the first and only shot of the session count as Jesse Root was set up by Kenny Agostino just nine seconds into the period for the game-winning goal.

Minnesota, which outshot the Bulldogs 28-26 including 12-6 in the third period and owned a 47-21 advantage in face offs for the game, suffered its second-straight loss for the first time this season. Both teams picked up one power-play goal in the NCAA opener with Minnesota going 1-for-5 and Yale going 1-for-3.

Adam Wilcox suffered the loss for Minnesota, falling to 25-8-5 in his freshman campaign. The rookie ends his first season with the Gophers tied for the program’s rookie wins total (Kellen Briggs). Wilcox also set a new Minnesota single-season record for goals against average at 1.88 and finished with the second highest save percentage for a season in Gophers’ history at .921 (Alex Kangas: .930 in 2007-08). Jeff Malcolm made 26 saves in the win for Yale to move to 17-6-2 on the season.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The 2012-13 Minnesota men’s hockey season came to an end on Friday afternoon in a 3-2 overtime loss to Yale at the 2013 NCAA West Regional at Van Andel Arena.

The Gophers (26-9-6) rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime only to see the Bulldogs advance to the regional final with a goal just nine seconds into the added session.

After Yale (19-12-3) scored twice in the second with goals from Kenny Agostino and Gus Young, Minnesota picked up its pace in the third period. Nate Schmidt drew the Maroon and Gold within a goal with his ninth of the season at 8:12 of the third during a Minnesota power play and Zach Budish evened the contest with his 14th goal of the season at 13:40.

Erik Haula assisted on both goals, setting a new career high with his 50th and 51st points of the year.

In overtime, however, Yale would make the first and only shot of the session count as Jesse Root was set up by Kenny Agostino just nine seconds into the period for the game-winning goal.

Minnesota, which outshot the Bulldogs 28-26 including 12-6 in the third period and owned a 47-21 advantage in face offs for the game, suffered its second-straight loss for the first time this season. Both teams picked up one power-play goal in the NCAA opener with Minnesota going 1-for-5 and Yale going 1-for-3.

Adam Wilcox suffered the loss for Minnesota, falling to 25-8-5 in his freshman campaign. The rookie ends his first season with the Gophers tied for the program’s rookie wins total (Kellen Briggs). Wilcox also set a new Minnesota single-season record for goals against average at 1.88 and finished with the second highest save percentage for a season in Gophers’ history at .921 (Alex Kangas: .930 in 2007-08). Jeff Malcolm made 26 saves in the win for Yale to move to 17-6-2 on the season.

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota men’s hockey program fell short in its efforts to close out its final Western Collegiate Hockey Association season with a conference playoff title on Friday night, falling 2-0 to Colorado College in WCHA Final Five semifinal action at Xcel Energy Center.

Minnesota (26-8-5 overall) outshot the Tigers 35-20 overall and held Colorado College to single-digit shots in all three periods of the league nightcap, but the Gophers couldn’t find a way through Colorado College’s Joe Howe. The Tigers’ netminder made 35 saves in the win and helped Colorado College weather a trio of Minnesota power plays including a five-minute major in the third period.

On the other end of the ice, the Tigers (18-18-5) took advantage of a fortuitous five-minute spell to start the second period and doom Minnesota.  After the two teams battled to a scoreless tie over the game’s first 20 minutes, Colorado College opened the second stanza with Rylan Schwartz’s 19th goal of the year just 59 seconds into the period (Peter Stoykewych and Eamonn McDemortt earned assists on the goal). Charlie Taft made it a two-goal game at 4:24 of the second after being setup by Alexander Krushelnyski for the team’s second and final goal of the night.

Adam Wilcox suffered his first loss since March 1 on Friday night, making 18 saves to fall to 25-7-5 in his rookie campaign.  Friday night marked just the second time this season that the Gophers have been shut out by an opponent. Minnesota is 7-0-0 this season following a loss.

The Gophers now await a likely at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. ESPNU will televise this year’s Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Selection Show on Sunday at 8 p.m. CT.

MINNEAPOLIS – Kyle Rau tallied his seventh game-winning goal – the most in the nation this season – to lead the No. 2 Minnesota men’s hockey program to a 2-1 overtime victory over Bemidji State in the first game of a best-of-three series to open the 2013 WCHA playoffs.

The Gophers (25-7-5 overall) improved to 22-1-1 this season when the sophomore tallies a point with the forward factoring into both of Minnesota’s goals on Friday.

After a scoreless first period, Ben Marshall put Minnesota up 1-0 with his seventh goal of the year at 6:56 of the second period, slamming the puck past Andrew Walsh in net for the Beavers (6-21-8). Rau picked up his first point of the night on the goal, feeding Marshall for his 23rd assist this season and extending his point streak to four games.

Minnesota, which had a season-high 51 shots on goal in the win and held the visitors to single-digit shots in all four periods, looked to have the game in hand until Brance Orban knocked a loose puck into the Gophers’ net with 38 seconds remaining in regulation. Radoslav Illo and Jeff Jubinville picked up assists on the goal to force overtime.

The added session proved to be a highly contested battle between the two in-state rivals. Bemidji State had seven of its 18 shots in the overtime period, but it was the Gophers who struck the deciding blow.

Rau slipped the loose puck in for his 15th goal and 38th point of the season at 13:18 of the overtime period to give the Gophers their first overtime win in six contests this season. Nate Schmidt and Christian Isackson earned assists on the game-winning goal.

Adam Wilcox climbed within one win of Kellen Briggs’ Minnesota rookie wins record on Friday, moving to 24-6-5 after stopping 17-of-18 shots. Wilcox and Walsh provided for one of the best goaltending battles of the season on Friday as Walsh made an impressive 49 saves for the Beavers in a losing effort. Minnesota was 0-for-2 on the power play while Friday’s win marked the first game of the season that the Gophers did not take a penalty.

Minnesota and Bemidji State continue their best-of-three WCHA playoff series tomorrow night at Mariucci Arena. Game time is 7 p.m. CT with FOX Sports North and 1500 ESPN calling the action.