Departed Northeastern sophomore Szmatula transfers to Minnesota

Mike Szmatula will be eligible to play for Minnesota starting with the 2016-17 season (photo: Melissa Wade).

Minnesota announced Thursday that forward Mike Szmatula has joined the Gophers program.

Szmatula played two seasons at Northeastern, where he collected 68 points (28 goals, 40 assists) in 73 career games before announcing his departure earlier this summer. He was a Hockey East All-Rookie Team honoree in 2013-14 after ranking second in the nation in rookie scoring (1.05 points per game) and rookie points (39).

Per NCAA transfer rules, Szmatula will sit out the 2015-16 season and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining beginning in 2016-17.