By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
The annual roster churn in college hockey presents new opportunities for players across the country, whether they’re rising through the ranks within their team or exploring the transfer portal for greener pastures. Nearly every Bruins prospect has taken the former route this offseason, airing on the side of continuity for their development. Perhaps none are in a better situation for their growth than Beckett Hendrickson at Minnesota.
Unlike most blue-blood hockey schools that have gone big-game hunting in the transfer portal and Canadian Junior arms race, the Gophers have long held a philosophy of building from within the state. They recruit Minnesota kids, they develop Minnesota kids, and they send Minnesota kids to the pros. Nineteen of the 27 players currently on the roster for the 2025-26 season are Minnesota natives, and only three of those 27 players arrived via transfer.
Hendrickson’s family is as Minnesota as they come, born and raised in the state with a Golden Gopher legacy. His dad, Darby, played two seasons in Minneapolis, scoring 82 points from 1991 to 1993 before embarking on a 518-game NHL career with several teams. After hanging up the skates, he transitioned into coaching and, until recently, spent 14 years as an assistant in St. Paul with the Minnesota Wild.
Hendrickson spent the majority of his freshman year in a bottom-six role in the Golden Gophers’ lineup, recording 3-9-12 in 39 games behind a loaded and experienced group of top draft picks. His 11:37 average time on ice per game was among the lowest on the team, with several other freshman skaters, but he was given top-six time for stretches during the season.
As is common for most freshmen, Hendrickson’s production was streaky to start in the Marron & Gold. Most of his scoring came in small bursts, and he scored his first goal in his first game, but didn’t find the back of the net again until after Thanksgiving. Similar to fellow freshman Bruin draftee Chris Pelosi, Hendrickson improved his scoring touch in the second half, with eight of his 12 points coming after the New Year. He recorded four assists in five games during a crucial February stretch against Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State, helping Minnesota secure a share of the Big Ten regular season title.
Despite being slotted as a left wing at Minnesota, Hendrickson was initially listed as a Center when the Bruins picked him 124th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. His passing, vision, and two-way game are his greatest strengths, more akin to a natural pivot than a winger with his frame. After a year of sharpening at the collegiate level, he showed off his skills at the Bruins Development Camp back in June, with BNG colleague Tom Calautti having this to say:
“Hendrickson shined in the 3v3 scrimmages, winning puck battles and using his defensive instincts and precision passing to set up teammates for grade-A chances. His defensive game is well-rounded, and his passing is a calling card. The question is whether he can earn more ice time and become a more effective play-driver on offense.”
Going into his sophomore year, Hendrickson is expected to have a greater role higher up the Gophers’ lineup. Minnesota needs to replace its top-five scorers from the previous season, as the last members of the 2023 National Runner-Up team continue to cycle out. The departures of Jimmy Snuggerud, Connor Kurth, Matthew Wood, and Oliver Moore opened up four spots in the top six for Hendrickson to contend for, and early projections slot him into the second-line left wing.
Additionally, the Gophers are shaping up to have a very young roster, with only four upperclassmen in their forward core. Sophomores like Hendrickson and Brodie Ziemer will be counted on to contribute offensively and share the leadership load. Since Head Coach Bob Motzko was hired back in 2018, Minnesota has routinely been among the most prolific scoring teams in the nation, averaging at least three goals per game in six of his seven seasons at Mariucci Arena. Don’t be surprised if Hendrickson eclipses his freshman totals quickly, and the Gophers are once again leading the pack in the Big Ten.
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