Former Minnesota Golden Gopher Vinni Lettieri is in the process of making the jump from the Big Ten to the Big Apple.

After completing a four-year career with Minnesota, Lettieri has signed a contract with the New York Rangers as an undrafted free agent after the Golden Gophers were bounced in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by Notre Dame on March 25. 

“During the summer of my senior year, I made it my duty to work as hard as I could to make sure that an NHL team had to sign me when the year was over,” Lettieri said via email. “I did everything in my power before the year and during the year to become a more skilled, stronger and faster hockey player.”

Lettieri, from Excelsior, finished his senior season with 19 goals and 37 points, the highest scoring totals of his career, and said that he was fortunate to sign with an NHL team after polishing off his college years.

“Obviously nothing is guaranteed and anything can happen during a season,” Lettieri said. “But I was blessed and lucky enough to sign a pro contract a couple days after my last game with the Rangers.”

A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Lettieri skated in 149 career games for the Golden Gophers. 

Lettieri is somewhat of a rarity in the male collegiate athlete landscape, staying with the Gophers for his full four years, which he says has shaped leadership skills he will carry with him moving forward.

“My coaching staff and the older guys above me each year showed me new ways to lead and new ways on how to become a better person each year,” Lettieri explained. "This consists of putting the team's ways before yours.”

Part of these leadership qualities stem from Lettieri’s duties in the locker room, which range from guiding younger players to playing the role of custodian.

"I will help clean up the locker room or pick up pucks or throw away trash laying around which is supposed to be a rookies job,” Lettieri said. “This exemplifies that no one is better than the program and that there is no gap between being a freshman or a senior,” Lettieri continued.

“Everyone should be treated and respected the same way on the team, and it is our job (as seniors) to be good role models so when the freshman later become seniors, they are aware of what the program should look like," he said.

The Chicago Blackhawks were another NHL option for Lettieri, who said that a better chance to play tilted the scales in favor of the Rangers.

“At the end of the day I felt that New York was a better opportunity for me. The Rangers have more opportunity for me for my position,” Lettieri said. “Overall, I am very happy for the opportunity I have in front of me and I could not be more excited to start a new chapter in my life.”

Lettieri wasn't the only State of Hockey skater to sign recently with a NHL team following their college season. Others include:

• Justin Kloos (Lakeville), Minnesota senior forward, signed with Minnesota Wild
• Jake Bischoff (Grand Rapids), Minnesota senior defenseman, signed with New York Islanders
• Brock Boeser (Burnsville), North Dakota sophomore forward, signed with Vancouver Canucks
• Vince Pedrie (Rochester), Penn State sophomore defenseman, signed with New York Rangers
• Luc Snuggerud (Eden Prairie), Nebraska-Omaha junior defenseman, signed with Chicago Blackhawks