Gophers hockey officially signs Mason Moe; will he join the team next season?

Signs point towards Minnesota adding Moe to its 2025-26 roster.

Gophers fans at Mariucci. | University of Minnesota

Eden Prairie, Minnesota native Mason Moe announced his verbal commitment to the Gophers last October, and the program officially announced his signing on Tuesday. After two years in the United States Hockey League (USHL), is he ready to make the jump to the Big Ten in 2025-26?

Welcome to the Gopher family, @MasonMoe4! 〽️#PrideOnIce pic.twitter.com/GOPmkP89fn

— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) May 20, 2025

Minnesota's announcement doesn't necessarily guarantee that Moe will be wearing a Gophers uniform in the fall. He's coming off an impressive 2024-25 season with the Madison Capitols, where he totaled 43 points with 27 assists and 16 goals in 51 games. He won't turn 19 until March 26 at the end of the 2025-26 NCAA season, so he would be among the younger players in college if he does play.

Moe is eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft, and he also could continue playing in the USHL. The official announcement of his signing gives the Gophers the option to add him to their 2025-26 roster. That decision will likely come down to how head coach Bob Motzko and his staff want to build the team.

At forward, Minnesota is expected to return Brody Lamb, Erik Pahlsson, Brodie Ziemer, Jimmy Clark, John Mittelstadt, Beckett Hendrickson and August Falloon. They added Tanner Ludtke from the transfer portal this offseason, which gives them a strong rotation of eight veteran forwards.

Minnesota also flipped Tate Pritchard from Mankato earlier this month, while L.J. Mooney, Teddy Townsend and Javon Moore are all also expected to make the jump from the USHL, which would leave Moe and Jacob Kvasnicka as potential options for a 13th forward spot. Kvasnicka doesn't turn 18 until August 10.

The Gophers carried 14 forwards last season, so unless they make another big roster splash in the transfer portal, or maybe from the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), it seems likely they'll strongly consider adding Moe to the 2025-26 roster.