Gophers men’s hockey junior co-captain Ben Meyers has signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche, the NHL team announced Wednesday.

Originally from Delano, Minn., Meyers will burn the first year of his two-year deal that is through the 2022-23 season if he plays in a game this season with the Avalanche. He is ineligible for the playoffs because he was not on an NHL roster before the trade deadline.

Meyers, the second Gophers men’s hockey player to sign an NHL contract this week behind senior Blake McLaughlin, represented the U.S. in the Olympics earlier this year and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and a Hobey Baker finalist.

In his third season with the Gophers, Meyers recorded career-highs in goals (17), assists (24), and points (41) in 34 games played en route to being named an NCAA West Second-Team All-American and a First Team All-Big Ten member.

Meyers, 23, skated in 102 collegiate games with the Gophers, where he tallied 95 points (39 goals, 56 assists) over that span.

Meyers will join an Avalanche team that sits atop the NHL standings with the Florida Panthers, as both teams are tied for first place with 110 points this season.

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Three Gophers men’s hockey players – seniors Ben Brinkman and Grant Cruikshank and junior Jonny Sorenson – have entered the transfer portal this week, according to Gopher Puck Live and Eric Vegoe.