Blake Wheeler, a 6-4 center for the Gophers last season, had landed a spot on the Boston Bruins roster. He worked out all summer at the U, preparing for training camp.

The Bruins play the Wild on Saturday.

Eight other former Gophers also made NHL rosters, including forward Kyle Okposo, who left the team midway through last season to sign with the New York Islanders. He played in the Islanders’ last nine games last season and had two goals.

Wheeler and Okposo were golfing buddies much of this summer with Ryan Stoa, the Gophers’ junior captain.

The list of other Gophers in the NHL:

* Forward Phil Kessel. He is beginning his third season in Boston.

* Defenseman Alex Goligoski. He recently scored his first career goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jeff Taffe is also a member of the Penguins and is beginning his sixth season in the NHL.

* Defenseman Keith Ballard. He has joined the Florida Panthers this season after playing his first three seasons with Phoenix Coyotes.

* Forward Thomas Vanek is back with the Buffalo Sabres for the fourth straight year. He is the one who organized practices at Ridder for pro players this summer.

* Defenseman Paul Martin. He is in his fifth season with the New Jersey Devils.

* Defenseman Jordan Leopold. He begins his third season with the Colorado. It’s his sixth NH season.

A 10th former Gopher, Erik Johnson, will miss the entire season because of a freak knee injury. He injured the knee when his foot got stuck between the gas pedal and brake pedal on a golf cart.

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