The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Sports

July 1, 2006

Mavericks’ Peto leaves for pros

Defenseman signs with Finnish league

By Shane Frederick

MANKATO — Kyle Peto was just shy of becoming Minnesota State hockey’s top-scoring defenseman of the Division I era.

But the lure of the pros must have been more tempting, and Peto opted to leave school a year early.

Peto signed to play in the Finnish Elite League next season, Mavericks coach Troy Jutting confirmed Friday.

“I knew he was looking into opportunities and seeing what was out there,” Jutting said. “I’m disappointed that he won’t be back to finish his degree.”

Jutting said Peto’s desire to play professional hockey combined with his age — he’ll turn 24 in September — was a factor in his decision.

“I think he and the people representing him felt it was time to get going,” Jutting said.

Peto, a native of Lethbridge, Alberta, was unable to be reached Friday, however, his mother, Val Peto, said her son’s decision was a bittersweet one.

“He’s happy,” she said, “but I think he’s a little sad to leave Mankato, too. He’s been there for four years.”

Peto arrived at Minnesota State in 2002, but he had a year of eligibility remaining after a shoulder injury forced him to miss all but three games of his rookie season and take a medical redshirt year.

Since then, he has been one of the better offensive defensemen in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, scoring 14 goals and setting up 64 others in 111 career games.

A key contributor on the Mavericks’ power play, Peto ranked fourth on the MSU roster and sixth among WCHA defensemen in scoring with 29 points last season.

His 78 career points put him ninth all-time on the Mavericks’ scoring list for defensemen. He is also fourth in Minnesota State’s Division I era, just 14 points shy of taking the top spot.

“Some of the other kids are going to have to step up,” Jutting said.

The Mavericks’ top returning offensive defensemen will be junior Steve Wagner (five goals, 16 points) and sophomore Brian Kilburg (one goal, 10 points).

Peto follows David Backes as an early signee. Backes, who also would have been a senior, signed with the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues just days after the Mavericks’ season ended.

Recruit drafted

Mavericks recruit Andy Sackrison, a forward from St. Louis Park, was drafted in the fifth round of the NHL draft last weekend.

The St. Louis Blues selected the 6-foot-1, 178-pounder with the 124th overall pick.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Sports
  • Author Friedlander to cover Mavericks

    It's not often a distinguished author will offer to cover a college baseball team for the local newspaper but that's just what Brett Friedlander has agreed to do for The Free Press. Read more at Jim Rueda's blog here.

    May 25, 2012

  • Loyola b track5-25.jpg Loyola helps Cleveland find track home

    When Cleveland junior Bryce Omtvedt realized his school would have fewer than 20 kids out for boys track this spring, he knew the Clippers would have a tough time being competitive. Thanks to a co-op with Mankato Loyola, Omtvedt and his teammates are doing just fine.

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • LCWM g track5-25.jpg Denn's seconds help LCWM/Nicollet finish first

    Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial/Nicollet’s Breanna Denn failed to win a single event in Thursday’s Subsection 7, Section 2A girls track and field meet, but she was anything but disappointed. The senior ended up second in four events, advancing her to the section meet in all of them.

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • courrier, chad.jpg Courrier: Sum greater than parts for MSU baseball team

    Past Minnesota State baseball teams have had a lot of high-end talent, and you could see future professional players pitch and hit. But those teams didn’t win 48 games in a season. And most of those team didn’t advance to the Division II World Series.

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • frederick, shane.jpg PucKato by Shane Frederick

    Ryan Carter, No. 1 star

    Former Minnesota State standout was the unlikely No. 1 star for the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, scoring the game-winning goal late in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and giving his team a 3-2 series lead over the New York Rangers.

     

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • Chris_Reed_Drake_2.jpg Minnesota State thrower is a real big shot

    Chris Reed and four other MSU athletes will compete in the NCAA Division II track and field meet, starting today in Pueblo, Colo.

    May 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • rueda, jim.jpg Rueda: ‘Lefty’ wins adapted bowling title

    Colby Tolzmann of Mankato East won the state adapted bowling title, and Mikala Sexson placed ninth in the tournament.

    May 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • st peter-saulnier.jpg St. Peter falls in Section 2A tennis final

    Mound Westonka avenged a regular-season loss to St. Peter by winning the Section 2A team tennis final on Wednesday.

    May 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • Loyola softbl5-23.jpg Loyola cruises into subsection semifinals

    The Madelia/Truman softball team was on a roll when it took the field against Class A’s No. 1-ranked Mankato Loyola Tuesday in the Section 2A playoffs.
    The Jayhawks had won four straight games, including an extra-inning win against Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton in the first round of the tournament.

    May 22, 2012 1 Photo

  • player_Brown_Lucas-11-web.jpg Minnesota State coach Margenthaler adds another D-I transfer

    Minnesota State men's basketball head coach Matt Margenthaler has overhauled his roster from a season ago.

    May 22, 2012 1 Photo