• A Faribault, Minnesota native, Helgeson will fulfill one childhood dream by playing for the University of Minnesota Gophers in the fall of 2009.

• He patterns his game after Minnesota Wild defenseman Brent Burns and Anaheim defenseman Chris Pronger. His childhood hockey hero was Wayne Gretzky – “I always wanted to be like him”.

• Helgeson won a gold medal playing for Team USA at the 2008 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge.

• If he could invite any three people to dinner he would choose Tiger Woods, Lil Wayne and Wayne Gretzky.

FAVORITES

NHL Team: Minnesota Wild
NHL Player: Chris Pronger
Shootout move: “Fake shot and then backhand”
Goal celebration: Fist pump
Video game: NHL ‘09
Movie: Lucky Number Slevin
Reality Show: The Real World
Actor: Vince Vaughn
Cartoon: Road Runner
Website: USHL.com
Book: Ice Man
Pump-up song: “A Millie” by Lil Wayne
Sport (other than hockey): Baseball
Place to visit: Australia
Snack: Granola Bars
Superhero: Batman