Ten Wolverines Sign Professional Contracts
5/16/2022 2:14:00 PM | Ice Hockey, Features
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Ten University of Michigan ice hockey players -- Johnny Beecher, Matty Beniers, Nick Blankenburg, Thomas Bordeleau, Brendan Brisson, Kent Johnson, Jimmy Lambert, Strauss Mann, Owen Power and Garrett Van Wyhe -- have signed professional contracts since the end of the 2021-22 season.
Beecher Signs with Boston Bruins
University of Michigan junior forward Johnny Beecher has signed an entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins, the organization announced on Monday (May 16).
Beecher played 11 games with the Providence Bruins, the American Hockey League affiliate after the conclusion of the Michigan Hockey season, while on an amateur tryout agreement. In nine regular-season games, Beecher scored three goals and two assists and added an assist in two post-season games.
A first-round draft pick in 2019 taken 309th overall by the Bruins, Beecher recently completed his third season with the Wolverines, helping the team to the Frozen Four while winning the Big Ten Championship. He had a late start to the season after coming back from an upper body injury and made his debut in November. In 34 games played, he had six goals and nine assists while winning 56.3 percent of his faceoffs (287 total). Highlighting the season was a two-goal, one-assist performance in the Big Ten Tournament versus Michigan State.
A dynamic center, he finished his three-year career at Michigan playing in 81 games, scoring 19 goals and racking up 20 assists for a total of 39 points and was a +13. He was named to the Big Ten Conference All-Freshman Team in 2020 with 16 points in 31 games.
A native of Elmira, N.Y., Beecher earned a bronze medal at the 2019 World Junior Championships with USA. He made the team again in 2020 but could not attend due to COVID protocols. He boasts two more international medals, with a gold at the 2017 U17 Five Nations Tournament and a bronze from the 2018 U-18 World Championship.
Johnny Beecher (Michigan Photography)
Mann Signs First NHL Contract
Former Michigan hockey player Strauss Mann has signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks, the organization announced on Tuesday (April 19).
This season Mann played in 22 games for Skelleftea AIK in the Swedish Hockey League. He posted a 13-8-1 record with three shutouts. He ranked fifth in the league in save percentage at 9.14, and was fourth in the league in goals-against average at 2.09.
He was named to the USA Olympic team for the 2022 games in Beijing and made two appearances with a 1-1 record, a .945 save percentage and a 1.85 GAA.
A two-time finalist for the Mike Richter Award, given to the nation's top goaltender, Mann was the Big Ten Goaltender of the Year in 2020 and a finalist in 2021. A two-time All-Big Ten selection, he collected 35 wins in his career, 11 via shutout. Mann made 1,970 career saves and also recorded four assists.
The Greenwich, Conn., native left Michigan second in the record book in career goals-against average (2.14), second in save percentage (.926) and fourth in career shutouts (11). He owns the top-two single-season goals-against average records with a 1.85 and a 1.89, and two of the top-three single-season save percentage records at .939 and .930.
He was named co-captain by his teammates in the summer of 2020, the first goalie to be named captain for Michigan in 78 years. Mann was both an Academic All-American and an AHCA All-American Scholar.
Strauss Mann (Michigan Photography)
Lambert Signs ATO with Bridgeport Islanders of the AHL
Senior forward Jimmy Lambert has signed an amateur tryout (ATO) agreement with the Bridgeport Islanders, the New York Islanders affiliate announced on Monday (April 18).
The two-time Michigan alternate captain, Lambert skated in 124 collegiate games and scored 13 goals and 34 assists, finishing a +13.
This season, the Saskatoon, Sask., native scored six goals and added eight assists. He netted the game-winning goal at Wisconsin on Jan. 29 and scored twice, including a short-handed goal, in a 7-3 win over Michigan State on Feb. 12. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Lambert had a goal and an assist in Michigan's win over Quinnipiac in the NCAA Regional final and scored against Denver in the Frozen Four semifinal.
Jimmy Lambert (Michigan Photography)
Bordeleau Signs with San Jose Sharks
Thomas Bordeleau has signed a three-year entry level contract with the San Jose Sharks, the organization announced on Saturday (April 16). He is expected to join the team in Minnesota on Sunday.
Bordeleau initially signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Sharks affiliate San Jose Barracuda on Tuesday (April 12) and made his #ProBlue debut the same day. He had his first point in his first shift and finished the game with three assists as the First Star of the Game.
Selected by the Sharks 38th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Bordeleau was named the Tim Taylor National Rookie of the Year in the NCAA that same season. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year and second-team All-B1G selection led the nation's rookies in scoring with 30 points in 24 games.
A point per game player this season while helping the Wolverines to the B1G Tournament championship and NCAA Frozen Four, Bordeleau scored 12 goals and added 25 assists in 37 games. He won 56.2 percent of his faceoffs -- 353 wins overall -- and was a +18. In his two-year Michigan career he had 20 goals and 47 assists for 67 points in 61 games. He finished +35 and won 564 faceoffs (56.9 percent).
Thomas Bordeleau (Michigan Photography)
Brisson Signs ATO with Henderson Knights
Sophomore forward Brendan Brisson has signed an American Hockey League tryout agreement with the Henderson Silver Knights, the Vegas Golden Knights affiliate announced on Tuesday (April 12).
Brisson averaged 1.11 points per game during his sophomore season with the Wolverines with 42 points in 38 games. He scored 21 goals and 21 assists and was second in the nation in game-winning goals with six to his credit. The Manhattan Beach, Calif., native added six power-play goals and was a +17. Known for his wicked one-timer, Brisson had points in 24 games and 13 multiple-point games. A second-team All-Big Ten selection, he was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team as well as the NCAA All-Region team.
As a freshman, Brisson was the team's leading goal scorer with 10 tallies and added 11 assists for 21 points in 24 games. He ranked seventh in the nation in points per game for a rookie.
In all, he totaled 63 points on 31 goals and 32 assists in 62 games as a Wolverine.
A member of the USA Olympic Team, Brisson scored game-winners for the Americas in each of its first two games in Beijing. That followed a gold-medal performance at the 2021 World Junior Championships, where he netted two goals on seven shots.
The first-round selection of Vegas in the 2020 draft, Brisson is expected to make his debut on Wednesday (April 13) vs. Stockton.
Brendan Brisson (Michigan Photography)
Van Wyhe Signs with Utica Comets of the AHL
Senior forward Garrett Van Wyhe has signed a standard player contract with the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League, the New Jersey Devils affiliate announced on Tuesday (April 12).
A native of Seattle, Wash., Van Wyhe was named to the NCAA Midwest All-Region Team two weeks ago. He scored goals in both games against AIC and Quinnipiac in the NCAA Regional and added an assist in Michigan's overtime loss in the Frozen Four. This season he scored six goals, two short-handed, while adding six assists and winning over 150 face-offs.
During his four-year career as a Wolverine, Van Wyhe played in 135 games and totaled 16 goals and 21 assists.
Garrett Van Wyhe (Michigan Photography)
Beniers Agrees to Terms with Seattle Kraken
Sophomore forward Matty Beniers has agreed to terms with the Seattle Kraken, who drafted him second overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. It's a three-year entry-level contract, the organization announced Sunday (April 10).
"It's truly an honor to join the Kraken organization, officially, and I can't wait to get started," said Beniers. "Although we fell short of our goal, I loved my time with Michigan and am looking forward to the next step in my journey. Being drafted last summer was surreal. I'm excited to get to Seattle."
A first-team All-American, Beniers was a finalist for both the Hobey Baker Award and the Big Ten Player of the Year award. He was the Big Ten Conference scoring champion with 26 points in 18 games and was a unanimous first-team selection, while also earning Big Ten All-Tournament team honors. The alternate captain led Michigan in scoring this season with 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points in 37 games, averaging 1.16 points per game. He tallied five game-winning goals, ranking him seventh in the nation in the category and was fourth in the nation in power-play goals with 10. He won over 260 face-offs with a 48.8 percent win percentage and boasted an on-ice rating of +29, the best in the Big Ten and 10th in the nation. He had points in 25 games and 15 multiple-point games.
Beniers completed his collegiate career at Michigan with 30 goals and 37 assists in 61 games played. With 10 power-play goals and seven game-winning goals, he finished an impressive +50.
The Hingham, Mass., native won a gold medal at the 201 World Junior Championships before claiming a bronze medal at the World Championships a few months later. He was tabbed alternate captain of Team USA at the 2022 World Junior and was later named to the USA Olympic Team. In Beijing, he had a goal and an assist and led all US forwards in time on ice. He adds a bronze medal from the 2018 U18 Championship.
There is no set date for Beniers' NHL debut, but he is expected to be at practice with his new team on Monday (April 11).
Matty Beniers (Michigan Photography)
Johnson Signs Three-Year ELC with Columbus
Sophomore forward Kent Johnson has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the organization announced Friday (April 8).
Columbus' fifth-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, Johnson spent two seasons in Ann Arbor as an electrifying attacking forward. Known for his show-stopping creative flair, Johnson scored eight goals and added 29 assists this past season for 37 points in 32 games. He finished fourth in the nation in assists per game and was 16th in points per game. He scored four game-winning goals, four power-play goals and one short-handed goal, and finished a +25. An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection for the second straight season, he also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
During his freshmen year, Johnson was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team while finishing second on the team in scoring with 27 points on nine goals and 17 assists in 26 games. He was third in the nation in rookie points per game.
He wrapped up his time in the Maize and Blue with 64 points in 58 games, netting 17 goals and 47 assists with a +41 rating.
Internationally, Johnson was a key member of the Canadian World Junior team before the tournament was ended due to COVID-19. Months later, in the midst of a strong sophomore campaign, Johnson was invited by Hockey Canada to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Although initially slated to be an alternate, he appeared in every game for the Canadians and finished as a point-per-game player with one goal and four assists with a +4 rating in five games.
He will join fellow Wolverines Zach Werenski and Nick Blankenburg in Columbus on Monday.
Kent Johnson (Michigan Photography)
No. 1 Overall Draft Pick Power Heading to Buffalo
Sophomore defenseman Owen Power, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres, the team announced on Friday (April 8).
In a stellar 59-game career with the Wolverines, Power tallied six goals and 42 assists for 48 points along with a +46 rating.
This season, Power was named a first-team All-Big Ten selection as well as a finalist for the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award. The Mississauga, Ontario native was named to the NCAA All-Region Team last week as he tallied four assists in the Regional Final, the second most helpers by a Wolverine in an NCAA Tournament game. An Academic All-Big Ten selection, he was leading the nation's defenseman in points per game before leaving for the Olympics. He finished fifth in the nation in assists per game and was third amongst defensemen in points per game.
In his freshman campaign after being tabbed to the conference's all-freshman team, Power was tabbed the College Hockey News Freshman of the Year. He played in all 26 games and had three goals and 13 assists.
The first-ever Wolverine to go first overall in the NHL Draft, Power has had an incredible international career. The Mississauga, Ontario native won a gold medal at the 2021 World Championship and tallied three assists in 10 games while being named the Player of the Game vs. ROC. He made history in January as the first defenseman in Canada's history to net a hat trick in the World Junior Championship. Two months later at the Olympics, Power led Canada in time on ice, averaging 21:38 per game, and had a team-high 10 shots on goal and one assist.
The Sabres have three games remaining on their current road trip: Friday at Florida, Sunday at Tampa Bay and Tuesday at Toronto. Buffalo's next home game is Thursday against St. Louis.
Owen Power (Michigan Photography)
Blankenburg Signs One-Year Deal with Columbus Blue Jackets
Senior captain Nick Blankenburg of the University of Michigan hockey team has signed a one-year entry-level contract for the remainder of the 2021-22 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the organization announced Friday (April 8).
Blankenburg led the Wolverines to the 2022 NCAA Frozen Four and the Big Ten Tournament Championship. He had a career season offensively with 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points and was named honorable mention all-conference. Blankenburg's 14 goals tied the Michigan program record for goals in a single season by a senior defenseman. Along with freshman Luke Hughes, the pair became the first two defensemen to reach double digits in goals since the 2005-06 season. Additionally, Blankenburg was second on the team in blocked shots with 47 and was a +17.
During his four-year Michigan career, Blankenburg played in 133 games and scored 25 goals and 44 assists for 69 points. He finished a +52 with 10 power-play goals and three game-winning goals. A three-time honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, Blankeburg was also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. A native of Washington, Mich., Blankenburg was a finalist for the 2022 Senior CLASS Award.
He will join fellow Wolverine Zach Werenski in Columbus on Monday.
Nick Blankenburg (Michigan Photography)
