The Vancouver Canucks have signed top NCAA defenceman Troy Stecher to a pro contract, the first one that GM Jim Benning has handed out to a college free agent this season. Stecher, a native of Richmond, BC, comes back north of the border after playing three years with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, a stint that ended last week with North Dakota winning the Frozen Four Championship.
Here is the official release:
The 5-foot-11, 191-pound defenceman had played his junior hockey with the Penticton Vees, proceeding to score 13 goals and 53 points in 119 NCAA games.