March 28, 2008
FAIRBANKS, AK - In a room packed full of media members, current hockey team members and athletic department staff, Alaska Nanooks head coach Doc DelCastillo announced that freshman defenseman Jeff Penner has been signed by the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins.
Penner becomes the fifth Nanook from the 2007-08 roster to sign a pro contract since the end of the 2007-08 season, joining goalie Wylie Rogers (ECHL's Utah Grizzlies), defenseman T.J. Campbell (ECHL's Utah Grizzlies), defenseman Tyler Eckford (NHL's New Jersey Devils) and forward Landon Novotney (AHL's Grand Rapid Griffins).
"I'd like to congratulate them and thank them for their time and efforts put into our program," DelCastillo said. "On behalf of the team, we wish them the best of luck. They'll always be Nanooks in our hearts and in our eyes, and we want them to proudly represent us at the next level of their lives."
Penner, who skated in all 35 of the Nanooks' games this season and had the second-highest scoring totals amongst Alaska's defenseman with five goals and seven assists, inked a two-way, three-year deal with the Bruins. He will report to their American Hockey League affiliate in Providence early next week.
"It's an exciting time; I didn't expect any of this at the beginning of the year, but it has come kind of quickly and it's an honor," said Penner. "It was a touch decision and I definitely didn't want to make it too quickly or hastily, but I came to college to get to the next level and this is an opportunity, so I just jumped at it."
DelCastillo noted that Penner's skating ability was what would help him most in the transition to the next level.
"His skating is his strength and if he's going to play in the National Hockey League it's going to be because of his skating," he said. "Throughout the year his game has rounded out and at the end of the year he became a contributing factor for the success we had as a program."
Providence, who sits atop the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division standings, currently boasts the AHL's best record at 48-16-3 for 107 points through 70 games and has clinched a playoff spot. The Bruins roster boasts another former Alaska defenseman in Dwayne Zinger, who played for the Nanooks from 1996 to 2000. Zinger is in his ninth professional season.
