BY MADDIE GINSBERG | The Statesman There have been a lot of contracts signed by members of the UMD men’s hockey program this week. Head coach Scott Sandelin signed a contract extension and several players have signed NHL contracts.
Head coach Scott Sandelin, who had one year left in his contract and has been with the Bulldogs since 2000, signed a four-year contract extension. The contract, which begins after the 2016-2017 season, extends Sandelin’s tenure until the end of the 2020-21 season.
“Scott is overseeing one of the most successful eras in the history of the Bulldog men’s hockey program,” UMD Athletic Director Josh Berlo said. “The back-to-back regional finals made it pretty clear our program is in a good place.”
Since he has been the head coach of the bulldogs, they have one national championship, four NCAA appearances in the last six years and an overall record of 287-277-75.
Other than Sandelin signing the contract extension, there are a handful of players from this year’s team that will be signing entry-level NHL contracts.
On UMD’s roster from the 2015-16 season, there were four players who had already been drafted—the rest are all free agents. Senior Tony Cameranesi was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, senior Andy Welinski by the Anaheim Ducks, junior Dominic Toninato by the Maple Leafs and junior Carson Soucy by the Minnesota Wild.
On Monday, sophomore goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, which starts at the beginning of the 2016-17 season.
Today it was announced that senior forward Tony Cameranesi and senior defenseman Willie Corrin will be joining their teammate Kaskisuo in Toronto. They signed Amature Tryout Agreements (ATOs), with the Maple Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.
This afternoon UMD Athletics and the Columbus Blue Jackets confirmed that senior forward Austin Farley signed an ATO with the Blue Jackets AHL team, the Lake Erie Monsters, located in Cleveland, Ohio.
According to a report from Matt Wellens of the Duluth News Tribune, junior defenseman Carson Soucy will be staying with the Bulldogs for his senior season.
Dominic Toninato remains the lone Bulldog yet to decide on leaving early for the professional ranks.