Ice Hockey 3/13/2019 5:02:00 PM

Hockey Trio Signs professional contracts

Former Canisius hockey players Dylan McLaughlin, Ian Edmondson and Jimmy Mazza all signed their first professional contracts on Wednesday.

McLaughlin agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs, the top affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Edmondson (Wichita Thunder) and Mazza (Reading Royals) both signed standard player contracts with their respective ECHL clubs. The Thunder are the affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers and the Bakersfield Condors, while the Royals are an affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

With the announcements, McLaughlin, Edmondson and Mazza become the first members of the Class of 2019 to sign professional contracts as well as the fifth, sixth and seventh players to play professionally during second-year head coach Trevor Large's tenure.

A native of Lancaster, N.Y., McLaughlin finished his four-year career with the Golden Griffins tied with Cory Conacher for first place on the program's Division I era career scoring chart (147). He also ranks third in the school's Division I history for career goals (58) and assists (89).

The 2017-18 Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year and a Hobey Baker Award Top 10 Finalist, McLaughlin was a two-time All-Atlantic Hockey Team selection, garnering first team accolades as a junior and third team honors as a sophomore. The Atlantic Hockey Association All-League Teams and major individual awards for the 2018-19 season have will be announced in the coming weeks.

As a senior, McLaughlin led Canisius in all three major statistical categories with 19 goals, 21 assists and 40 points while also pacing the squad in both power play (8) and game-winning goals (3). A two-time Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week selection, McLaughlin established a career high in goals and ranks ninth nationally in that category heading into games this weekend. He also ranks second in the nation with 151 shots on goal and posted 10 multi-point efforts as a senior, including five games with a season high-tying three points. He became only the second player in the last 20 years to post consecutive 40-point seasons in a Griffs uniform.

Edmondson dressed in 122 games during his four-year stay on Main Street, compiling four goals and 30 assists from his blue line position. He led Canisius defensemen with 12 assists as a sophomore and was part of a Griffs defensive unit that ranked in the top 10 nationally in penalty kill (87.2/3rd), scoring defense (2.18/5th) and goals against (85/6th) as he helped the squad claim its first Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Championship.

Serving as team captain this season, the Toronto native recorded two goals and nine assists in 34 games played. A three-time Atlantic Hockey All-Academic Team selection, Edmondson was named a candidate for both the Senior CLASS Award and the Hockey Humanitarian Award.

Mazza, meanwhile, appeared in 141 games during his four-year career with the Griffs, recording 18 goals and 50 assists for 68 points. He ended his career as the program's fourth-highest scoring defensemen in its Division I history and third in among Division I blueliners in career assists.

A native of Kings Park, N.Y., Mazza led all Canisius defenseman and ranked fourth on the squad in scoring this season with 24 points on six goals and 18 assists. He wrapped up his career on a high note, notching three goals and an assist in the Griffs' Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament first round series at Niagara last weekend.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Ian Edmondson: D; 6' 1"; Senior

#77 Jimmy Mazza: D; 6' 2"; Senior

#13 Dylan McLaughlin: F; 5' 11"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#8 Ian Edmondson
: 6' 1"; Senior
: D

#77 Jimmy Mazza
: 6' 2"; Senior
: D

#13 Dylan McLaughlin
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

Players Mentioned

#8 Ian Edmondson

#77 Jimmy Mazza

#13 Dylan McLaughlin

Players Mentioned

#8 Ian Edmondson

#77 Jimmy Mazza

#13 Dylan McLaughlin