March 28, 2008
Penner the Latest to Leave Alaska
CHN Staff Report
Alaska freshman defenseman Jeff Penner has signed a free-agent deal with the NHL'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. Two were seniors — goalie Wylie Rogers and defenseman defenseman T.J. Campbell — and two left with eligibility remaining — defenseman Tyler Eckford and forward Landon Novotney.
"I'd like to congratulate them and thank them for their time and efforts put into our program," Nanooks coach Doc 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."
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