Lee signs pro contract
After three standout seasons as part of the Notre Dame hockey team, center Anders Lee has chosen to begin life as a professional.
Lee signed a two-year entry level contract with the New York Islanders, the team announced Monday. He joined the club for its morning skate in Newark, N.J., and could make his NHL debut as soon as Tuesday at home against the Winnipeg Jets.
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“I love this University, my teammates the coaching staff and everyone with the program who helped me get this opportunity,” Lee said in a statement. “I’ve been blessed and am so thankful to have had the opportunity to play at Notre Dame.”
New York selected Lee in the sixth round of the 2009 NHL Draft after his senior year of high school. He then played one season with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League before enrolling at Notre Dame.
The Edina, Minn., native turned in a prolific career in South Bend.
He played 125 games in an Irish uniform, scoring 61 goals and 116 points total, with a plus-37 rating. After playing two seasons at left wing, Lee moved to back to center this season and led Notre Dame in scoring with 20 goals and 18 assists.
Thanks in part to those numbers, Lee, who served as captain this season, was a finalist for Central Collegiate Hockey Association player of the year and defensive forward of the year awards. He was named first team all-CCHA.
Lee led Notre Dame to the Frozen Four as a freshman, when he scored 24 goals and notched 20 assists en route to his best collegiate season statistically. This year he helped the Irish to a third league tournament championship in program history.
His final game came last weekend, a 5-1 loss to St. Cloud State in the NCAA tournament.
