Forward Grayson Downing of Abbotsford has signed a two-year entry level contract with the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild.
Downing, a product of the Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association, played at the University of New Hampshire this season, where he put up 36 points ( 21 goals and 15 assists) in 38 games.
The six-foot, 200-pounder led New Hampshire in goal-scoring and was second on the team in scoring this season. During his four seasons with the Wildcats, he tallied 112 points and 120 penalty minutes in 144 games.
Prior to signing with New Hampshire, he played in the British Columbia Hockey League for the Westside Warriors. In three BCHL seasons Downing scored 129 points in 132 games.
Downing’s Wildcats lost to Boston University 4-1 in the Hockey East semifinals on March 20 and he will now join the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League.