via mapleleafs.com
David Nonis, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Tuesday the hockey club has signed defenceman Eric Knodel (NOH-dehl) to a one-year entry level contract that will commence at the start of the 2014-15 season. Knodel has also signed a professional tryout agreement for the remainder of the 2013-14 season with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.
Knodel, 23, registered 28 points (7 goals, 21 assists) with 28 penalty minutes and a +16 rating in 41 games in the NCAA (Hockey East) as captain of the New Hampshire Wildcats this season. Over his three-year career at the University of New Hampshire (2011-12 to 2013-14), the 6-6, 225-pound defenceman posted 20 goals and 41 assists for 61 points with 60 penalty minutes in 116 games.
A native of West Chester, Pennsylvania, Knodel was selected by Toronto in the fifth round, 128th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.