The Colorado Avalanche signed Penn State forward Matthew DiMarsico on Monday morning to an entry-level contract.
DiMarsico, 22, had 18 goals and 42 points in 37 games this season for the Nittany Lions. The undrafted junior earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors this season. He finished his college career with 42 goals and 100 points in 111 games.
“Personally, I love Matt’s story,” Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky said in a statement. “He was not given anything other than an opportunity and started at the very bottom. He worked extremely hard on his individual game and paid close attention to team play and the result was great improvement year-after-year.
“We are all extremely proud of (DiMarsico) for everything he has accomplished and the memories he has given this program and wish him the very best in his pro career.”
DiMarsico, who is listed at 6-foot and 181 pounds, signed a two-year ELC that begins next season. He will report to the Colorado Eagles on an AHL contract for the rest of this season.
The Avs have been frequent shoppers in the college free agent market during Jared Bednar’s tenure as head coach. Colorado’s aggressiveness with trading away draft picks and prospects to help the NHL club’s pursuit of a Stanley Cup has often left the organization’s pipeline thin, but also provides opportunities for undrafted players like Logan O’Connor and Sam Malinski to earn chances and thrive.
Colorado also signed undrafted defenseman Gustav Stjernberg from Bowling Green following his junior season earlier this month. He has two points in four games so far for the Eagles.
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