Former Stampede Players Allen & Walters Sign Pro Contracts
April 1, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release
Sioux Falls, SD-Former Stampede players Conor Allen and Dane Walters have signed professional hockey contracts. Allen, a defenseman, inked a contract with the New York Rangers last Friday and will play for their AHL affiliate, the Connecticut Wale. There will join former Stampede stars Stu Bickel and Andrew Carroll who are currently skating with the Whale. Walters, a forward, has signed an amateur tryout contract with the Worcester Sharks, the top affiliate of the San Jose Sharks.
Allen, a junior at UMass-Amherst, registered five goals and 14 assists for 19 points, along with 53 penalty minutes in 33 games this season. He established career-highs in assists, points and penalty minutes. Allen led all team defensemen in assists and points, and tied for third among UMass-Amherst blueliners in goals. He also led the team in blocked shots (57), ranked third in assists, tied for fourth in points, and ranked second in penalty minutes.
The 6-1, 210-pounder has skated in 99 career collegiate contests over three seasons with UMass-Amherst, registering 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points, along with 110 penalty minutes. Allen established career-highs in games played (35) and goals (seven) during the 2011-12 season. His seven goals tied for the team lead among defensemen that season.
Prior to joining UMass-Amherst, the Chicago, Illinois native skated in 48 games with the Stampede in 2009-10, tallying seven goals and eight assists for 15 points, along with 69 penalty minutes and a plus-nine rating.
Walters just completed his collegiate career at Western Michigan University. He appeared in 144 total games for WMU, scoring 39 goals and 44 assists for 83 points.
The St. Paul, Minn., native had a career-best season his junior year when he helped lead the Broncos to a Central Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament Championship. He led the team with 16 goals, totalled 29 points and finished the season with a +15 plus/minus rating.
The 6-foot, 198-pound Walters was one of the Broncos' three captains this past season and tied with Chase Balisy for the team lead in points with 25. He recorded a team-best 12 goals. Walters became just the second Bronco in program history to win the CCHA's Best Defensive Forward Award.
Walters skated with the Stampede during the 2007-08 season, posting 12 points on six goals and six assists in 57 games while helping lead the Herd to the playoffs.
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