WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Blue Jackets Ink Calvert

Published on March 18, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Columbus, Ohio -- The National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets have announced the signing of 20-year old left-winger Matt Calvert to a 3-year entry level contract.

Calvert, a fifth round pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, has spent his entire Western Hockey League career in Brandon. A local product, Calvert was offered his first professional contract by Columbus last summer but chose to return to the Wheat Kings for this final season of WHL eligibility and play for Brandon at the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

A former member of the AAA Midget Wheat Kings, Calvert tied for the club scoring lead with Brayden Schenn this past season with 99 points, including a team leading 47 goals.

During his 3-year Western League career, Calvert scored 99 goals and 230 points in 198 games.

"Matt has followed up the strong training camp he had with us with a tremendous season in Brandon," Blue Jackets' general manager Scott Howson said. "We are very happy to get this deal completed. Now he can concentrate on having a solid playoff and Memorial Cup with the Wheat Kings."

A 3-time winner of the Wheat Kings' Hardest Working Player Award, Calvert led the WHL with nine shorthanded goals and was second in game winning goals with ten. As well, he finished second only to Colby Robak with an impressive +47 plus / minus rating.

Calvert, who was chosen the WHL's Player of the Week for the week ending March 14th, was a big winner at last weekend's Awards Night at Westman Place. Besides being named the club's Hardest Working Player, he was chosen the team's Top Graduating Player, Top Manitoba Born Player as well as Shoppers Drug Mart Player of the Year, as chosen by western Manitoba hockey fans.

On the ice, Calvert and the Wheat Kings continue preparations for their best of seven opening round playoff series with Swift Current, scheduled to begin with games this Friday and Saturday nights at Westman Place.

Tickets to both games are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca

As of Thursday afternoon, close to 3,100 tickets had been sold for Friday's series opener.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2010


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