Chicago Blackhawks Sign Kirby Dach to Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract
July 8, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL) - Saskatoon Blades News Release
Kirby Dach is officially a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.
The forward for the Saskatoon Blades put pen to paper on a three-year, entry-level contract with the Blackhawks Monday, the team announced.
The third-overall selection in the 2019 National Hockey League Draft last month, Dach was the top player selected from the Canadian Hockey League and one of seven Western Hockey League players taken in the first round of the draft.
"It's surreal," Dach said after being selected. "I'm at a loss for words of what just happened. I'm thrilled to be a Blackhawk."
In his second full season with the Blades, Dach was a driving offensive force for the club, paving the way for their return to the WHL Playoffs. With 73 points (25G-48A) in 62 games, Dach finished third in team scoring. He contributed three power-play goals, one short-handed, and five game-winning goals as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu2IdqlrKFs&feature=youtu.be
His season highlights saw him represent the WHL at the 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series in November while also captaining Team Orr at the 2019 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in January. He also had 22 multi-point games, highlighted by a pair of five-point performances throughout the season. Dach's season also included four multi-goal games, including a pair of hat tricks.
During the 2019 WHL Playoffs, Dach recorded eight points (5G-3A) in 10 games.
"There's such a great talent of WHL players and Canadian players," Dach said on his draft day. "To be the first one selected, it's an honour to represent my country that way."
Overall, Dach has appeared in 133 WHL regular season games, posting 129 points (38G-91A), including seven power-play goals, one short-handed goal, and seven game-winning goals. The Blades originally selected him second overall at the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.
In the 2017-18 WHL Regular Season, Dach led all rookie forwards with 39 assists as part of 46 points (7G-39A) in his first full campaign. He originally made his WHL debut in November 2016, eventually scoring the first two goals of his WHL career on Feb. 10, 2017.
Internationally, Dach has represented Canada at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, winning gold on home soil with Canada's team at the latter of the two events. At the 2016 WHL Cup, Dach captained his home province of Alberta to a gold medal.
The Blades open the 2019-20 WHL Regular Season with a home-and-home set against the Prince Albert Raiders. After opening their season on the road Friday, September 20, the Blades will conduct their home opener on Saturday, September 21 (7:00 p.m. MT).
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Western Hockey League Stories from July 8, 2019
- Chicago Blackhawks Sign Kirby Dach to Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract - Saskatoon Blades
- Cougars Sign Two First-Round Bantam Draft Selections - Prince George Cougars
- CHL Announces Partnership with Adept Mobile to Create Best-In-Class Mobile App Experience for Fans - WHL
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