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WHL Wenatchee Wild

Wild Junior "A" Alumnus Bavaro Earns Pro Chance with Bruins

March 21, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release


Former Wenatchee Wild defenseman Drew Bavaro
Former Wenatchee Wild defenseman Drew Bavaro
(Wenatchee Wild, Credit: Russ Alman)

WENATCHEE, Wash. - Regardless of which league they played in as part of the Wenatchee Wild organization, the team's alumni continue to prove what can happen after starting a junior hockey career in the Wenatchee Valley. Former Wild defenseman Drew Bavaro has opened his professional hockey career, signing recently with the Boston Bruins. He was assigned to the Providence Bruins, Boston's American Hockey League affiliate. His one-year entry-level contract takes effect for the 2024-25 season, with an assignment to Providence on an Amateur Tryout contract for the remainder of this season.

Bavaro spent the 2019-20 season with Wenatchee during its eight-year run as a British Columbia Hockey League member club, posting nine goals and 24 assists. He made his AHL debut this past weekend, suiting up in both games of a split with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

He excelled in his four years as an NCAA defenseman, splitting his career between Division I programs at Bentley University and the University of Notre Dame. This past season, he notched 35 games at Notre Dame, leading Fighting Irish blueliners with 10 goals and 20 total points. He had 19 points in 37 appearances for Notre Dame last year, and posted 39 points in 52 games his freshman and sophomore seasons for Bentley.

Bavaro's advancement to the pros comes as two other Wenatchee alumni from its Junior "A" era have reached new levels of success in their own careers. 2016-17 goaltender Devin Cooley made his National Hockey League debut Sunday with the San Jose Sharks, while one-time Wild teammate Sam Morton signed his first professional career earlier this week, and was named as one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award on Wednesday after an impressive final season at Minnesota State University. In all, three players from Wenatchee's Junior "A" era have reached the NHL, and 18 Junior "A" alumni remain active across the NHL, AHL and ECHL.

The Wenatchee Wild congratulate Drew Bavaro on signing his first professional hockey contract, and wish him all further success as he begins his pro career.

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Images from this story

Former Wenatchee Wild defenseman Drew Bavaro
Former Wenatchee Wild defenseman Drew Bavaro
(Russ Alman)		   



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