Bowling Green's Ralfs Freibergs Reportedly Signs Pro Contract

Bowling Green defenseman Ralfs Freibergs has signed an AHL contract with the Winnipeg Jets' affiliate the St. John's IceCaps, according to a report out of Freibergs' native Latvia. Freibergs had attended Winnipeg Jets development camp earlier this summer.

Freibergs played two seasons in Bowling Green. As a freshman in 2012-2013, he missed all but the final 8 games of Bowling Green's season due to a 33-game NCAA suspension for playing what the NCAA deemed professional hockey in Europe prior to joining the Falcons. As a sophomore, Freibergs tallied three goals and 19 assists for 22 points in 37 games with the Falcons, while helping quarterback their power play.

Freibergs was the only current NCAA player to participate in last year's Olympic games, when he dressed and saw limited action with the Latvian national team. His appearance didn't come without controversy though, when reports surfaced after the Games that Freibergs had failed a drug test.

Freibergs' departure would be a blow to the Falcons, who also lost senior defenseman Marcus Perrier over the summer, when Perrier announced that he was leaving the hockey program. The Falcons are still expected to start the year with eight defensemen on their roster.