Colgate's Ryan Johnston Signs with Montreal Canadiens

Colgate rising junior defenseman Ryan Johnston earned an invitation to the Montreal Canadiens development camp this past week, and that invitation helped earn Johnston a contract offer, which he signed, forgoing his final year with the Raiders. Johnston's contract is a standard two-year, two-way entry-level contract, and he will most likely start next season with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate in St. John's.

Johnston isn't a physically imposing defenseman, listed at 5-10 176 lbs., but plays a very fundamentally sound defensive game and is a very smart, mature player. Colgate relied heavily on him in key defensive sitautions last yera. He had a scoring line of 1-14-15 in 38 games with a +12 +/- rating.

In a press release from the school, Colgate head coach Don Vaughn said:

“Ryan feels at this time he is ready to take the next step in achieving his goal of playing in the National Hockey League. We wish him nothing but the best as he moves onto his professional career.”