Cornell's Joel Lowry Signs with Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings announced on Monday that they have signed Cornell outgoing senior forward Joel Lowry to a two-year entry-level contract. Lowry was drafted in the Kings in the fifth round 140th overall at the 2011 NHL Draft. His rights with the Kings would have expired later this week making him an NHL free agent if the Kings did not sign him.

Lowry put up just over 20 points in each of his first three seasons at Cornell. His final season was cut short after just 11 games when a nagging back injury required season-ending surgery. Though not before helping set-off a handshake line scuffle last season in a game against Quinnipiac, which helped spur an epic post-game rant by his head coach Mike Schafer.

Lowry is a hard-nosed competitor that plays a strong physical game. He is the son of former NHLer Dave Lowry, and his younger brother Adam played 80 games with the Winnipeg Jets season.

Lowry is expected to begin next season with the Kings' AHL affiliate the Ontario Reign.