Bowling Green's Nolan Valleau Signs with Chicago Blackhawks

Bowling Green defenseman Nolan Valleau has signed with the Chicago Blackhawks, as first reported by BGSUHockey.com. UPDATE: The Blackhawks officially announced the move on Tuesday.

The 6'1" offensive defenseman from southeastern Michigan was originally committed to Ohio State, but after the Buckeyes fired head coach Mark Osiecki, Valleau chose to look for a different school.

Valleau ended up at Bowling Green though after making that decision very late in the process, had to to sit out a season there as a redshirt year. As a redshirt freshman last season for the Falcons, Valleau made an immediate impact on the blueline. He was the team's second-highest scoring defenseman scoring two goals and 17 assists, including seven points on the power play.

Valleau skated at Chicago's prospect development camp on a free agent invitation this past summer where he apparently impressed Blackhawk brass enough to earn the contract. The Falcons still have eight defensemen on their roster for next season.