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Quinnipiac junior Bryce Van Brabant has signed an NHL entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames, as initially reported by Chip Malafronte and confirmed by an additional source. The Morinville, Alberta native signed with his home province team as an NCAA free agent.
Van Brabant is a big-bodied winger who plays a physical game and projects to be a third or fourth line grinder in the pro ranks. He scored 10 of his 15 goals this season on the power play and had 22 total points for the Bobcats.
Van Brabant's Quinnipiac team was eliminated in the NCAA East Regional semifinal by Providence on Friday evening. The Bobcats were the national runner-up to nearby rival Yale last season.
Van Brabant was ranked No. 78 in SBNation's Top 100 NHL Prospects. Here's what this writer had to say about him back in the Top 100 Ranking feature.
The junior has really come on strong this season, potting 14 goals after having found the back of the net just nine times in his first two seasons combined. He's a big, powerful winger whose net presence is intimidating. He could play a myriad of roles at the next level, but a power forward who can bring toughness on the third or fourth line is probably his calling.
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Jeff Cox covers college, junior and high school hockey, NCAA recruiting and NHL Draft prospects. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.