NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – Merrimack College men's hockey junior defenseman
Declan Carlile has signed a two-year entry level contract with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning, as announced by the club.
Carlile will start his professional career in Syracuse, N.Y. with the Lightning's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. A Hartland, Mich. native, Carlile was an undrafted free agent and concludes his Merrimack career after a dominant three seasons on defense.
"We are very excited for Declan. His work ethic and desire to get better were present every day at Merrimack," said Warriors head coach
Scott Borek. "Tampa Bay has gotten a good one. His impact on our campus and in our locker room will always be appreciated and we are excited for his next steps."
The 2021-22 campaign was a dominant one for the defenseman. He led all Warrior rearguards with 24 points on seven goals and 17 assists. He also topped the team with 87 blocked shots and a +14 on-ice rating. In his Merrimack career, he had 56 points in 83 games with 13 goals and 43 helpers.
The Syracuse Crunch return to the ice this evening in the Empire State to take on the Hartford Wolf Pack, AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers.
--
For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.
