Lundgren Signs Entry-Level Contract With Bruins After Propelling Men's Hockey To Historic Season

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — Max Lundgren was so impressive at TD Garden that those who oversee the Boston Bruins organization wanted to get him in the building as soon as they could.

The Merrimack College junior goaltender on Sunday signed an entry-level contract with the Bruins organization, as announced by the Bruins.

"Obviously, very excited," Lundgren said Sunday in front of teammates and media members. "This is a dream since I was a little kid, to sign an NHL contract. So just really excited, ready to go."

Lundgren departs the Merrimack men's ice hockey program having set the single-season program record for saves in a season (1,134 in regular season) as well as the record for minutes played in a season (2,332-plus). He was unanimously selected as the Hockey East Tournament MVP following a 49-save performance against UConn in the Hockey East Championship at TD Garden. 
 
Lundgren, from Angelholm, Sweden, said in December he was invited to Bruins Development Camp, which will take place during the summer. His conversations with the Bruins continued throughout the regular season before impressing during the Hockey East Tournament. He was offered a contract shortly after Merrimack's season-ending loss in the NCAA Tourmanent. 

Lundgren said he will report to the Providence Bruins, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of Boston, within the next few weeks.

"It's tremendous," head coach Scott Borek said. "It's pretty special to see that come to reality. And to have it happen right in our own backyard, I think it's really special for our whole group."

The well-deserved recognition comes after Lundgren's outstanding season for the Warriors. In 38 starts during his junior campaign, Merrimack went 21-16-2. Lundgren finished with a 2.55 goal against average and a .920 save percentage and totaled 1,172 saves. He concludes his Merrimack tenure with 63 appearances, compiling a 2.67 goals against average and a .916 save percentage.
 
In addition to being named the Hockey East Championship MVP, Lundgren was named the Goaltender of the Tournament in another unanimous selection. He stopped 130 of the 136 shots he faced in the four-game tournament, including other-worldly performances in the semifinals and finals at TD Garden. During those two games at the home of the Bruins, with Bruins general manager Don Sweeney on the ninth floor, Lundgren stopped 73 of 74 shots, posted a 98.6 save percentage, 0.50 goals against average. His 24-save shutout against UMass marked the first semifinal shutout in 12 years before a career-best 49 saves in the championship round.