March 27, 2013 - 11:31pm
Report: As expected, Merrill leaves school, signs with Devils' organization
BY MATT SLOVIN
After three seasons with the Michigan hockey team, including two shortened ones, defenseman Jon Merrill has left the University and signed an amateur tryout contract with the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie on Twitter. The Michigan hockey team later reported the news on Twitter.
Merrill also signed an entry-level agreement with the New Jersey Devils, the parent club of Albany, set to begin with the 2013-14 season.
In his final year as a Wolverine, which came to an end Sunday in a 3-1 loss to Notre Dame in the CCHA championship game, Merrill tallied two goals and nine assists in 21 games. He missed the first half of the season with a fractured vertebrae suffered in an exhibition game against the University of Windsor on Oct. 9.
Merrill also missed the first half of his sophomore season because of a suspension for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
At his end-of-season press conference Tuesday, Michigan coach Red Berenson said he expected Merrill to depart.
“I’m leaning towards it’s going to be time for Jonny to move,” Berenson said. “I think (the Devils) have been really patient. They could have signed him after his first year.”
