A week removed from bowing out of the Big Ten Tournament against Minnesota, senior defenseman Nicholas Boka has turned pro.
Boka announced Saturday that he has signed an American Hockey League amateur tryout contract with the Iowa Wild –– the AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild.
Boka was a sixth-round selection, 171st overall, by the Minnesota Wild in the 2015 NHL draft. An amateur tryout contract is commonly signed by college hockey players who attempt to play professionally in the National Hockey League. He joins sophomore defenseman Quinn Hughes as members of this past season’s team who have signed a professional contract.
“I am excited to be a part of the Wild organization,” Boka said in a statement per MGoBlue.com. “They have a very good team this year, and I can’t wait to learn from the coaching staff and players and to continue playing hockey this season.”
In four years at Michigan, Boka played in 147 games, recording four goals and 24 assists along with a plus-minus rating of plus-19. This past season, in which he was named alternate captain, he finished with three goals and six assists.
Boka was an immediate contributor as a freshman, recording 10 assists in 38 games on a Wolverine side that won the Big Ten Tournament and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In his junior season, he played an integral role in the team’s Frozen Four run and scored his only goal of the season against Boston University in the NCAA Tournament.
“I really enjoyed my time at Michigan and felt it gave me time to mature both on and off the ice,” Boka said. “It has prepared me to turn pro and take the next step towards my development.”