Whalers Scott Wedgewood, Austin Levi Sign NHL Contracts

While the Plymouth Whalers are preparing for the Guelph Storm in the first round of the OHL playoffs (Game 1 is Friday at 7:05 p.m. at ), two veteran Whalers have signed entry-level National Hockey League contracts.

Goaltender Scott Wedgewood signed with the New Jersey Devils; defenseman Austin Levi signed with the Carolina Hurricanes.  

Here are the releases from both teams:  

Wedgewood:

Newark, NJ – The New Jersey Devils today signed goaltender Scott Wedgewood to an entry-level contract. The announcement was made by Devils’ President/CEO/General Manager Lou Lamoriello. As per club policy, no further terms were disclosed.

Wedgewood, New Jersey’s second choice (third round) and 84th overall selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, joins the organization after spending the past four seasons with Plymouth (OHL). The 6-1, 190-lb. goaltender is 28-10-3 with 3 shutouts, 3.02 goals-against average & .911 save percentage in 43 games played this season with the Whalers. Wedgewood is a combined 61-39-5 with 6 ShO, a 3.08 GAA & .906 save percentage in 122 regular season contests with the club. He’s also seen action in 17 OHL playoff games, going 5-6 with a 3.13 GAA & .929 save percentage. His minor hockey experience includes 29 games with Mississauga (GTHL) in 2007-08.

Wedgewood represented the Bronze Medal-winning Canadian team at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Calgary/Edmonton, posting a 2-0-0 record, 1 ShO, 2.42 GAA & .916 save percentage. Born August 14, 1992 in Etobicoke, Ont., he will attend his third NHL training camp in September.  

Levi:

RALEIGH, NC – Ron Francis, Director of Hockey Operations for the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed defenseman Austin Levi to a three-year, entry-level contract. The deal will pay Levi $525,000 on the NHL level or $60,000 on the minor-league level in 2012-13, $550,000 in the NHL or $60,000 in the minors in 2013-14 and $575,000 in the NHL or $62,500 in the minor leagues in 2014-15. Levi will receive a signing bonus of $175,000.

“Austin has excellent size and has really come into his own as a defensive-defenseman in the OHL with Plymouth,” said Francis. “He is ready to begin his professional career with the Hurricanes organization next season.”

Levi, 20, is in his fourth season of junior hockey with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and ranks second among Whaler defensemen in assists (24) and points (29). He currently has a career-best plus-21 rating for the 2011-12 season, while playing in 63 of Plymouth’s 67 games. Levi (6’3”, 192 lbs.), was born in Columbus, OH, but lists Aurora, CO, as his hometown, and was selected by the Hurricanes in the third round, 85th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He has totaled 68 points (14g, 54a) and 253 penalty minutes in 209 career OHL games, all with Plymouth.

Here are the dates for the upcoming Plymouth-Guelph first round playoff series:

PLYMOUTH-GUELPH SERIES DATES (series best four-of-seven):

• Game 1 - Friday, March 23 - Guelph at Plymouth, 7:05 p.m., Compuware Arena.
• Game 2 - Sunday, March 25 - Plymouth at Guelph, 6:30 p.m., Sleeman Centre.
• Game 3 - Tuesday, March 27 - Guelph at Plymouth, 7:05 p.m., Compuware Arena.
• Game 4 - Thursday, March 29 - Plymouth at Guelph, 7:00 p.m., Sleeman Centre.
• (*) Game 5 - Saturday, March 31 - Guelph at Plymouth, 7:05 p.m., Compuware Arena.
• (*) Game 6 - Sunday, April 1 - Plymouth at Guelph, 6:30 p.m., Sleeman Centre.
• (*) Game 7 - Tuesday, April 3 - Guelph at Plymouth, 7:05 p.m., Compuware Arena.  

(*) if necessary