Penguins Sign Lovejoy
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The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Ben Lovejoy to a
three-year contract, it was announced today by executive vice
president and general manager Ray Shero.
The new contract goes into effect at the start of the 2010-11
season and will run through 2012-13. The deal is a two-way contract
for the 2010-11 campaign, and will pay Lovejoy $525,000 at the NHL
level. He will earn $525,000 in 2011-12 and $525,000 in
2012-13.
Lovejoy, 26, appeared in 12 games with Pittsburgh last season,
compiling three assists and an impressive plus-8 rating. He
recorded his first NHL point with an assist Nov. 14, 2009 at
Boston. Lovejoy, who made his NHL debut in the 2008-09 campaign
after seeing action in two games with Pittsburgh, finished with a
plus or even rating in 11 of his 12 contests this past season.
Lovejoy was one of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s top defensemen in
2009-10, recording nine goals and 29 points in just 65 games. His
nine goals tie for the lead among Wilkes-Barre/Scranton blueliners
while his 29 points placed second. Lovejoy had two assists in two
AHL playoff games against Albany.
Lovejoy (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) played three seasons with
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In his career he has 18 goals, 62 assists,
80 points and a plus-137 rating in 213 games. He led the entire AHL
with a plus-42 rating and topped all WBS blueliners with 31 points
(7G-24A) in the 2008-09 season. For his efforts, he was named to
the PlanetUSA All-Star Team.
The Concord, New Hampshire native has appeared in 37 playoff games
with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, helping the club to the Calder Cup
Final in 2007-08. He has registered three goals, 11 assists and 14
points in his postseason career.
Lovejoy turned pro after three collegiate seasons with Dartmouth.
He finished his Big Green career with 54 points (11G-43A) in 96
games. In his senior campaign, he posted a career-high seven goals
and 23 points, and was named second team All-Ivy and third team
All-ECACHL (Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey League).
