Bartlett Heads West

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks, and head coach Matt Thomas announced today that the team has signed free agent rookie center Dan Bartlett, a former Princeton standout. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"What jumps out to me about Dan is we get another exciting player with top college credentials who is ready to take the next step in his developing game," said Thomas. "He comes from a great college program at Princeton University with the rep utation of producing impact players with character I've had the honor of coaching like Daryl Marcoux, Kyle Hagel and Dustin Sproat. He's one of the youngest, dynamic, 'one-on-one' players available on the free agent market and has the ability to bring fans out of their seats with his skill level."

Bartlett, 24, is the second newcomer to the Thunder roster during the offseason, joining Jordan Cyr, who enters the pro game after leading his college program in scoring for the last two straight seasons.

Bartl ett enjoyed a career-high 29 points (16g-13a) and tied a career-high with 16 goals as a 2009-10 senior last season for Princeton, earning second-team All-Ivy honors and the Blackwell Award for the largest contributions in the club's "play, sportsmanship and influence."

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound forward led the Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament in scoring as a 2008-09 junior and was named to the ECAC All-Tournament team.

A native of Portland, Maine, he will be reunited with Thunder defenseman Daryl Marcoux, after the two were teammates during Bartlett's 2006-07 freshman season. He also guided the club to an NCAA Frozen Four tournament appearance as a junior.

"Daryl was very helpful in my decision making process," said Bartlett. "I was excited to hear his endorsement on how great the Thunder organization is, on and off the ice and how exciting it is to be part of it and the surrounding co mmunity in Stockton this next season. I'm hoping to contribute offensively to the best of my abilities, but I'm also proud of how my defensive game has improved. I feel all of that will be a good fit into Coach Thomas' intense, up-tempo playing style."

Bartlett totaled 79 points (42g-37a) in 119 career games with the Tigers, spanning four seasons (2007-10).

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