Six Men's NCAA Seniors Go Pro

Six of the nine members of the Men's NCAA Class of 2019 have made the jump to pro hockey since the end of the season two weeks ago.

Braden Hellems was the first to sign with the Indy Fuel of the ECHL, the AA affiliate of the AHL's Rockford Ice Hogs and the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks was the first to ink a contract on March 7th when the Fuel announced that he would be the latest addition to their blue line.

Hellems, who only played in games in the first two seasons of his career, took off in his junior season, appearing in 28 games and notching 5 goals and 16 assists. Hellems found himself at home as one of the top defensemen that season, playing alongside classmate Cory Dunn. This past season, he ranked fourth in the entire NCAA for points by a defenseman with 11 goals and 16 assists. Hellems would suit up in his first pro game on March 9th against former teammate Trevor Boyd and the Kalamazoo K-Wings and alongside former Men's NCAA captain Mat Thompson ('18).

Cory Dunn, Hellems' defensive partner the prior two seasons, would ink a deal of his own on March 8th with the Newfoundland Growlers, also of the ECHL. Newfoundland is the AA affiliate of the AHL's Toronto Marlies and the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs. Dunn, a three time All American and one of few Bulldog defensemen to reach the 100 point mark in his caraer, appeared in 116 games for the Bulldogs while notching 23 goals and 105 assists in his four seasons as the top defenseman for the Bulldogs. Dunn suited up for his first game as a Growler on March 8th and notched an assist in his first contest.

Trevor Boyd would make it three on March as the Muskegon native and former Junior K-Wing would sign with the ECHL's Kalamazoo K-Wings, the AA affiliate of the AHL's Utica Comets and the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. Boyd has been a mainstay in the Bulldog lineup for all four seasons of his career, he finished his senior seasons fifth on the team for scoring with 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points in 29 games played this year. He finished his career with 65 goals and 51 assists for 116 points in 114 games played.

Boyd made his debut on March 8th against the Fort Wayen Komets where the K-Wings lost to the Komets 3-2 in overtime and has played in two games since then.

Brian Bachnak would join Austin Hervey ('17) with the SPHL's Peoria Rivermen a week later on March 14th. Bachnak, a 2018-19 assistant captain, racked up 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points in 26 contests this season. Over his four year career with the Bulldogs, the Brownstown, Mich. native had 9 goals and 13 assists for 22 points in 95 career games.

Bryan Yim would be the latest addition to Bulldogs in the pro-hockey ranks earlier this morning when the Fayettesville Marksmen announced that they had signed him to an Amateur Tryout Contract. Yim will join two former Bulldogs down in Fayettevill, North Carolina, Taylor McCloy and Dillon Kelley (both Class of 2018).

Yim had a standout season this year, grabbing the team lead in goals with 15 and 8 assists in 29 games. Yim finished his career with 50 goals and 54 assists for 101 points in 115 games.

Goaltender Kevin Entmaa would make it six of nine seniors this season joining the pro ranks as he signed with the Macon Mayhem of the SPHL this afternoon.

Entmaa, the starting goaltender for the Bulldogs all four years of his career, finished his stint as a Bulldog with a record of 60 wins, 18 losses and 3 ties and a .919 SV% and 2.09 GAA. Entmaa backstopped his team to a Harris Cup in 2016 and a Frozen Four appearance in 2017.

The six members of the Class of 2019 is the highest number of seniors to go pro from the Men's NCAA team since the inaugural recrtuiting class, the Class of 2011, had six players sign pro contracts eight years ago.