With just weeks remaining in his junior hockey career, Surrey’s Brenden Dillon is going to go pro.
The 20-year-old defenceman with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League inked a three-year entry level contract with the Dallas Stars Tuesday, opting to sign with the Texas team after considering offers from other National Hockey League organizations.
“I have appreciated the attention and interest from NHL teams,” said Dillon in a press release. “I am excited and looking forward to being a part of the Stars organization.”
Dillon, the team captain, is in his fourth season with the Thunderbirds, and is currently second in team scoring with 50 points on six goals and 44 assists. The six-foot-three, 209-pound blueliner has also earned 128 penalty minutes.
Dillon will stay in Seattle until the conclusion of the 2010-11 season. Seattle is currently fifth in the U.S. Division of the WHL, five points out of a playoff position with eight games to play. He could be assigned to a farm team within the Stars organization once the Thunderbirds season concludes.
Dillon has had a small taste of pro hockey, having attended the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp as an 18-year-old in 2009.
In 271 games in Seattle, Dillon has tallied nine goals and assisted on 76 assists for 85 points over four seasons, while accumulating 365 penalty minutes.