Madison star forward Cole Caufield signs with Canadiens
MADISON, Wis. (BVM) — Although the Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey team’s season ended in a heartbreaking 6-3 upset loss to Bemidji State last Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Badger forward Cole Caufield still had a good weekend, officially signing a entry-level contract (ELC) with the Montreal Canadiens.
Announced via the Canadiens Twitter account Caufield’s ELC is for three years from 2020-21 to 2022-23.
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a three-year ELC with forward Cole Caufield. (2020-21 to 2022-2023)
📄 https://t.co/tIdAMxLWHY
#GoHabsGo— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 28, 2021
The Stevens Point, Wis. native was originally drafted 15th overall by Montreal in the 2019 NHL Draft. Caufield has spent the last two seasons playing in Madison.
Over that time the 20-year-old, 5-foot-7, 162-pound forward has been a force for the Badgers in the Big Ten, being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Big Ten Player of the Year. He was also the back-to-back Big Ten scoring champ and back-to-back first team All-Big Ten.
Caufield racked up 88 points, 49 goals and 39 assists over his two seasons. Last year he was the first Badger to win the Big Ten scoring title since the 1977-78 season and this year his two hat tricks were the first for a Badger since the 1996-98 season.
This year. Caufield also won a gold medal with team USA at the 2021 World Junior Championship with two goals, three assists and five points over seven games in Canada.
The Canadiens are currently fourth in the Scotia North Division and 15th overall in the NHL this season with a record of 14-8-9 with 37 points.
Caufield will now head to the American Hockey League.
