Brandon Montour’s rocket ship to the stratosphere of the hockey world continued to climb on Monday.  Montour signed a three-year entry level contract with the National Hockey League’s Anaheim Ducks.

The Ducks' deal with defenseman Brandon Montour begin in the 2015-16 season. As per club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The NHL club selected the former Waterloo Black Hawks skater during the second round (55th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft.

Waterloo Black Hawks Skater Brandon Montour
Brandon Montour (Photo: Britta Lewis)
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The defenseman’s 2013/14 exploits with the Waterloo Black Hawks served as a launch pad for the success which has followed. After being selected in the 18th round of the United States Hockey League Draft during 2013, it was just over 12 months later when the Ducks chose him in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft. In between, Montour was named the United States Hockey League Player of the Year, Defenseman of the Year, and recognized as a member of the All-USHL First Team. His 62 points far exceeded all other USHL defenseman and ranked 9th overall in the league.

The Ohsweken, Ontario native was a key member of a Waterloo squad which won the 2013/14 Anderson Cup regular season championship, then reached the Clark Cup Championship Series. In the playoffs, Montour led all USHL skaters with 16 points.

Opening the 2014/15 campaign in Waterloo, Montour recorded six goals and 15 assists in 17 games through Thanksgiving. Although he has not played a USHL game since November, Montour still is currently tied for 17th in scoring among league defensemen.

His next stop was with the University of Massachusetts Minutemen. During an abbreviated freshman season, Montour was named the Hockey East Rookie of the Month for January after tying for second in the nation in scoring by a defenseman, with two goals and eight assists in eight games. During his 21-game NCAA career, the 20-year-old was among team leaders in points-per-game (0.95), second in assists (17) and first in scoring among defensemen (20 points).

When he has the opportunity to take the ice for Anaheim, Montour would become the second Waterloo alumnus to skate for the franchise, following Jason Blake’s stint with the Ducks from 2010 to 2012. Four other former Black Hawks have appeared in NHL contests this season: Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks), Craig Smith (Nashville Predators), J.T. Brown (Tampa Bay Lightning), and Eriah Hayes (San Jose). A half-dozen additional Black Hawks are currently signed to NHL contracts while assigned to teams in the American Hockey League.

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