Red Wings Sign Jurco To Entry-Level Contract
Detroit, MI...The Detroit Red Wings today announced that 19-year-old forward Tomas Jurco has been signed to a three-year entry-level contract. In accordance with club policy, no further details regarding this deal will be disclosed.
Detroit's top pick (second round, 35th overall) at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Jurco has spent the past three seasons with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In 172 career QMJHL games, Jurco tallied 175 points (87G-88A) in addition to a plus/minus rating of +126. The 6'2", 193-lb. winger also went 16-for-19 (84.2%) in post-overtime shootouts during his tenure in Saint John.
Originally selected by the Sea Dogs in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2009 CHL Import Draft, Jurco enjoyed significant postseason success throughout his major junior career, tallying 26G-38A-64P in 56 President's Cup Playoff contests. Jurco also registered 6G-2A-8P in eight career Memorial Cup appearances, helping Saint John win the prestigious title in 2011.
A native of Kosice, Slovakia, Jurco has represented his home country at several international tournaments, including the 2011 and 2012 IIHF World Junior Championships (11GP-2G-7A-9P combined total) and the 2009 IIHF World U-18 Championships at which he tied for the team lead in scoring with 2G-3A-5P in six games played. Prior to joining the Sea Dogs, Jurco spent several years in HC Kosice's development program, leading their U-20 club in scoring (51GP-24G-30A-54P) as a 16-year-old during his final season in Europe (2008-09).
