Dan Weiss and C.J. Chartrain signed a professional contract with the Toledo Walleye of the East Coast Hockey League, the club announced this afternoon. The Walleye are a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League.
“I am so proud of both Dan and C.J. for all that they did to make Niagara hockey a better program,” head coach Dave Burkholder said. “Toledo is one of hockey’s best minor professional franchises when you look at ownership, facilities and coaching. What an exciting time for both players and their families.”
Weiss served as the co-captain his senior season, headlining the defensive core for the Purple Eagles. The 6-foot-2 defenseman played in all 27 league games during the 2012-13 campaign, and 36 overall, all while logging extensive ice-time en route to the program’s fourth trip to the NCAA tournament. Offensively the Second Team All-Conference honoree chipped in 12 points from the Purple Eagle blue line off three goals and a career-high nine assists. In four years with the Purps, Weiss suited up for 125 games, scoring seven goals and adding 25 assists for 32 points.
Along with Weiss, Chartrain was one of the most experienced Purple Eagles having played in 139 games in four season and accounting for 12 goals and 39 assists. The defenseman finished his senior campaign playing in a career-best 37 games while contributing a pair of goals and 11 helpers for 13 points.
Weiss and Chartrain will be joining Niagara alum Kyle Rogers (’08) who was named captain of the Walleyes at the start of the 2011-12 season.
Weiss and Chartrain are the fifth and sixth Purple Eagle to joining the professional ranks since the conclusion of the 2012-13 season. Jason Beattie and Carsen Chubak signed with the Rochester Americans and the Adirondack Phantoms, respectively. Giancarlo Iuorio inked a one-year contract with VIK Västerås, a hockey club from Västerås, Sweden, while Marc Zanette recently signed a contract with the Reading Royals.
