WHEELING, W.V. – Colgate men’s ice hockey senior defenseman Brett Corkey (Calgary, Alberta) has signed an amateur tryout (ATO) contract with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers, as announced by the organization on Friday, March 17. Terms of the contract have not been disclosed.
The Nailers are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
“Thank you to my teammates, coaches and trainers over the past four years at Colgate,” Corkey said. “I am very fortunate and grateful for this opportunity.”
Corkey was among the better defensemen in ECAC Hockey this season, where he was a finalist for the league’s best defensive defenseman award.
Corkey led the league and is tied for first in the country with 97 blocked shots this season. He also blocked 60 blocked shots in 22 league games, also the most in ECAC Hockey.
Offensively, Corkey had the best season of his career with career-highs of five goals, 12 assists and 17 points to go along with his 97 blocked shots.
Corkey became the 13th player in program history to play in 150 games, finishing his career with 151 games played and was tied for ninth in program history in games played. Corkey wrapped up his career with nine goals and 34 assists for 43 points.
Corkey begins his professional career Friday night when the Nailers travel to Glens Falls, New York, to face the Adirondack Thunder at 7 p.m. Corkey will face his former Raider classmate Tim Harrison (Duxbury, Massachusetts) as well as former Raider Kevin Lough ’16.
