WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Colgate men’s ice hockey senior captain Jake Kulevich (Marblehead, Massachusetts) has signed an amateur tryout (ATO) contract with the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose. Terms of Kulevich’s contract have not been disclosed.
The Moose are the AHL team for the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets.
“I am really thankful to the Moose for giving me this opportunity,” Kulevich said. “I am excited about this new chapter in my hockey career. Without Colgate University and the Raider community, this opportunity would not be possible.
“I am truly grateful for the four years I had at Colgate and the memories I experienced that I will always carry with me.”
The Raiders’ captain is the first Raider from the Class of 2017 to sign an AHL contract following the 2016-17 season.
This past season was a memorable year for Kulevich as he tallied career-highs with six goals and 16 assists for 22 points to lead the Raiders. Kulevich was the first Colgate defenseman to record 20 or more points in a single season since Spiro Goulakos in 2013-14. Kulevich is also the first Colgate defenseman since at least the 1999-2000 season to lead the team in points. In addition, he was the 14th player in program history to play 150 games in his career.
“Jake has worked very hard developing his game over these past four years at Colgate,” Colgate head coach Don Vaughan said. “He has earned this opportunity and we wish nothing but success for Jake at this stage of his hockey career. He will be a great pro.”
Kulevich was also among the best defensemen in ECAC Hockey as his 64 blocked shots were the most by a defensemen in the league that also scored at least 20 points.
In his career, Kulevich had 15 goals and 45 assists for 60 points as well as 256 blocked shots in his 150 games. He was a two-time Dean Coley “Barrel” Award winner, given annual to Colgate’s best defensive player. Academically, Kulevich was rewarded as a three-time ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team selection, three-time Raider Academic Honor Roll selection and was named to the Dean’s List four times in his career.
