The New Jersey Devils today signed Brian Halonen, a college free agent winger out of Michigan Tech, to a two-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2022-23 NHL season. He will sign an American Hockey League Amateur Tryout Contract (ATO) and report to Utica this week. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald.
Halonen, 23, led the Huskies with 44 points in 2021-22, after the forward earned 21 goals and 23 assists in 36 games played. He finished sixth in the NCAA in goals, eighth in total points and first in 5-on-5 goals. The NCAA recently nominated Halonen as a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, which is presented annually to the NCAA's top player in Division I men's ice hockey. Additionally, the right-handed shot was named to the All-Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) First Team, after Halonen led the CCHA in points (36) and goals in conference games.
The 6-foot, 215-pound Halonen played in 138 total games over the span of a four-year collegiate career (2018-2019 through 2021-2022) at Michigan Tech, recording 53 goals and 52 assists for 105 career points. Halonen also scored 10 career game-winning goals for the Huskies and finished his career with a plus/minus rating of plus-35. He earned Michigan Tech's Norbert Matovich Memorial Outstanding Freshman Award in 2018-19, after recording 21 points (12g-9a).
Prior to his NCAA tenure, the Delano, MN, native played in parts of two seasons in the United States Hockey League (USHL) for the Des Moines Buccaneers from 2016-17 to 2017-18. Halonen's 35 points (16g-19a) in 2017-18 ranked third on Des Moines, and his 19 assists were tied for first on the team.
Brian Halonen Signs 2-Year ELC with Devils | RELEASE
The college free agent will sign an ATO and report to Utica this week
