Maple Leafs sign Mercyhurst's Joseph Duszak to 2-year entry-level contract
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed a college free agent.
Joseph Duszak, a junior defenceman at Mercyhurst University, has been signed to a two-year future entry-level contract.
.@SportChek Player Alert: The @MapleLeafs have signed defenceman Joseph Duszak to a two-year future entry-level contract.
Details >> https://t.co/qzN7tiUQuD#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/uvRk8szvR0
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 13, 2019
The 21-year-old is a right-handed shot who stands at 5-foot-10 and 185-pounds.
He skated in 37 games with the Mercyhurst University Lakers during the 2018-19 season and notched 47 points (16-31-47) in the process.
In addition to being currently ranked second in the nation with 1.27 points per game as a defenceman, he’s also been nominated for the Hobey Baker Award – one of the most prestigious awards in college hockey.
“I didn’t expect anything,” he told reporters during a media scrum. “Once it happened, it was kind of crazy getting everything sorted out.”
At the college level, Duszak stood out as a puck-moving defenceman who wasn’t afraid to jump into the rush or use his shot.
Just a few highlights from Joe’s 2018-2019 season with the Lakers!#ProLakers #MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/wmWPQrN53X
— Mercyhurst Hockey (@HurstMensHockey) March 13, 2019
He’ll be looking to bring his offensive prowess to the Toronto Marlies, the Leafs’ AHL affiliate — he reports to them later this week on a tryout basis.