Denver's Butcher to Join Devils

Will Butcher is going from Denver to the Devils.

The 2017 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner as the top player in NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey this past season, Butcher has signed a two-year contract with the NHL’s New Jersey Devils worth approximately $925,000, as reported at NJ.com. A Wisconsin native who was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the fifth round in 2013 just before enrolling at the University of Denver, he eschewed his drafting club to sign with New Jersey as a free agent.

Butcher scored seven goals and added 30 assists for a career-high 37 points in 43 outings in 2016-17 as Denver won its eighth NCAA hockey championship overall, and first since 2005. He also earned All-America honors on defense for the second consecutive season. In 158 career appearances with the Pioneers from 2013 to 2017, Butcher registered 28-75—103 points, including 15 power-play goals and four game-winners, according to USCHO.com, and helped DU to four NCAA Tournament appearances. He prepped with the U.S. National Team Development Program for two seasons prior to joining the Pioneers.

Alexander Kerfoot of Harvard, a forward who was drafted by the Devils in the fifth round in 2012, has instead signed with the Avalanche as a free agent. Kerfoot, who last year captained the Crimson to its first NCAA Frozen Four appearance since 1994, recorded career highs of 16-30—46 points and eight power-play goals in 37 contests as Harvard claimed both the ECAC regular-season and tournament titles. He finished with 36 goals and 124 points in 122 career games, and also helped Harvard to three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths over his final three campaigns.

UND's Stafford Signs with Devils

Veteran NHL right wing Drew Stafford (North Dakota) signed a one-year contract with the New Jersey Devils on Friday, according to NHL.com. The deal was reportedly for $800,000.

Stafford, 31, skated for both the Winnipeg Jets and Boston Bruins last season, notching eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points in 58 games. In 725 career NHL regular-season contests, including nine campaigns with the Buffalo Sabres, he has tallied 183-217—400 points.

A Milwaukee native who grew up in Minnesota, the 6-foot-2 Stafford was a first-round NHL selection (13th overall) of Buffalo in 2004. He played three collegiate seasons at UND from 2003 to 2006, where he tallied 48-67—115 points in 118 outings. He also helped the Fighting Sioux to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, including two straight Frozen Four berths.

Berenson Starts Off NASCAR Race in Michigan

Retired University of Michigan hockey coach Gordon "Red" Berenson gave the command for drivers to start their engines at Sunday's NASCAR Monster Cup Energy Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. The race was won by Kyle Larson.

Berenson, 77, retired this summer after 33 years at the helm of Wolverines hockey. He left with a 848-426-92 overall record from 1984 to 2017 at his alma mater , including NCAA titles in 1996 and 1998, and came within an overtime goal of a third in 2011. He also led Michigan to 10 Central Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season championships and nine CCHA Tournament crowns, plus a record 22 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths from 1991 to 2012.

A native of Regina, Sask., who holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Michigan, Berenson played almost 20 seasons in the NHL with Montreal, St. Louis, the New York Rangers and Detroit, recording 261 goals and 397 assists for 658 points in 987 regular-season outings.

Granato to Guide Team USA at 2018 Olympics

Wisconsin head coach Tony Granato will lead the U.S. men's ice hockey team at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang County, South Korea. The announcement was made late last week by USA Hockey.

Granato's assistant coaches will include Keith Allain (Yale), Chris Chelios (Wisconsin), Ron Rolston (Michigan Tech) and Scott Young (Boston University). Jim Johannson (Wisconsin) of USA Hockey operations will serve as Team USA's general manager, while former U.S. Olympic Coach Ben Smith (Northeastern) will be the director of player personnel.

Team USA has yet to be assembled, but will likely consist of NCAA players and players who have been skating for European clubs. NHL players are not expected to compete en masse in the Olympics for the first time since 1994, as an agreement could not be reached with the IIHF for the 2018 games.

Merrimack's Delia Signs with Blackhawks

Merrimack College has lost its most experienced goaltender less than three months before the start of the 2017-18 NCAA campaign.

Rising junior Collin Delia passed up his senior season in North Andover to sign a free agent contract with the NHLs’ Chicago Blackhawks last week. The deal is for two years, according to the Blackhawks’ web site. Delia has taken part in the Blackhawks Prospects Camp in each of the last two seasons.

In three years with the Warriors, the 6-foot-2, 200-lb. native of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. fashioned a 17-20-3 record in 56 collegiate appearances to go with a 2.60 goals-against average, a .907 save percentage, and four shutouts, according to USCHO.com.

Delia finished ninth among NCAA Division I netminders last season with a .927 save percentage over 21 games, while going 9-8-3 with a 2.15 GAA and three shutouts. The Warriors will return rising sophomores Drew Vogler (18 games) and Craig Pantano (one game) in net next season.