Former New Hampshire defenseman Brett Pesce has signed an entry-level deal with Carolina and will report to the Checkers.
"Brett is a big, puck-moving defenseman, and we felt it was time for him to begin his professional career,” said Hurricanes GM Ron Francis in an official release. “He will report to Charlotte next week so that he can play some AHL games this season."
A third-round pick in the 2013 draft, Pesce spent three seasons at the University of New Hampshire, totaling 43 points (11g, 32a) in 110 games for the Wildcats. He finished second among the team's blue liners in scoring this season with 16 points in 31 games. Pesce also represented the U.S. Under-18 team at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, notching
an assist on the game-winning goal vs. Russia.
Pesce was also a part of New Hampshire's most recent NCAA Tournament appearance in 2013. The Wildcats entered as an At-Large bid and toppled Denver in the first round, but fell to UMass-Lowell in the Regional Final.
The 20-year-old is the second college player to be slated to join Charlotte this season, after goalie Rasmus Tirronen joined the team this morning. Pesce follows current Checkers defensemen Dennis Robertson and Danny Biega as college players that came on at the conclusion of their collegiate career.
