KUNITZ INKS CONTRACT WITH ANAHEIM MIGHTY DUCKS

Hobey Baker Hat Trick Finalist Will Join NHL Team For Fall Training Camp

Chris Kunitz signs two-year contract with the National Hockey League's Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Ferris State University men’s ice hockey senior left wing Chris Kunitz (Regina, Saskatchewan) has signed a contract with the National Hockey League’s Mighty Ducks of Anaheim as announced by the club Tuesday (April 1). Per club policy, no financial terms of the deal were disclosed.

Kunitz, an unrestricted free agent, agreed to a two-year entry-level pact and is expected to challenge for a roster spot in the 2003-04 season. He’s expected to join the team at training camp in September 2003.

“He has a chance to play right away,” said Ducks’ general manager Bryan Murray.

“My hope is to come into camp healthy, in shape and try to crack a spot on the team,” said Kunitz, who will return to Anaheim in a few weeks and spend a week with the Ducks during the playoffs. “The Ducks are having a great year and you want to be a part of a successful organization.”

Kunitz is currently among three Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalists this season for the nation’s top collegiate player award with the winner being announced Friday, April 11, in Buffalo, N.Y. He was also honored as the 2002-03 Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s (CCHA) Player of the Year and became the first Ferris skater to ever receive the award. A two-time (2001-02 and 2002-03) All-CCHA First-Team selection, Kunitz was both the CCHA’s overall and league leader in points, goals and assists this season. The FSU assistant captain presently ranks second nationally in both points (1.88) and goals (0.83) per game while being listed third in assists (1.05) an outing.

A four-time CCHA Offensive Player of the Week selection (Oct. 21 & 28, Feb. 3 and March 3), Kunitz set a school single-season record with 79 points on 35 goals and 44 assists in 52 contests this campaign. His 35-goal output ranked second on the school’s single-season leaders charts while his assist total represents the third best all-time production for a single campaign. He also was tops among the CCHA’s overall plus/minus leaders with a school-best +47 rating and led the league in goal scoring for the second consecutive season. In this season’s 28 league games, Kunitz totaled 51 points with 24 goals and 27 assists to go along with a +31 rating (third in the league). He compiled a career-high 24 multiple-point game performances this season, which included 13 multi-goal single-game efforts.

Kunitz, who was recognized twice (Oct. 29 and Feb. 4) this season as the U.S. College Hockey Online’s (USCHO) Offensive Player of the Week, concluded his collegiate career ranked second among FSU’s all-time goal scorers with 99 career tallies and was two shy of tying the school record. He accumulated 175 career points with 99 markers and 76 assists in 152 career games to tie for the sixth-highest scoring total in Bulldog history. The 6-0, 186-pound forward registered 48 career multiple-point games while scoring a school-record 19 game-winning goals during his four-year career.

This season, Kunitz was named to the all-tournament teams for the NCAA West Regional, the CCHA Super Six Championship, and the Connecticut Classic.

“We’re all proud of Chris and the entire Bulldog hockey family wishes him nothing but the best,” said FSU head coach Bob Daniels. “Chris was a great college hockey player and I believe he will be successful as a professional.”

Ferris State concluded the 2002-03 season with a 31-10-1 overall record, which represented the best mark ever in the program’s 25-year NCAA Division I history. The Bulldogs also earned the distinction of being the first team to reach the 30-win plateau this season. FSU also claimed its first-ever CCHA Regular-Season title with a first-place 22-5-1 league mark and reached the championship game of the NCAA Championship Tournament’s West Regional in its first-ever NCAA Tourney appearance.