LetsGoDU

Avs Sign Stastny

In what can only be described as a mortal blow to the Pioneers next season the Colorado Avalanche announced today that the club has signed its one of its second round draft choices from 2005, forward Paul Stastny. In two seasons with the Pioneers, Stastny became one of the best players in the WCHA and led the Pioneers to a National Championship his Freshman season.
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Stastny, 20, a standout at the University of Denver for two seasons, signed a multi-year contract with the Avalanche and will begin his professional career with the same franchise his hall-of-fame father, Peter Stastny, began with when he signed with the Quebec Nordiques as a free-agent in 1980.

Stastny completed his sophomore season at the University of Denver in 2005-06, capturing the Western Collegiate Hockey Association scoring title with 44 points (15g, 29a) in 28 conference games. He was named first team All-WCHA and a third-team All-American by U.S. College Hockey Online. The Quebec City native became the first DU Pioneer to win the WCHA scoring title since Dave Shields in 1989-90. Stastny and Hobey Baker Award winner Matt Carle shared the overall team scoring lead with 53 points (19g, 34a), fourth best in the WCHA. Stastny’s 1.36 points-per-game average ranked 10th in the nation.

“Paul brings a great deal of speed, skill and potential to the organization,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President & General Manager Francois Giguere. “Obviously his college accomplishments speak for themselves and we look forward to watching him continue to develop.”

Stastny has tallied 98 points on 36 goals and 62 assists in just two seasons at the University of Denver (81 games). He was named WCHA Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2004-05 after helping DU to its second consecutive national championship. He recorded two goals and an assist in Denver’s 4-1 victory over North Dakota in the 2005 NCAA title game and was named to the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team. He made everyone around him better with his fantastic passes and unselfish play.

We wish Paul nothing but the best of luck in his professional career and hope to see him scoring tons of goals in the Pepsi Center.