North Dakota junior forward Brett Hextall has signed an entry-level contract with the Phoenix Coyotes and will forgo his senior season with the Fighting Sioux.
Phoenix selected Hextall in the sixth round (159th overall) of the 2008 NHL draft.
Hextall tallied 13 goals and 16 assists for a career-high 29 points in 39 games last season and helped lead the Sioux to a Frozen Four berth, as well as WCHA regular season and playoff championships.
In 115 career games at UND, Hextall amassed 39 goals and 42 assists for 81 points. Nineteen of Hextall’s 39 goals came on the power play.
Hextall is the first Sioux player to sign a professional contract prior to his senior year since Taylor Chorney (Edmonton Oilers) and T.J. Oshie (St. Louis Blues) departed following the 2007-08 season.
