Neal Pionk, a staple on the University of Minnesota Duluth blueline the past two winters, has signed a two-year entry level contract with the National Hockey League's New York Rangers and thus will pass up his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility.
As a sophomore, Pionk established career bests in virtually every statistical category and ranked fifth among all NCAA defensemen in both points (34) and plus-minus rating ( 24) and fourth in assists (27). He also racked up a personal-best seven goals en route to attaining All-National Collegiate Hockey Conference second team recognition. He also earned NCHC Defenseman of the Week honors on three occasions in 2016-17. Six of Pionk's points this winter came during the eight-game postseason (which included a berth in the NCAA national title game) and he was chosen to both the NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team and the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team.
Pionk skated in all 82 games since joining the Bulldog program in 2014-15 and had 51 points (11 goals and 40 assists) and a plus-35 rating to show for it. A two-tim NCHC All-Academic Team pick, he was the recipient of the Jerry Chumola Award (UMD's Rookie of the Year) following his debut season.
Pionk, a free agent, is the 15th Bulldog since 2007 -- and second this year -- to leave UMD early for the professional ranks, joining wingers Mason Raymond (with Vancouver in 2007), Rob Bordson (Anaheim in 2010), Mike Connolly (San Jose in 2011), J.T. Brown (Tampa Bay in 2012) and Caleb Herbert (Washington in 2014), defensemen Matt Niskanen (Dallas in 2007), Jason Garrison (Florida in 2008), Evan Oberg (Vancouver in 2009), Dylan Olsen (Chicago in 2010), Justin Faulk (Carolina in 2011) and Chris Casto (Boston in 2013) and goaltenders Hunter Miska (Phoenix in 2017), Kasimir Kaskisuo (Toronto in 2016) and Alex Stalock (San Jose in 2009).
