UND captain Riese Gaber agrees to terms on first pro contract
Apr. 2—GRAND FORKS — UND's captain has signed his first pro contract.
Riese Gaber, who finished with more career points at UND than anyone in the last decade, has agreed to terms with the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League on a two-year, one-way deal, according to a source.
Charlotte is the top minor-league affiliate of the NHL's Florida Panthers.
Gaber's contract will start next season.
It is unclear if he will play any pro games on a tryout deal this season.
Gaber sustained an injury in UND's NCAA regional semifinal game against Michigan last weekend.
In Charlotte, Gaber will re-join former teammate Matt Kiersted, who is currently playing there while under contract with the Florida Panthers. Former UND captain Mark Senden also has played games with Charlotte this season, but is currently with the ECHL affiliate in Florida.
Gaber will be the first player from the 2023-24 UND team to sign a pro deal.
The 5-foot-8, 170-pound winger has been a prominent player for the Fighting Hawks since his arrival on campus in 2020.
Gaber finished his career with 64 goals and 129 points in 142 games. He had 18 goals and 34 points in 40 games as a senior. He had three consecutive 30-point seasons to finish his career.
Gaber was particularly effective on the power play, where he scored 29 goals in his career.
The Gilbert Plains, Man., product
served as team captain this year, helping the Fighting Hawks to a sixth Penrose Cup as National Collegiate Hockey Conference champions. Gaber won the Penrose in three of his four years at UND.
Gaber had one year of eligibility left — his COVID-impacted year — but made it clear he intended to turn pro at the end of this season.
UND finished this season with a 26-12-2- mark. The Fighting Hawks lost to Michigan 4-3 in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
