Wisconsin hockey's David Silye passes on fifth year, signs pro deal with AHL team
MADISON – Wisconsin’s David Silye will pass on a fifth-year of college eligibility in favor of starting his pro career.
The senior forward for the Badgers men’s hockey team signed an amateur tryout contract Thursday with the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL.
Silye had a COVID year of eligibility at his disposal if he wanted to use it. He played his freshman season at Clarkson and sophomore and junior campaigns at Minnesota State before joining the Badgers this season.
He served as an alternate captain for UW while finishing second on the team with 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) and playing on a penalty kill unit that ranks third in the nation with a success rate of 87.2%. He received honorable mention on the Big Ten all-conference team.
Silye’s departure is the seventh for the Badgers since their season ended with an overtime loss to Quinnipiac in the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.
Seniors Sam Stange and Luke LaMaster, sophomore Charlie Stramel and freshmen Brady Cleveland and William Whitelaw have entered the transfer portal.
Senior forward Mathieu De St. Phalle, who also could have used his COVID year next season, agreed to a two-year AHL contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earlier this week that begins next season. He joined the team immediately on an amateur tryout agreement.
Meanwhile, according to transfer portal trackers run by the Rink Live and the Grand Forks Herald, Wisconsin received a commitment from Kyle Kukkonen, a 5-foot-10, 177-pound sophomore forward from Michigan Tech.
Kukkonen had one goal and 11 assists for the Huskies' NCAA Tournament team this past season.
He joined former Michigan Tech teammate Ryland Mosley as an incoming transfer for Wisconsin.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin hockey's David Silye passes on fifth year, signs pro deal
