Norfolk Admirals Ink Matt Case To A Tryout Contract

Ferris State University senior defenseman Matt Case (Plymouth, Minn.) will continue his ice hockey playing career as a result of inking an amateur tryout contract (ATO) with the Norfolk (Va.) Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL).  The announcement was made today (March 29) by the Admirals' organization.

Case, a member of the nationally-ranked 2009-10 Bulldogs squad, tallied a four goals and 13 assists for 17 points in 40 outings this season.  His assists and points represented both career single-season highs while his four lamplighters tied a personal season best.  Case also produced a career season-best plus four efficiency rating to go with two power-play markers and 45 blocked shots in helping lead Ferris State to a 21-13-6 overall record this campaign.  He finished ninth in team scoring and was third among Bulldog defensemen in points. 

Ferris State's 21 wins this season tied for the fourth most in the program's history.  The Bulldogs made their first appearance in the CCHA Championships this season since 2002-03 and concluded the season ranked 13th nationally in the U.S. College Hockey Online.com's final 2009-10 season poll.

For his career, Case amassed 47 points on 10 goals and 37 assists in 144 contests.  The 6-0, 190-pound defenseman recorded six power-play goals and two game-winning lamplighters while compiling 138 blocked shots.  He presently ranks 13th on the program's all-time leaders list among defensemen in games played (144).   

Norfolk, which is an affiliate of the National Hockey League's (NHL) Tampa Bay Lightning, sports a current fourth-place 36-32-3-3 mark (78 points) in the East Division of the AHL's Eastern Conference under acting first-year head coach Leigh Mendelson. 

Case is the second Bulldog skater to sign with a professional team as right wing Cody Chupp (Big Rapids) inked with the AHL's Texas Stars this past Friday (March 26).