Columbus Blue Jackets sign Hunter McKown to three-year entry-level contract
Columbus Blue Jackets general manager and alternate governor Jarmo Kekalainen announced Monday that they have signed center Hunter McKown to a three-year entry level contract. He is expected to join the Columbus team this week.
NEWS: #CBJ signed C Hunter McKown to a three-year entry-level contract. McKown, 20, is expected to join the Columbus team this week.
He scored 21 goals, tied for seventh in college hockey, this year at Colorado College and was on the American World https://t.co/ME1S5i1nxf… https://t.co/cawimLQoLA
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 20, 2023
McKown plays for Colorado College in the NCAA’s National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). He has collected 21 goals and seven assists this season in 38 games; he also led the NCAA with 14 power-play goals and had four game-winning goals on 142 shots. In 96 career games over three seasons, he had 36 goals and 55 points to go with 75 penalty minutes. McKown served as alternate captain and was an honorable mention for the All-NCHC selection. He had double-digit goals and more than 20 points in his final two seasons with Colorado College.
« We are very happy to welcome Hunter to the Blue Jackets family, » Kekalainen said. “He’s a great, skilled center player who is a powerful skater and has a sharp shot, and we think he has a chance to be a very productive player as he continues to develop. He was a highly sought-after free agent and we are thrilled to have him join our club and embark on his professional career with the Blue Jackets.
The San Jose, California product spent two seasons with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) totaling 20 points in 82 games over two seasons. He also represented the United States at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championships, collecting one assist in four games.
