Bozak Signs with Toronto Maple Leafs Star forward leaves DU after two seasons

TORONTO, Ontario – University of Denver sophomore forward Tyler Bozak (Regina, Saskatchewan) has decided to forgo his final two years of eligibility after signing a professional contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League, Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke announced Friday. Terms of Bozak’s two-year entry level contract were not disclosed.

“We are absolutely thrilled that Tyler has chosen to sign with the Maple Leafs today,” said Burke. “He is a young man that was coveted by a large number of teams in our league and it’s our goal to help him reach his potential with our organization. He’s a responsible player at both ends of the ice and he has shown the ability to put points on the board with his quickness at the collegiate level.”

Bozak finished his DU career with 57 points on 26 goals and 31 assists in 60 games. He recorded 23 points on eight goals in 19 games this season. Bozak missed 21 games after tearing his meniscus in his left knee, but returned to the DU lineup at the NCAA Tournament and had one goal and one assist in the Pioneers’ 4-2 loss to Miami on March 27.

In 2007-08, Bozak became the third DU freshman since 1986-87 to lead the team in scoring. Bozak tallied 34 points on 18 goals and 16 assists en route to All-WCHA third team and All-WCHA rookie-team honors. He tallied five power-play goals, six shorthanded goals and four game-winning goals in two seasons for the Pioneers, who posted a 49-26-6 mark and made two NCAA Tournament appearances during Bozak’s career.

“We are happy for Tyler and the decision he has made to join the Maple Leafs organization,” DU head coach George Gwozdecky said. “He is another talented Pioneer in a long line of former DU players, who have been given a great opportunity to pursue a professional hockey career. In his two years as a student-athlete at the University of Denver, his contributions helped secure our status as one of college hockey’s top programs. His personality, toughness, leadership and character will be missed on the ice as well as in our University community. I know that it has been his dream to someday play in the NHL and next September that dream will become reality. We are very proud of Tyler and wish him all the best.”

Bozak joins Brett Skinner (2005), Matt Carle (2006), Paul Stastny (2006), Ryan Dingle (2007), Geoff Paukovich (2007), Brock Trotter (2008) and Chris Butler (2008) as Pioneers who left DU early to turn pro since 2005.

Mullen Signs with NHL’s Kings
Son of Hall of Famer inks deal with Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have signed University of Denver free agent defenseman Patrick Mullen (Pittsburgh, Pa.) to a two-year entry-level contract, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced Friday.
Mullen, 22, recently concluded his senior season at DU and recorded 25 points (4-21=25) and 39 penalty minutes in 38 games. His 21 assists were tied for fourth on the team while his 22 points set a collegiate career high. The 5-11, 190-pounder helped the Pioneers to a 23-12-5 record and a berth in the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament (DU was eliminated from tournament play last weekend).

In four seasons with the Pioneers, Mullen recorded 81 points (20-61=81) and 148 penalty minutes in 152 games, splitting time as a forward and defenseman. In 2007-08, he led DU defensemen with 22 points (4-18=22), which was tied for sixth among WCHA blueliners. His 18 assists were tops overall on the Pioneers. Mullen was named to the All-WCHA Academic Team in 2007 and 2009.

“Patrick made significant contributions to our team as a defenseman this season,” DU head coach George Gwozdecky said. “He’s really evolved as a defenseman and the sky is the limit for his ability at the professional level. We wish him all the best during his pro hockey career.”

Mullen skated with the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) during the 2004-05 season, posting 37 points (14-23=37), eight penalty minutes and a plus-11 rating in 60 games.

Mullen’s father, Joey, played in the NHL for 16 seasons with four different teams. The first American-born hockey player to score 500 goals and register 1,000 points, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000.