Bruins Sign Dougie Hamilton To Entry-Level Contract
BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Bruins have signed first-round draft pick Dougie Hamilton to an entry-level contract, General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced Thursday.
"Obviously, it's a big honor for me," said Hamilton. "I think it's kind of been something I've worked towards ever since I got drafted. Just to have it finally happen, it's really exciting for me and my family and it's just really exciting."
As of December 8, the 18-year-old Hamilton was tied for seventh amongst all Ontario Hockey League skaters in scoring, with 41 points on 11 goals and 30 assists. He currently leads all OHL defensemen in goals, assists and points.
"I think just being in your third season in the OHL, having the confidence that you can make plays and can make stuff happen on the ice," Hamilton said of his success. "And coming back from NHL camp with the Bruins I think is definitely exciting for me. And I think my confidence is pretty high, coming back from that. I think I also improved a lot over the summer and my shot has gotten better and stuff like that. I'm pretty happy with how it's going and I just want to keep it up."
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Hamilton was named the OHL's Defenseman of the Month for October and captained the Team OHL squad that took on Team Russia in the 2011 Subway Super Series. In 159 career OHL games with the Niagara IceDogs, Hamilton has registered 26 goals and 89 assists.
He is hoping to compete for a spot on the Bruins as soon as next season.
"That's what I am working towards right now," said Hamilton. "I think I've improved a lot since I got drafted and over the course of the year and obviously the team is really good and they are doing really well right now. For me, that's a goal of mine, and I'm like I said working as hard as I can and I think next summer is going to be an important summer for me as far as my development and for my future."
Boston drafted Hamilton in the first round (9th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
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