The latest BCHL grad to sign a professional contract is Salmon Arm SilverBacks and University of Wisconsin Badgers alum Ben Street.
The Coquitlam native agreed to terms Tuesday on a one-year pact with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League Tuesday. The team is the top farm club of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins.
"I had him as a 16-year-old and he was a good two-way player then," said former SilverBacks head coach Rylan Ferster. "Obviously, he has developed into a good pro; I'm happy for him because he's a quality young man."
The contract is just the latest in what has been a banner year for the 5-foot-11, 185-pound forward. Street began the season with the Wheeling Nailers of the East Coast Hockey League which he torched to the tune of 24 goals and 27 assists in 38 games. He was +21 with the Nailers
He was then brought up to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton where he continued his fine play by scoring 12 goals and 11 assists in 36 games and was +9.
Street's play in his half-season in Wheeling earned him the ECHL Rookie of the Year award.
With the SilverBacks, Street played the 2003-04 and 2004-05 campaigns and scored 42 goals and 69 assists in 110 games. At Wisconsin, he tallied 48 goals and 45 assists in 171 games.
