Saturday, April 11, 2009

Postma signs with Atlanta

Press Release

Atlanta, GA -- The Atlanta Thrashers have signed defenseman Paul Postma, the team’s seventh-round choice (205th overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Postma, 20, appeared in 70 regular-season games with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League this season, where he led league defensemen and set new career-highs in goals (23), assists (61) and points (84). He set franchise records for goals by a defenseman and plus/minus rating, with a league-high plus-67.

The 6-2, 185-pound defenseman was nominated for the 2008-09 Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy, given annually to the league’s top defenseman, and was selected to the WHL’s Eastern Conference First All-Star Team.

Postma has also recorded seven points (two goals, five assists) in eight post-season games for Calgary, who swept their first-and second-round series against the Edmonton Oil Kings and Lethbridge Hurricanes, respectively. The Hitmen have advanced to the WHL’s Eastern Conference Finals for the third consecutive year, where they will face either the Brandon Wheat Kings or Medicine Hat Tigers.

The Red Deer, Alberta native has recorded 161 points (44 goals, 117 assists) in 270 career WHL games with Swift Current and Calgary. He has earned 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 33 WHL playoff contests.


(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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