From USHL to the Pros: Tarasov Signs AHL Deal

Press Release

Indiana Ice forward Daniil Tarasov secured his plans for next season and will make the jump to professional hockey after signing a contract with the Worcester Sharks, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the San Jose Sharks.

Tarasov spent the past two seasons in the USHL with the Indiana Ice and led the team in scoring both years. He was second in the League with 88 points (47g, 41a) while playing in all 60 regular season games in 2011-12. The Moscow, Russia native earned a spot on the All-USHL First Team.

Over the past two seasons, Tarasov has totaled 163 points (84g, 79a) and a plus-65 rating in 117 regular season games. His 47 goals were second-most in the USHL this season and broke his own team record of 37 he set last year. The 84 career goals by Tarasov are the most by a USHL player in a two-season span since 1991-92 (Chris Ferraro, 102 goals). He led the USHL with eight game-winning goals in each of the past two seasons. This season, he recorded 12 multi-goal games, including a hat trick (3g) on January 21st vs. Dubuque. Four of those multi-goal games came during a 13-game point streak (14g, 12a) he rode to close out the regular season.

Tarasov, who turns 21 later this month, also collected 16 points (7g, 9a) over 11 career USHL playoff games. He was named to both the All-USHL Second Team and USHL All-Rookie Team following the 2010-11 season.

Tarasov will become the first Russian-born player to suit up for the Worcester Sharks. He joins the AHL team which had 10 USHL alumni appear for the team this past season, including John McCarthy (Des Moines Buccaneers)**, Tim Kennedy (Sioux City Musketeers)**, Tony Lucia (Omaha Lancers), Tommy Wingels (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders)**, Nick Petrecki (Omaha Lancers), Alex Stalock (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Brodie Reid (Lincoln Stars), Chad Costello (Cedar Rapids/Des Moines), Matt Tennyson (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), and Justin Braun (Green Bay Gamblers)**.

**players also appeared in the NHL this past season

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)