WHEAT KINGS STONE SIGNS WITH NHL'S SENATORS

Press Release

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators announced today the club has signed forward Mark Stone to an entry-level contract.

Stone, the Senators’ sixth-round pick (178th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, recently attended his second rookie camp and tournament with the club. He scored the overtime winning goal in Ottawa’s 4-3 win over Toronto on Tuesday to help the Senators capture the tournament title.

The 19-year-old right-winger competed in his third full season of major junior hockey in 2010-11 with the Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings, with whom he set new major junior career highs in games (71), goals (37), assists (69) and points (106). His point total saw him finish the WHL campaign ranked third among all league scorers.

The Winnipeg native participated in his first Canadian national junior team development camp last month and registered four goals and four assists over a two-game intrasquad series in Edmonton and Fort McMurray, Alta., on Aug. 7 and 8.

Stone, who was selected a first team WHL all-star last season, registered an 18-game point scoring streak from Jan. 26 to March 9, during which he totalled 40 points.

The Wheat Kings meanwhile continue to prepare for their 2011-12 WHL season opening home and home series with the Moose Jaw Warriors. The two teams will bring the curtain up on Thursday night at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw, before returning to Brandon for game two on Friday night.

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