Ducks sign Rodwin Dionicio to three-year, entry-level contract

A talented junior player has inked his first NHL deal.

On Friday, the Anaheim Ducks signed defenseman Rodwin Dionicio to a three-year, entry-level contract set to begin next season.

The Ducks selected Dionicio in the fifth round of last year’s NHL Draft (129th overall). He was born in New Jersey, but is a Swiss national, and has represented Switzerland on multiple occasions, having played in the last three IIHF World Junior Championships. Dionicio scored four points in five games in this year’s tournament in Sweden, and was named one of the top three players for the Swiss.

Along with his efforts on the national stage, Dionicio got onto the Ducks’ radar by having an exceptional junior career. Last season, which saw him spend time with the Niagara IceDogs and Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, the blueliner scored 15 goals and 50 points in 50 games.

The 20-year-old’s game only improved this season. He was traded early on by the Spitfires to the Saginaw Spirit, the hosts of this year’s Memorial Cup, and has shown why he is one of the best two-way d-men in the league. In 60 games, Dionicio scored 25 goals and 73 points, good for third in the OHL among defensemen. He also ended the regular season with a plus/minus of +21, totaling 108 penalty minutes. Dionicio was led the Spirit in scoring during the playoffs, scoring 17 points in 17 games, leading all blueliners despite Saginaw being eliminated in the Western Conference Finals by the London Knights, who went on to win the J. Ross Robertson Cup.

In January, Dionicio also signed a three-year deal with EHC Biel-Bienne of the National League in Switzerland.