Cranbrook Kingswood / MDHL Alumni continues hockey career with the Carolina Hurricanes

Boston College senior forward Patrick Brown signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, per a team report.  The deal is a two-way deal with a $150,000 signing bonus that will pay the Bloomfield Hills, Michigan native $715,000 for the 2014-2015 season and $600,000 for the 2015-2016 season.  If Brown is sent to the AHL, he will receive a $60,000 salary.

Brown played four years for the Eagles after arriving from the Cranbrook-Kingswood school.  He played in 29 game during his freshman season, including 20 Hockey East games, and had a single assist during the team's 4-0 win over Maine.  BC would win the 2011 Hockey East championship that year over Merrimack but ultimately would fall to Colorado College in the West Regional.

Despite playing only 13 games for BC in his sophomore year, Brown scored the first goal of the season against Michigan State as part of the IceBreaker Tournament in North Dakota.  It kicked off a memorable year that ended with the national championship.  He saw his playing time increase last year during his junior season to the tune of 38 games before experiencing a breakout this year in his senior campaign.  During his junior season, he scored the decisive goal that knocked out Vermont from the Hockey East playoffs.

Brown played in all 40 games for the Eagles, placing fourth on the team with 30 points.  His 15 goals were third best behind only Kevin Hayes and Johnny Gaudreau, and he drew a flair for the dramatic with six power play strikes and four game-winning goals.

In the statement from the Hurricanes, Vice President of Hockey Operations Ron Francis talked about Brown's leadership and character, praising his work ethic.  Brown will also benefit at the next step from his NHL pedigree, which includes his father, Doug Brown, a former right wing for the New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings in the 1990s.  Doug Brown, a former Boston College standout who is now enshrined in the Varsity Club Hall of Fame, had his name etched on the Stanley Cup twice with Hockeytown (1996-1997 and 1997-1998).  Patrick's uncle, Greg, is an assistant coach for the Eagles with experience playing in the NHL domestically and abroad in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany.

Patrick joins Nathan Gerbe as the former Eagles skating in Raleigh.  Congratulations to him, and join us in thanking him for four years spent at the Heights!