Chilliwack Chiefs grad Dennis Cholowski is making the leap from college to pro hockey after signing a three-year entry-level contract with the National Hockey League’s Detroit Red Wings.
Cholowski put pen to paper late last week and is eligible to join Detroit’s American League affiliate in Grand Rapids, MI.
The 19 year old leaves St. Cloud State after just one season where he collected one goal and 12 points, solid totals from a freshman defender. The Langley native was one of the youngest defencemen in the NCAA ranks and only three D-men born in 1998 had more points than he.
The 20th overall selection in the 2016 NHL entry draft, Cholowski was a star for two seasons with the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs. Last year he was a second-team all-star, collecting 12 goals and 40 points in 50 games and leading Chilliwack to the Fred Page Cup final.
Cholowski was one of three BCHLers drafted in the first round along with Penticton Vees Tyson Jost and Dante Fabbro. Jost, picked 10th overall by Colorado, has already signed, made his NHL debut and tallied his first goal. Fabbro, the 17th overall pick to the Nashville Predators, played for the Boston University Terriers this season and has yet to sign.