MADISON, Wis. – Sophomore defenseman Corson Ceulemans, the No. 25 overall pick in the 2021 first-round by the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the team on Tuesday.
He will forego his final two years of collegiate eligibility and becomes the first Badger since the 2020-21 season to sign professional contracts before a senior season when Cole Caufield, Dylan Holloway and Ty Emberson signed professional contracts.
Ceulemans (pronounced KOOL-ih-mihns) will play the rest of this season with the Cleveland Monsters on an AHL tryout contract with the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate.
His former Badger teammate Roman Ahcan also skates for the Monsters.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed 2021 first-round pick Corson Ceulemans to a three-year, entry level contract beginning with the 2023-24 season.@RuoffMortgage | #CBJhttps://t.co/LMJhLPTsha
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 7, 2023
The Beaumont, Alberta, native posted his second consecutive 20-point season this year, scoring eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points in 33 games. The 23 points were good enough to share third on the team and pace Badger defensemen in scoring. He also tied for third on the team with four power-play tallies.
The rear guard shared the team lead in scoring as a freshman during the 2021-22 season, tallying seven goals and 22 points in 34 games, and earning Mark Johnson Rookie of the Year Award honors.
A preseason All-Big Ten honorable mention selection this past season, Ceulemans boasts a handful of other awards from his time at UW, including Hockey Commissioners’ Association National Rookie of the Month for December 2021, as well as 2021 Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off Most Outstanding Defenseman.
On the international stage, Ceulemans helped Canada win gold at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship and competed at the 2019 World Junior A Challenge and World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
He also played for the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits before becoming a Badger.
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