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Everett, WA -- Everett Silvertips Vice President / General Manager Doug Soetaert announced Tuesday that the club has signed forward Josh Birkholz of Maple Grove, MN. Birkholz, 19, was selected in the third round (67th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers.
A 6'1, 185 pound forward, Birkholz appeared in 36 games for the University of Minnesota last season, tallying six points on five goals and one assist. He spent his 17-year old season with the USHL's Fargo Force, scoring 21 goals and adding 15 assists for 36 points in 55 games played.
Birkholz was a member of the gold-medal winning U.S. entry at the 2008 World Junior A Challenge in Camrose, Alberta, recording three goals and an assist in five games.
"We are very pleased to be able to have Josh join our organization," Soetaert said. "We feel strongly that we will be able to provide him the opportunity to develop and succeed at reaching his goal of playing in the National Hockey League while continuing his education. Our hockey staff, headed by Head Coach Craig Hartsburg, is excited to have another top-6 forward join the team for the upcoming year."
Birkholz becomes the third player signed by Everett in the last six weeks, joining Manraj Hayer and Cody Fowlie. On Monday, Everett acquired forward and former 37-goal scorer Landon Ferraro from the Red Deer Rebels.
