UND's Simpson Signs with Oilers

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Edmonton Oilers announced on Tuesday night that University of North Dakota senior defenseman Dillon Simpson has signed a 3-year entry level contract with the National Hockey League club.

A native of Edmonton, Simpson was drafted by the Oilers in the fourth round (92^nd overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. In 156 career games at North Dakota, he registered 16 goals and 59 assists for 75 points and owned a plus-24 rating.

As a senior in 2013-14, Simpson captained UND to a berth in the NCAA Frozen Four and was named to the College Hockey News' All-CHN First Team and the All-NCHC First Team. He was also a finalist for the NCHC's Player of the Year, Defenseman of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year Awards. In 42 games, Simpson led the nation with 109 blocked shots and tied for fifth among NCHC defensemen with 23 points (7 goals, 16 assists).

Earlier today, Simpson was named a finalist for UND's Glenn "Red" Jarrett Male Athlete of the Year Award.

Simpson was named a NCHC Scholar-Athlete as a senior after earning Scholar-Athlete honors in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) as a sophomore and junior. A managerial finance and corporate accounting major, Simpson was also a three-time academic all-conference selection.

Simpson's father, Craig, played for the Oilers from 1987-88 to 1992-93 during a 10-year NHL playing career that also included stops with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres. He currently serves as the lead analyst for CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.