BLOG: Matt Fonteyne inks AHL deal with San Jose Barracuda

Everett Silvertips captain Matt Fonteyne signed an AHL deal with the San Jose Barracuda, the organizations announced Monday.

The Barracuda are the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks.

The #SJBarracuda have agreed to terms on an @TheAHL contract with @WHLsilvertips Captain @M_Fonts.

📝: https://t.co/rPA8zCZVNr pic.twitter.com/EeV3K9RruW

— San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) April 9, 2018

“I wasn’t really expecting it, I just came into the year just wanting to… have a really good season team-wise and see how far we can go,” Fonteyne said. “And then when (the contract) came up, I think it goes to show that whenever a team does well, individuals are going to have success as well.”

Because the deal is with an AHL team and for one year, Fonteyne retains his WHL academic scholarship as long as he begins college within 18 months of the end of the 2017-18 season. If he had signed a three-year, entry-level NHL deal like his linemate Patrick Bajkov, he would have forfeited his scholarship.

Maintaining his scholarship eligibility was a key factor for Fonteyne, a one-time Silvertips academic player of the year.

“I was applying to all my schools and kind of getting that all in order, and then my agent called me and said that this was on the table,” Fonteyne said. “Not losing my schooling with it, I think, was a no-brainer, just kind of being able to go and test it out and see how far I can run with it and then still be able to fall back on school.”

Getting this deal done solidifies the next year for Fonteyne. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound center had a breakout offensive season with 35 goals and 53 assists while centering Everett’s top line that includes Bajkov and usually Sean Richards.

If the name is familiar, he’s the grandson of former LW Val Fonteyne, who played for @DetroitRedWings @NYRangers @penguins and @EdmontonOilers from 1959-74. Both are from Wetaskiwin, Alberta, which is between Edmonton & Red Deer. https://t.co/IqCWuCKgjB

— Dan Rusanowsky (@DanRusanowsky) April 9, 2018

“What a warrior, what a player,” Tips head coach Dennis Williams said. “Probably a player that came into the season… (planning on) going back to college and play in (college), which is great too. But he just developed his game. He had a great offensive outburst this year, (was) our captain, and a guy that plays both sides of the puck.”

Players who play WHL and/or minor professional hockey remain eligible to play at Canadian colleges, so Fonteyne maintains his on-ice eligibility in addition to the academic scholarship he earned by playing five years in the league.

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