(Ottawa) The Ottawa Senators signed defenseman Tyler Kleven to a three-year first professional contract.

Senators management made the announcement in a statement Thursday.

The 21-year-old Kleven set career highs with eight goals, 10 assists and 18 points in 35 games in his third season with the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

Kleven, a six-foot-five, 213-pound defenseman, is expected to join the Senators on Friday. The Fighting Hawks lost to St. Cloud State last week in the NCAA playoffs.

A native of Fargo, North Dakota, Kleven was selected by the Senators 44th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Kleven played for the United States at the 2021 and 2022 World Junior Hockey Championships. He won gold from fellow Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson at the tournament in Edmonton two years ago. years.

“We are very pleased that Tyler has recently made the decision to begin his professional career,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a press release.

“He’s a tough, long-range, combative defender. We were particularly impressed with his overall progress. »