RIT's Ringwald Signs with Hartford (AHL)

Former RIT standout Dan Ringwald signs professional contract with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack

Courtesy of RIT Sports Information

Former RIT standout defenseman Dan Ringwald (Oakville, Ontario) signed a professional contract for the 2010-11 season with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League on Wednesday.  The Wolf Pack is the farm club of the NHL's New York Rangers.

"We are really excited for Dan," said RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson.  "He had an outstanding four years here and represented exactly what the RIT hockey program is about on and off the ice.  Dan is more than ready for this next challenge.  He is an extremely smart player who will be very successful at the next level."

Ringwald, who graduated with his master's degree in product commercialization last weekend, led the Tigers to their first NCAA Frozen Four appearance in 2010 and earned 2009-10 All-USCHO (United States College Hockey Online) second team honors. He was the first Tiger to earn this prestigious honor. Ringwald also earned his bachelor's degree in business after the 2008-09 season.

Ringwald, who was named the 2010 Atlantic Hockey Association Best Defenseman and earned AHA first team honors for the third straight season, was a main reason why RIT advanced to the Frozen Four for the first time at the Division I level. He helped lead RIT to a school record 28 wins, the AHA regular season and postseason championships, along with the NCAA East Regional title.  Ringwald also won the 2010 Dan Barrows Fan¹s Choice, Art Thomas Teammate, and Tim Cordick Best Defenseman awards, given out by the RIT coaching staff. 

In 2009-10, Ringwald enjoyed another tremendous season, with 37 points on 11 goals and 26 assists. In addition, he was plus-22. He was third nationally among all defensemen in Division I with 37 points, and his 11 goals are a career-high. Ringwald added seven power-play goals. Ringwald ended his collegiate career with at least a point in his last seven games, all postseason contests. He was named to the AHA Championship and NCAA East Regional All-Tournament teams.

On Oct. 31, 2009, Ringwald became the first Tiger at the Division I level to record a natural hat-trick, tallying three times in the first period of a 7-0 win over Connecticut. Ringwald was the Inside College Hockey National Player of the Week for the week ending Nov. 1, 2009. He was also a catalyst of the RIT power-play that has scored a school record tying 50 times this season and finished sixth in the nation.

"We are happy to have a player in our organization with the poise and puck-moving ability that Dan has exhibited throughout his college career at RIT," said Hartford General Manager and former NHL defenseman Jim Schoenfeld.

For his career, Ringwald finished with 21 goals and 104 assists for 125 points in 145 career games. He is RIT's all-time leader in assists, and games played, and is second all-time in points. He is also RIT¹s leader in points by a defenseman at the DI level.  Ringwald recorded identical 34-point seasons (3-31-34) in 2007-08 and 2008-09.  As a freshman, Ringwald stepped right in and tallied 20 points (6-14-20).

The Tigers finished 91-48-11 in Ringwald's four seasons at RIT, including a 77-26-9 mark in AHA play. He was a part of three AHA regular season championship squads.