Local roundup: Spitfires’ Angle earns entry-level contract with NHL’s Blue Jackets

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An unheralded seventh-round pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2019 NHL Draft, Windsor Spitfires’ forward Tyler Angle has proven he belongs.

The 212^th pick overall by Columbus, the 20-year-old Angle signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets on Monday.

“From getting drafted in the seventh round to signing an NHL contract, not many hockey players can say they have done that,” the 5-foot-10, 178-pound Angle said. “It is a dream come true and I’m just very excited to have signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets.”

A sixth-round pick by the Spitfires in 2016, Angle posted his best numbers in the Ontario Hockey League last season with 29 goals and 67 points in 62 games.

With the OHL on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Angle was invited to training camp with the Blue Jackets and signed an amateur tryout with the team’s American Hockey League farm team in Cleveland.

Angle sat the first six games of the season, but has produced four goals and seven points in six games since becoming a regular in the lineup.

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“It’s such a relief, honestly,” Angle said. “All the hard work is paying off.”

The deal does not begin until next season, which means Angle could still return to the Spitfires if the OHL can get a season underway.

“So proud of Tyler,” Spitfires’ general manager Bill Bowler said. “He deserves it and great work by the scouts and coaches that helped him along the way.

“It’s proof that hard work and commitment can result in an NHL signing no matter what round you were taken in the NHL Draft or the OHL Draft.”

Calloo’s run ends

Windsor’s Maurice Calloo and his Oregon State Beavers came up short in a bid for NCAA men’s basketball history on Monday.

The No. 12-seeded Beavers fell 67-61 to the No. 2-seeded Houston Cougars in the Midwest Region semifinal denying Oregon State’s bid to become the lowest-seeded team to ever reach the NCAA Final Four.

Against Houston, the 6-foot-10, 220-pound Calloo finished with a team-leading 13 points along with five rebounds as the Beavers.

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On Saturday, the Beavers became the first No. 12 seed to advance to the Elite Eight since 2002 by knocking off No. 8-seeded Loyala-Chicago on Saturday by a 65-58 count with Calloo leading all bench players with six points.

The Pac-12 Tournament champion Beavers had opened the tournament with wins over No. 5-seeded Tennessee and No. 4-seeded Oklahoma State.

Ekblad injured

Belle River’s Aaron Ekblad’s season could be over after suffering a leg injury in Sunday’s game against the Dallas Stars.

The Florida Panthers’ all-star defenceman was left screaming on the ice and grabbing his left leg after colliding with Dallas defenceman Esa Lindell in the second period.

TSN reported Monday that Ekblad, who was tied for the NHL lead in goals by a defencemen with 11, has a left leg fracture and would require season-ending surgery.

jpparker@postmedia.com

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