The Chicago Wolves announced Tuesday that they have signed forward Zach O’Brien to a contract for the 2015-16 season.
The 23-year-old joins the Wolves following a Calder Cup-winning campaign with the Manchester Monarchs in 2014-15. In his first full season in the American Hockey League he achieved career highs in goals (14), points (32), and plus/minus rating (+12) in 62 games. During the postseason he collected 9 points (3G, 6A) in 19 games, including 3 points (G, 2A) in the team’s 4-1 series win over Utica in the Calder Cup Final.
The St. John’s, Newfoundland, native has accrued 61 points (24G, 37A), 8 penalty minutes, and a +21 plus/minus rating in 112 career AHL games with St. John’s (2011-12) and Manchester (2013-15). Additionally he has posted 11 points (5G, 6A) in 23 total Calder Cup tilts and spent a brief stint in the ECHL in 2013-14, contributing four points (2G, 2A) and a +6 plus/minus rating in five games for Ontario.
Prior to turning pro, O’Brien spent parts of four seasons in the QMJHL with Rouyn-Noranda (2009-10) and Acadie Bathurst (2009-13). He compiled 260 points (127G, 133A), 2 penalty minutes, and a +43 plus/minus rating in 192 games, twice winning the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy as the league’s most sportsmanlike player. He added 17 points (5G, 12A) in 15 playoff contests.
