Battalion’s Blujus signs with Lightning

NORTH BAY, Ont. – Defenceman Dylan Blujus of the North Bay Battalion has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League, it was announced Wednesday.

Tampa Bay selected Blujus, who turned 20 on Jan. 22, in the second round, 40th overall, of the 2012 NHL Draft. The Amherst, N.Y., resident has played four Ontario Hockey League seasons with the Battalion, three in Brampton and one in North Bay.

“Getting a contract was in the back of my mind throughout the season, but once we got to the playoffs I was more worried about how we would do and how I could help the team make a big run,” Blujus said via telephone.

“I began focusing on it more once the season ended, and I thought, with the success I had and that the team had, that I had a chance to sign. Everything worked out for me.”

Blujus, who missed the first 12 games of the season after suffering a knee injury at Tampa Bay’s training camp, underwent September surgery in Florida to repair a torn miniscus. He had sat out only three games in his first three OHL campaigns.

“The season didn’t start out well. I’d never had an injury like that that required surgery, so that was new to me. There was a lot going on with the move to North Bay, and the surgery just added to that.”

With Cameron Wind lost to graduation and overage candidate Zach Bell opting to pursue a professional career in the ECHL before a trade to the London Knights, Blujus and longtime partner Marcus McIvor became the Battalion’s top defence pair.

“Once they left, we knew we had to step into their role, and I think we did that pretty well,” said Blujus. “We always looked forward to that all the years we played behind those guys, and it was great being out there against the other teams’ top lines. It was tough, but I thought we did a good job.”

Blujus and McIvor were postseason stalwarts against the high-powered attacks of the Niagara IceDogs, Barrie Colts, Oshawa Generals and Guelph Storm as the Troops battled to the OHL Championship Series, where they lost to Guelph in five games.

“I thought we played our best hockey in the playoffs,” noted Blujus. “Teams and people have doubted us for years, but in the playoffs Marcus and I stepped up; so did the rest of the team. I’m happy with what we did in the playoffs.”

Blujus, a third-round pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection from the Buffalo Regals under-18 team, and McIvor, the Battalion’s first-round choice that year, have complemented each other since manning the blue line together as 16-year-old rookies.

“He’s one of my best friends,” Blujus said of McIvor. “We have the kind of chemistry a lot of guys don’t have with each other because we’ve been together so long. I think we helped each other’s games. I was more of an offensive guy coming into this season and Marcus was known more as a defensive guy, but I think we kind of played like each other. Marcus put up a lot of points and played well offensively, and I thought I took some of his defensive game.”

Blujus played 55 games this season, scoring four goals and earning 26 assists for 30 points, and his name can be found in several categories in the franchise record book. He is tied with Tyler Harrison for 24th place in career points with 119, from 17 goals and 102 assists, and trails only Michael Vernace in points by a defenceman.

Blujus, who played 256 games, tied with McIvor for sixth in franchise annals, is tied with Barclay Goodrow for seventh in career assists and sits fourth in power-play helpers.

Blujus played 39 playoff games, tied with McIvor, Thomas Stajan and Ken Peroff for eighth all-time, and registered seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points, tied with Nick Paul for ninth in franchise history. Blujus scored five power-play goals in playoffs, tied for fourth with Anthony Peluso, Adam Henrich and Cody Hodgson in franchise annals, and Blujus’s seven postseason power-play assists are tied with Kevin Young for eighth.

“When I came to Brampton I came to a great situation with great coaching, and the coaches taught me really well,” said Blujus. “I have to thank them for making me the player I am today. When I came in at 16, I looked up to guys like Wind and Bell, and they were guys who really helped me. They really helped me get to this point.

“I had no idea what to expect when I came into the OHL, but I would recommend the league to anyone. It was a great four years of my life, and I met a lot of great teammates. They became family to me, and I don’t have a bad thing to say about my time in the OHL. It really worked out.”

Blujus, eligible to return as an overager next season, said he’s aiming to embark on his pro career with the Syracuse Crunch, Tampa Bay’s American Hockey League affiliate.

“I need to use the summer like I always have, to get bigger, better and stronger. I’m moving on from junior, so I really need to focus on training and I’m really looking forward to it.”