VP Sports & Entertainment presents: Americans defenceman Elick inks entry-level deal with Columbus Blue Jackets

Tri-City Americans defenceman Charlie Elick has put pen to paper on a three-year, entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, General Manager Don Waddell announced Wednesday.

“It’s a dream come true,” Elick said. “You dream of signing as a kid and then after the draft you dream of it again. My parents have been there with me every step of the way and I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done. I can’t wait for what’s next.”

The 6-foot-3, 203-pound right-shot defenceman has 15 points (2G-13A) in 66 games with the Tri-City Americans and Brandon Wheat Kings in 2024-25.

Elick, 19, has brought physicality and edge to the Americans lineup since being acquired at the 2025 WHL Trade Deadline.

Originally drafted third overall by Brandon in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Elick has racked up 10 goals and 45 assists for 55 points in 196 career regular-season games, highlighted by a 27-point (4G-23A) campaign in 2023-24.

He was born in and started playing minor hockey in Austria, where his dad, Mickey Elick, was playing in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga.

Charlie, who now resides in Calgary, Alta., has represented Canada on the international stage on several occasions, including a pair of gold-medal finishes at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Czechia and the 2024 IIHF Under-18 World Championship in Finland.

Columbus selected Elick with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft.

“That was another dream come true,” Elick added. “You kind of black out in the moment. It’s something you work so hard for your entire life and to be called that early is something that I hold special to me.”

Tri-City (32-29-6-1) enters the 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien as the seventh seed in the Western Conference.

They’ll take on the B.C. Division champion Victoria Royals with Game 1 set for Friday, March 28 at 7:05 p.m. PST.

Every WHL Playoffs game will be streamed for free on Victory+.