University of Minnesota Athletics
Adam Wilcox Signs with Tampa Bay
4/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) -- Gopher Hockey All-American goaltender Adam Wilcox will forego his senior season at the University of Minnesota after signing a two-year, two-way entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Wilcox will report to the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) for the remainder of the season on an amateur try-out.
Wilcox leaves Minnesota as the school's all-time leader in career save percentage (.922) and career goals against average (2.09) while the junior is tied for the program's career shutout record (13). The netminder's 73 career wins are the most among active NCAA goalies and are tied for third all-time at Minnesota with Hobey Baker Award winner Robb Stauber. Wilcox ends his college career with a 73-26-14 record (.710) while posting 22 or more wins in each of his three years with the Maroon & Gold.
"I wouldn't trade my college experience here at the University of Minnesota for anything, and I am incredibly honored to have been a part of this program," Wilcox said. "Growing up in Minnesota, I always wanted to be a Gopher, and wearing the `M' has been one of the best experiences in my life."
A three-time all-conference honoree, Wilcox helped Minnesota to three-straight regular-season conference titles and three-straight NCAA tournament berths including a national championship appearance in 2014. In his final year with the program, Wilcox also backstopped Minnesota to the 2015 Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament title for the school's first conference playoff title since 2007.
"Adam has been a cornerstone for our program over the last three years, and he's certainly an elite goaltender," Minnesota head coach Don Lucia said. "He's been a vital contributor to our success here, and we wish him nothing but the best as he continues his career."
As a junior, Wilcox was named Second Team All-Big Ten with a 22-12-3 record and a career-best six shutouts (second in Minnesota's single-season records behind Kent Patterson's seven in 2011-12). The goalie keeper allowed just two goals during the 2015 Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament to earn Most Outstanding Player and All-Tournament Team honors.
Wilcox was named the inaugural Big Ten Player of the Year and Goaltender of the Year as well as a Second Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten honoree as a sophomore in 2013-14. He also finished the year as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and the Mike Richter Award and set a new Minnesota single-season save percentage record at .932. His 26 wins as a sophomore were a career high while his 1.97 goals against average that year ranks second only to his performance as a freshman. Wilcox was named Minnesota's John Mariucci Most Valuable Player as a sophomore and was the recipient of the Tom Mohr Playoff MVP Award for the second-straight year.
In his first year with the program, Wilcox was an All-WCHA Third Team honoree while setting a new Minnesota single-season record with a 1.88 goals against average. The netminder tied Kellen Briggs for the school rookie wins record with 25 in his first campaign with the Maroon & Gold and was named the team's Frank Pond Rookie of the Year.
Wilcox also ranks third in school history in saves (2,834), games played (115) and minutes played (6,865).
A three-year letter winner for the Gophers and a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Wilcox was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the sixth round (178th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
