Canadiens Sign Ben Maxwell to Entry-Level Contract

[Thrillhouse]

Canadiens GM Bob Gainey announced Saturday the signing of forward Ben Maxwell to a three-year contract (2008-09 to 2010-11).

Maxwell, the Canadiens’ second-round pick (49th overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, scored 153 points (63 goals, 90 assists) in 203 games in five seasons with the WHL Kootenay Ice. This season, Maxwell collected 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 24 games despite missing 39 contests with a thigh injury.

Maxwell, 19, was selected to the WHL Team for the 2007 Canada-Russia Challenge and was named CHL Player of the Week from October 2-9, 2007. The 6-foot-1, 187-pound centreman native of North Vancouver won a gold medal with Canada at the 2006 U-18 World Hockey Championship in Czech Republic.

Maxwell played in two preseason games in his first training camp with the Canadiens in 2007.