Walleye add a pair of defensemen

Toledo, Ohio - Defensemen Simon Denis and Nolan Zajac have agreed to terms with the Toledo Walleye for the 2016-17 season.

The Walleye are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings and the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins.

Zajac, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has spent the last four seasons with the University of Denver posting 95 points (19g-76a) and 78 penalty minutes while playing as a +33 over 160 contests. The 23-year-old set a career high with six goals his freshman year (2012-13) and picked up 21 assists during the 2014-15 season, the most he had in a single year for the Pioneers. The youngest brother of NHL forward Travis Zajac, he was named to the NCHC All-Academic Team over his last three seasons. This past season, the 5'11", 180-pound defenseman helped lead the Pioneers to the NCAA Frozen Four, eventually losing to North Dakota.

Denis comes to the Walleye from Ferris State University where the Burnaby, British Columbia native appeared in 141 games with 60 points (15g-45a) 38 penalty minutes and a +9 rating. The 24-year-old helped the Bulldogs to a WCHA Playoff championship this past season and a win over St. Cloud State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. An alternate captain for Ferris State in each of the past two years, Denis posted a career-best seven goals in 2015-16. He made his pro debut by appearing in three games with the Fort Wayne Komets in which he collected a pair of assists.