Jake Marto gets a gig with Winnipeg (RW77)

Image via WikipediaNewly former UND defenseman Jake Marto has earned himself an AHL Contract with the Winnipeg Jets. Here is the story:

Jets agree to terms with Jason DeSantis & Jake Marto on AHL Contracts

Thursday, 04.08.2011 / 10:09 AM / News Articles

The Winnipeg Jets, in conjunction with St. John’s IceCaps, are pleased to announce today they have agreed to terms with Jason DeSantis and Jake Marto on new American Hockey League contracts. As per club policy, terms of the agreements are not disclosed.

DeSantis, 24, split the 2010-11 season between the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers. The defenceman from Oxford, MI played 19 games with the Penguins recording five points (1g, 4a) and eight penalty minutes. He also recorded 27 points (6g, 21a) and 38 penalty minutes in 45 games with the Wheeling Nailers. DeSantis helped the Nailers reach the third round of the 2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs scoring three points (1g, 2a) in 15 games. DeSantis has played in 85 career AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and the Philadelphia Phantoms collecting 27 points (2g, 25a) and 26 penalty minutes. He joined the Phantoms in 2008 after four seasons of college hockey with the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Marto, 23, recently finished his senior season on defence with the University of North Dakota where he played 157 games over four seasons collecting 57 points (21g, 41a) and 48 penalty minutes. The native of Grand Forks, ND helped the Fighting Sioux to consecutive conference titles in the 2010 & 2011 WCHA tournament. Marto played two seasons with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers before joining UND. While with Omaha, Marto played in a total of 114 games and recorded 45 points (6g, 39a) and 54 penalty minutes.

I'm happy he's getting a chance at pro hockey. Not sure where it will lead but it's pretty cool.

As an aside, the date on this article is actually August 4th, not April 8th. They use the European date format.

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Jake Marto wins Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week

Congrats to Jake Marto on winning Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week. Marto had a goal and two assists against the BSU Beavers on Sunday afternoon to pace the Sioux.

WCHA.COM ---> Jake Marto, a veteran defenseman at the University of North Dakota, has been named the Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for March 1, 2011 after playing a key role at both ends of the ice in a two-game conference sweep over visiting Bemidji State, a pair of wins that guaranteed the Fighting Sioux at least a share of the regular season championship and the No. 1 seed for the upcoming league tournament.

A 6-0, 175-pound senior from Grand Forks, N.D., Marto scored the game-winning goal and had two assists in last Sunday's 5-1 win over Bemidji State, which clinched a share of the MacNaughton Cup for No. 1-ranked UND, and earned him No. 1 star of the game honors on Senior Day. The game-winner was his third of the season, tying a UND single-season record for Sioux defensemen.

Marto also helped key a strong defensive effort for North Dakota in the series, which saw them limit the Beavers to 16 shots on goal in a 5-2 victory last Saturday and 16 shots on goal in the 5-1 triumph on Sunday. The Sioux also limited BSU to one power-play goal in seven series man-advantage opportunities.

Playing in all 35 games this season, Marto has contributed 15 points (6g, 9a) from his blueline spot while his four-year collegiate career totals show 148 games played with 58 scoring points (19g, 39a).

Also nominated this week: Joe Marciano, D, CC; Nick Jensen, D, SCSU.