Former Notre Dame forward Vincent Hinostroza signed an amateur tryout contract with the Rockford IceHogs for the remainder of the 2014-15 season, the team announced Tuesday.
Hinostroza agreed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on March 21, which will begin with the 2015-16 season.
Hinostroza, 20, finished his sophomore season with 11 goals and 33 assists in 42 games. He tied for fourth in the nation in assists behind only Boston’s Jack Eichel and Evan Rodriuges and Minnesota’s Mike Reilly. He was named to the 2015 All-Hockey East Conference first-team
The right-handed shot, Hinostroza had points in 24 of 40 games and 14 multi-point games this past season. He scored eight goals and 24 assists in 34 games during his freshman season. He finished his career in a Fighting Irish sweater with 19 goals and 57 assists for 76 points in 76 games played.
Here’s a scouting report from SB Nation’s College Puck senior writer Jeff Cox:
Hinostroza emerged as one of the best skaters and passers in college hockey in his second season at the NCAA level.
Playing on a line with Minnesota Wild prospect Mario Lucia and Boston Bruins draft pick Anders Bjork for much of the second half, Hinostroza’s play took off. Hinostroza is undersized, but he’s an amazing skater who cuts well and uses his edges for great lateral mobility.
His passing ability is second to only Jack Eichel in college hockey this season. His vision and hockey IQ allows him to find teammates that not many others would find and his soft hands allowed him to fit saucer passes through tight seams.
The Bartlett, Ill. native, played for the Chicago Mission junior program and in the United States Hockey League for the Waterloo Black Hawks. He complied 126 points (53 goals, 73 assists) in 151 games during three seasons for Waterloo.
He has also represented team USA. He had three goals and two assists in five games during the World Juniors tournament in 2014. He also won bronze at the Under-19 World Junior A Challenge in 2011 and fifth at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Tournament with the Under-18 USA Select team.
Hinostroza was drafted by the Blackhawks in the sixth-round, 169th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
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