Martin Marincin has taken another significant step toward the National Hockey League.
Marincin, a defenceman for the Prince George Cougars this past Western Hockey League season, has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers. The six-foot-five, 200-pound Slovakian was selected by the Oilers in the second round (46th overall) of the 2010 NHL entry draft.
In 67 regular-season games with the Cougars, Marincin had 14 goals and 56 points, the highest total of any first-year WHL blueliner. In four playoff games, he added one goal and four assists.
After the Cougars were swept out of the post-season by the Kelowna Rockets, Marincin was assigned to the Oklahoma City Barons, the Oilers' American Hockey League affiliate. With the Barons, he played one game and was held scoreless.
The Cougars acquired Marincin with the first-overall pick in the 2010 Canadian Hockey League import draft.
