Killorn Signed By Tampa Bay Lightning to Two-Year Deal

It didn’t take long for senior forward Alex Killorn to take the next steps in his hockey career.

The forward signed a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, just two days after the Harvard men’s hockey team fell, 3-1, to Union in the ECAC finals, signaling the end of Killorn’s playing days for the Crimson.

“Thanks for all the congratulations,” Killorn tweeted Monday after the signing. “Appreciate all the support. Great day. Excited for the next chapter.”

Picked by the Lightning in the third round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Killorn had one of the best careers in recent memory for the Crimson, becoming the first player to score over 50 career goals in eight years.

A first-team All-ECAC pick this season, Killorn tallied 46 points on 23 goals and 23 assists. The senior also was an integral part of Harvard’s nation-leading power play, which converted 27.34 percent of the time.

Killorn signed with the Norfolk Admirals, a minor league affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning, shortly after his deal with the Lightning and flew down to Norfolk on Tuesday.

The forward arrives in the organization as a highly touted prospect. Boltprospects.com, a website which studies prospects in the Lightning organization, recently listed Killorn as the club’s top prospect in a March 2 ranking.  In the website’s 2011-12 midterm rankings, Killorn is described as  “really close to being an NHL regular in Tampa Bay.”

Killorn still plans to graduate in May this year along with the rest of his class.