Northern Michigan’s Olver Signs With Colorado

Hobey Baker Award finalist Mark Olver has signed with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche after three seasons at Northern Michigan.

Related link: Early departures in 2010 offseason

Olver, 22, led the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 11 seasons behind 19 goals and 49 points.

He is scheduled to join the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters.

A first-team all-CCHA selection as a junior, Olver was Colorado’s fifth-round selection (140th overall) in the 2008 draft.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound center had 122 points (56 goals, 66 assists) in 119 games at Northern Michigan.