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Capitals Sign Defense Prospect Madison Bowey to Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract

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April 2, 2014 5:25 pm

Photo: Marissa Baecker/Getty Images North America

The Washington Capitals have announced the signing of Madison Bowey, the 18-year-old defenseman selected 53rd overall in the 2013 Draft, to an entry-level contract beginning in the 2014-15 season.

He seems excited about it.

For the past three years, Bowey has played for the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. This season, serving as team captain, he scored 21 goals and 60 points, breaking the club records for goals by a defenseman earlier held by the Colorado Avalanche’s Tyson Barrie and recording the third-best season in points by a blueliner. What makes Bowey’s achievement more impressive is the list of the Rockets defensemen he has surpassed (in single season goals and points): Tyler Myers, Alex Edler, Shea Weber, and Duncan Keith, among others.

The Rockets, who won the regular season, are currently playing in the WHL playoffs. They beat the Tri-City Americans in five games to pass the first round of the postseason. They’re now set to face the Seattle Thunderbirds, coached by ex-Capital Steve Konowalchuk, in the second round.

Bowey is an offensive defenseman. He has a good shot and can run a powerplay. His defense might need some polish, but his physicality and speed give him the natural tools to excel at both ends of the ice, reminding me a lot of another mobile Caps defenseman: Dmitry Orlov.

Bowey joins a strong crop of young blue liners drafted, signed, or acquired by the Caps including Orlov, Nate Schmidt, Connor Carrick, Patrick Wey, and Tomas Kundratek.

This goal from Bowey was scored on the Prince George Cougars earlier in the season.

This assist happened the night Bowey was named captain of Kelowna in November.

Here’s the full press release from the Capitals.

The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Madison Bowey to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning the 2014-15 season, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Bowey, 18, was drafted by the Capitals in the second round, 53rd overall, in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and spent the last three seasons with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Bowey registered 60 points (21 goals, 39 assists) and 93 penalty minutes in 72 games with the Rockets this season and was named the team’s captain on Nov. 1, 2013. The Winnipeg native helped lead Kelowna to the best record in the WHL this season (57-11-0-4, 118 points) and finished the regular-season ranked tied for eighth in the WHL in plus/minus (+44), fourth among WHL defensemen in goals and tied for eighth among defensemen in points.

Bowey compiled 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) and 75 penalty minutes in 69 games with Kelowna in 2012-13. The 6’1”, 195-pound blueliner ranked sixth among WHL defensemen with a plus-41 rating and participated in the 2013 CHL Top Prospects Game. Bowey helped Team Canada win the gold medal at the 2013 Under-18 World Championships, recording four points (two goals, two assists) and leading all Canadian skaters in average ice-time (21:03) during the tournament. He also won gold with Canada at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

As a rookie in 2011-12, Bowey tallied 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) and 39 penalty minutes in 57 games with the Rockets and ranked tied for seventh among rookie WHL defensemen in points. Bowey made his WHL debut on Dec. 15, 2010, against the Lethbridge Hurricanes and appeared in three games with Kelowna during the 2010-11 season.

Bowey will remain with Kelowna as they begin their second round series on April 3 against the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Rockets eliminated the Tri-City Americans in five games in the first round of the WHL Playoffs. Bowey is the second member of the Capitals’ 2013 NHL Draft class to sign with the team, joining Andre Burakovsky.