BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Former Bloomington Thunder defenseman Vince Pedrie agreed to terms with the New York Rangers on Tuesday, becoming the first former Thunder play to sign an NHL contract.

It took just two seasons as a member of the United States Hockey League for the Thunder to produce an alumni that has gone on to sign an NHL deal. Pedrie was among 25 former Thunder players who played Division I college hockey this past season.

A native of Rochester, Minnesota, Pedrie played for Bloomington in its inaugural season in 2014-15. He leaves Penn State after a sophomore season in which he posted a single season school record for points by a defenseman and was named to the All-Big Ten first team.

Pedrie’s record-breaking season helped the Nittany Lions to their first-ever NCAA tournament berth this year. The 6-foot, 194-pound blue liner racked up 30 points on eight goals and 22 assists. He ended his two-year career as Penn State’s second all-time leading scorer among defenseman, finishing with 52 points (16 G, 36 A) in 71 games.

A key member of Bloomington’s inaugural team during the 2014-15 season, Pedrie served as one of the Thunder’s alternate captains that season and led the team’s defensemen in scoring. In 39 games with the Thunder, Pedrie posted 22 points on nine goals and 13 assists.

The Thunder finish up a five-game road trip on Friday with a game against Muskegon before returning home on Saturday night for Miller Park Zoo Night. Zoo Night features a Zoo animal squeeze toy giveaway for the first 500 fans 12-and-younger and a $1 hot dog special. There will also be live animals from Miller Park Zoo at the game, including a rabbit, hedgehog, ball python, blue-tongued skink and more. Tickets from the Thunder game will get fans into Miller Park Zoo for free on Sunday, April 2.

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