The Ottawa Senators have signed University of North Dakota defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker to a three-year entry-level contract. Confirmation of the Jacob Bernard-Docker signing came from the team’s PR Twitter account on Thursday.
News Release: The #Sens have signed defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker to a three-year entry-level contract: https://t.co/SPWoMh2r2c pic.twitter.com/yXN2LeTjBb
— Sens Communications (@Media_Sens) April 1, 2021
Jacob Bernard-Docker Signing With Ottawa Senators Announced
Jacob Bernard-Docker spent three years at the University of North Dakota and finished his college career as an alternate captain of the Fighting Hawks. According to Elite Prospects, he amassed a total of 15 goals and 60 points across 95 NCAA games.
This season, he won the award for the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s Best Defensive Defenseman. Although, unfortunately, his final college campaign ended on the back of a cruel five-OT loss to Minnesota-Duluth in their NCAA regional final. The game now holds the record for the longest NCAA tournament game of all time.
On the international side of things, Bernard-Docker won gold with Team Canada during the World Junior Championships in 2020. In the seven games he played in that tournament he scored one goal and registered 6 penalty minutes.
What This Means Going Forward
Bernard-Docker was selected in the first round (26th overall) by the Ottawa Senators. The Canmore, AB native played his junior hockey for the Okotoks Oilers in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
According to our prospects expert Ben Kerr, when he was drafted, Bernard-Docker exhibited strong defensive skill against the rush. “His skating allows him to maintain excellent gap control. He is very tough to beat in one-on-one situations and uses an excellent stick to poke check opponents.” Moreover, the 6′-1″, 194-pound defenceman has a great shot and a strong skating ability.
Ottawa has now signed their fourth prospect from the 2018 draft. Bernard-Docker joins Brady Tkachuk, Kevin Mandolese and Angus Crookshank on a professional contract.
Following a mandatory quarantine period, Bernard-Docker will report to the Senators and in doing so, forego his senior year of college.
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