The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Friday that they have signed NCAA free agent Jake Livanavage to a two-year, entry-level contract.
Livanavage, 21, joins the Penguins after a stellar sophomore campaign at the University of North Dakota (UND). The Phoenix, Arizona, native is expected to join the Penguins in Pittsburgh this weekend.
x - Pittsburgh Penguins on X: "The Penguins have signed NCAA free agent defenseman Jake Livanavage to a two-year, Entry-Level Contract. Details: https://t.co/yi0lSHXYCp https://t.co/hEZyzSqeaA" / X
In 40 games with UND this season, Livanavage recorded 38 points (5G-33A), leading all NCHC defensemen in assists. He was a finalist for the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's Offensive Defenseman of the Year and Defensive Defenseman of the Year. Livanavage played for the U.S. Collegiate Selects at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland, in December. Through three seasons at North Dakota, he tallied 14 goals and 82 points in 117 games.
Despite being overlooked in the NHL Draft, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound blueliner has developed into one of the premier offensive defensemen in college hockey. His elite skating and vision allowed him to act as a primary engine for the Fighting Hawks' transition game.
Livanavage also played three seasons with the Chicago Steel of the USHL where he recorded 90 points (10G-80A) in 158 regular-season games. He also appeared in 16 playoff games over the course of three seasons, including seven games in the 2021 postseason en route to Chicago’s Clark Cup Championship.