March 20, 2009

AMHERST, Mass. - Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Thursday that the hockey club has signed forward Alex Berry to a two-year entry level contract. Berry will join the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, for the remainder of the 2008-09 season.

"Alex is coming off his best offensive season at UMass," said Burke. "He plays a strong, physical game, is very competitive and uses his size to his advantage."

Berry, a 23-year-old native of Danvers, Massachusetts, was selected by the Maple Leafs in the fifth round, 153rd overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

The 6-3, 215-pound forward appeared in 37 games with UMass this season, registering 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points with 83 penalty minutes and a team-high plus 10 rating. Over the course of the season, Berry recorded nine multi-point games.

In 124 games with UMass-Amherst over four seasons (2005 to 2009), Berry collected 62 points (29 goals, 33 assists) and 213 penalty minutes.