EXCLUSIVE: Canucks have finally sealed the deal of top profile player.

Cochrane’s Ty Mueller is one step closer to playing in the NHL.

Yesterday, the Vancouver Canucks announced they’ve signed prospect Ty Mueller to a three-year entry-level contract.

“Ty has continued to develop and take important steps forward since we drafted him,” said Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin in a news release issued yesterday. “He is a smart two-way hockey player who we look forward to working with as he makes the transition from college hockey to the pro game.”

Mueller began his career in Cochrane Minor Hockey and played through the AAA system starting with the U15 AAA Airdrie Extreme before joining the AJHL’s Sherwood Park Crusaders for two seasons. As a Crusaders, he was an alternate captain and named the team’s MVP in the 2020-21 season. In his 2019-20 rookie season, he was named to the AJHL All-North Rookie Team.

Mueller has just completed his third season at the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks.

Friday night, the Mavericks fell 3-2 to the University of Minnesota in the West Regional Semi-Finals of the NCAA Div. 1 men’s hockey tournament. It was the team’s first appearance in the semis after upsetting the Colorado College Tigers in a best-of-three quarterfinal series.

In 40 games this season, the 21-year-old put up 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists), 33 penalty minutes, and was a plus-nine. He had an impressive 55 per cent faceoff win percentage. It follows finishing with a plus-nine in his second season with the Mavericks.

Mueller was named a Hobey Baker Award nominee for a second consecutive season and was the only Maverick to receive a nomination this season. Annually, the award recognizes American college hockey’s most outstanding player.

The 5’11” 201 lb forward was drafted by the Canucks in the fourth round, 105th overall in the NHL 2023 entry draft.