Music: {allcanada} Leafs sign Sparks, Nilsson to entry-level deals

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

{allcanada} Leafs sign Sparks, Nilsson to entry-level deals

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed goalie Garret Sparks and defenceman Tom Nilsson to three-year entry level contracts, the team announced Tuesday.

The 19-year-old Sparks recorded a 2.65 goals against average, a .917 save percentage and seven shutouts in 60 games for the OHL's Guelph Storm this season. Sparks led all OHL goaltenders in games played (60), minutes (3440), wins (tie-36) and shutouts (tie-7), was fifth in save percentage and seventh in goals against average. His 36 wins and seven shutouts were single-season Storm records.

The six-foot-two, 213-pound goaltender was selected 190th overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Nilsson, 19, played 42 games for Mora IK in Allsvenskan — the second highest league in Sweden — in 2012-13, posting a goal and three assists with 18 penalty minutes. The six-foot, 176-pound defenceman was selected by Toronto in the fourth round, 100th overall, in the 2011 Entry Draft.