Sacha Guimond is going to get his chance to play in the AHL.

Guimond, who has spent his first professional season in the ECHL with the Gwinnett Gladiators and San Francisco Bulls, signed a one-year deal with the Utica Comets today.

After playing his junior in both the OHL with London and QMJHL with Baie-Comeau, Guimond entered the professional ranks by way of free agency. At 6’2″ and 174 lbs., Guimond had decent size for a defenceman, but could do with adding to his frame. Primarily an offensive defenceman, Guimond had a great season in the ECHL last year, being named to the All-Rookie Team, All-Star Team, and winning the ECHL Defenceman of the Year award.

Guimond, 22, suited up in six AHL games last season — four with Norfolk and two with the Worcester Sharks — but failed to get on the score sheet. According to an article on the Abitibi Express website, Guimond was also entertaining offers from Phoenix, Winnipeg, Los Angeles, and the Islanders before settling on signing a deal with the Canucks organization.