SAN JOSE - San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has signed defenseman Joakim Ryan (@JoakimRyan) to a two-year, standard entry-level contract. He will report to the Worcester Sharks (AHL).

Ryan recently completed a stand-out career at Cornell University, registering 78 points (19 goals, 59 assists) in 123 career games with the Big Red over the course of four seasons. In addition to finding himself among some of the top defenseman in the nation, ranking 9th in goals per game, 11th amongst all defenseman in points per game, and 20th in assists per game during the 2013-14 season, Ryan has accrued a variety of individual awards and records.

He was named to the 2014-15 All-ECAC First Team, a finalist for the 2014-15 ECAC Best Defensive Defenseman award, 2013-14 All-Ivy League First Team, 2013-14 All-ECAC Hockey Second Team, 2012-13 All-Ivy League Second Team, and was named ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week during his freshman season in 2011-12. In addition, during the 2013-14 season he earned the Nicky Bawlf Award, presented to the most valuable player on Cornell's roster.

Prior to Cornell, Ryan played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL), helping the team win the Clark Cup and getting named to the mid-season USHL All-Star Team in 2010-11.

Ryan was born in the United States (Rumson, NJ), but his mother, former tennis star Catarina Lindqvist, is a native of Sweden. He was selected to represent Sweden during the 2010 World U17 Challenge and 2010 World Jr. A Challenge.

The five-foot-eleven, 185-pound blueliner was originally drafted by San Jose in the seventh round (198th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.