Lee, 22, led the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in goals (20) and points (38) this season as a junior at the University of Notre Dame. The Edina, MN native captained the Fighting Irish to a 17-8-3-2 record, good for second place in the CCHA and a spot in the NCAA Championship tournament. At the conclusion of the regular season, Lee was named First Team All-CCHA.

The Islanders selected Lee in the sixth round (152nd overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft. He led Notre Dame in goals during each of his three seasons in South Bend, totaling 116 points (61 goals, 55 assists) in 124 career games. As a freshman in 2010-11, Lee was named Second Team All-CCHA and was selected to the CCHA's All-Rookie team, while also being Notre Dame's Rookie of the Year. That year he was elected to the NCAA Northeast Regional All-Tournament Team after leading Notre Dame to the 2011 Frozen Four. Lee served as an alternate captain as a sophomore and was named Notre Dame’s lone captain for his junior year.

Prior to his collegiate career, Lee starred for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League, leading the league in goals (35) and earning Rookie of the Year honors while leading Green Bay to a USHL Clark Cup Championship and being named the USHL Clark Cup MVP.