Just hours after his college season ended, Jeremy Welsh signed with the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.The Hurricanes announced that the team inked the Union College forward to an entry-level contract. The one-year deal will pay Welsh $832,500 on the NHL level and $70,000 on the AHL level, along with a signing bonus of $92,500.Welsh, who turns 24 later this month, will join the Hurricanes in Florida for Carolina's final game of the 2011-12 NHL season on Saturday night."Of all of the college free agents available, we identified Jeremy as the one who most fit our organizational needs," said Ron Francis , the club's Director of Hockey Operations. "He provides another big body for us down the middle, and is a player who has shown character and leadership at the college level, in addition to scoring ability."Welsh tallied 27 goals, 17 assists and 47 penalty minutes in 40 games for Union this season, ranking first on the team and fourth in the NCAA in goals. The Bayfield, Ont., native had nine points (five goals, four assists) in eight postseason games for the Dutchmen, including a five-game goal-scoring streak to lead Union to its first ECAC Hockey Championship and first Frozen Four berth in school history. For his efforts, the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder was named ECAC Hockey Player of the Month for March, Most Outstanding Player of the ECAC Championship and Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA East Regional in Bridgeport, Conn.Over his three seasons at the collegiate level, Welsh had 100 points (53 goals, 47 assists) in 119 games for Union. Prior to college, he played for the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, totaling 36 goals and 47 assists (83 points) in 49 regular-season games in 2008-09. In 2007-08, he helped lead the Blades to the Buckland Cup title, Dudley Hewitt Cup championship and Ontario Hockey Association championship. He also participated in the Royal Bank Cup, where he was voted best forward.