Pittsburgh Release

BOSTON – Former Northeastern hockey All-American Zach Aston-Reese was recalled by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Aston-Reese could make his NHL debut as early as Saturday night when Pittsburgh visits New Jersey.
 
Aston-Reese (Staten Island, N.Y.) has compiled 29 points (nine goals, 20 assists) and a plus-21 in 41 games with Wilkes-Barre Scranton (AHL) this season. His 20 assists are tied for the club lead, while his plus-21 is tied for second-best. Aston-Reese has six goals, nine assists and 15 points with a plus-10 in his last 14 AHL contests. During that span, he has notched at least one point in 11 of 14 games, including an active four-game point streak (three goals, two assists) at the time of his recall.
 
The Penguins signed Aston-Reese to an entry-level contract last year as an undrafted free agent after he wrapped up a decorated four-year collegiate career at Northeastern. 
 
The Staten Island, New York native had a season for the ages in 2016-17, a season in which he was a CCM/ACHA First-Team All-American and the Hockey East Player of the Year en route to Hobey Baker Hat Trick accolades. Aston-Reese recorded 63 points in 38 games in 2016-17, tied for the most in the nation and most for a Northeastern Husky since 1985-86. He was also tied for or owned the nation's lead in total goals (31), goals per game (0.82), points per game (1.66), multi-goal games (eight) and hat tricks (three).
 
He finished his collegiate career ranked 12th in both career points (148) and career goals (66), while ranked in a tie for 18th all-time at Northeastern in assists (82).
 
Over the last five seasons in college hockey, only 10 Division I players have reached 60 points in a single-season. Of those, only four have reached 60 points in as many or fewer games than Aston-Reese (35): Mike Vecchione (35 games in 2016-17), Kyle Conner (34 games in 2015-16), Jack Eichel (34 games in 2014-15) and Johnny Gaudreau (31 games in 2013-14).
 
He was also just one of four players in the last five seasons to reach 50 points in less than 30 games (Vecchione in 2016-17, Kyle Connor in 2015-16 and Gaudreau in 2013-14). In addition, Aston-Reese is the only Husky in the last 30 years to record three hat tricks in a season, and the only player in program history to score a hat trick in consecutive games.
 
Aston-Reese will join fellow Husky Jamie Oleksiak in Pittsburgh.