SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the team has signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Nick Schaus to an entry-level contract. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Schaus spent the last four seasons at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and in 2009-10, finished with 23 points in 37 games (4 goals, 19 assists). He finished the season with 16 penalty minutes and had a plus/minus rating of +11 while setting career-highs in assists and points. Schaus finished his collegiate career with 65 points (10 goals and 55 assists) in 148 career games.

“We are excited about Nick joining the San Jose Sharks organization,” said Wilson. “He has made tremendous progress during his collegiate career and that is a testament to the program at UMass-Lowell and guidance and leadership provided by Head Coach Blaise MacDonald and his staff. We are looking forward to helping Nick take his development to the next level.”

The five-foot-eleven, 190-pound native of Orchard Park, New York spent four seasons in the USHL with the River City Lancers (2002-2004) and the Omaha Lancers (2004-06) prior to attending UMass Lowell. He posted 53 points (9 goals, 44 assists) in 60 games in 2005-06 with Omaha. The two-time USHL All-Star was named an assistant captain as well as the USHL Defenseman of the Year during his 2005-06 season.