LOWELL, Mass. – Former UMass Lowell All America defenseman Chad Ruhwedel has signed a one-year contract with the National Hockey League Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. The announcement was made today by executive vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford.

The deal is a two-way contract that contains an average annual value of $575,000 at the NHL level.

Ruhwedel, 26, played the past four seasons in the Buffalo Sabres organization, appearing in a total of 33 NHL games with the Sabres, registering two assists.

The 5-foot-11, 191-pound righthanded-shooting defender posted 26 points (10G-16A) in 59 games with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League in 2015-16, the second-straight year he reached double digits in goals. During the '14-15 campaign, Ruhwedel was an alternate captain for the Americans.

A San Diego, California native, Ruhwedel has appeared in 178 career AHL contests with the Americans, tallying 24 goals, 66 assists and 90 points. He had five points (2G-3A) in five AHL playoff contests.

Ruhwedel played on the River Hawk blue line for three seasons before signing with the Sabres as an undrafted free agent in April of 2013. Signing with Pittsburgh reunites Ruhwedel with former River Hawk teammate Scott Wilson. Ruhwedel and Wilson teamed to lead the River Hawks to the 2013 Frozen Four, which was held at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

Ruhwedel netted 63 points (15G-48A) in 110 career appearances for the River Hawks. During his final college season, Ruhwedel was named an NCAA First-Team All-American, a First-Team All-Hockey East and he was crowned the best defenseman in New England.