Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees are proud to announce defenceman Dante Fabbro has signed a three-year, NHL entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators. Fabbro was drafted by the Predators in the first round, 17th overall, in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Fabbro, from Coquitlam, spent two seasons with the Vees from 2014-2016 scoring 18 goals and 82 assists for an even 100 points in just 89 games. As a rookie in 2014-15, Fabbro was named to the All-Rookie Team with four goals and 29 assists in 44 games. He then added four more goals and 11 assists in the playoffs to help the Vees capture the Fred Page Cup.
That season he also represented Canada twice on the International stage, suiting up for Team Canada West at the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge scoring a goal and two assists in four games. He would later play for Team Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, scoring twice and recording an assist in five games.
While the Vees didn’t win the RBC Cup in 2015, Fabbro’s play didn’t go unnoticed as he was named the tournament’s top defenceman with three assists in five games.
The following year Fabbro’s offensive totals exploded as he scored 14 goals with 53 assists in just 45 games. He was named not only the BCHL’s top defenceman, but the CJHL’s top defenceman as well. He played for Canada three times that season, winning a gold medal at the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge, a gold medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and playing at the World Under-18 Hockey Championships. He would be drafted by Nashville that June, joining Tyson Jost as first-round NHL Draft picks from Penticton.
Fabbro has spent the past three seasons at Boston University with the Terriers, improving his offensive totals each year. As a freshman he posted six goals and 12 assists for 18 points in 36 games. He also played for Canada at the World Junior Championships, taking home a silver medal.
The following year Fabbro improved his numbers to nine goals and 20 assists in 38 games, and also picked up yet another gold medal as he helped Team Canada win the World Junior Championships after being named an alternate captain.
This past season Fabbro was named as a co-captain of the Terriers and finished second in team scoring with seven goals and 26 assists in 38 games. For the eighth time in his young career Fabbro played for Team Canada again this year, joining them for the Spengler Cup in Switzerland where he scored twice with an assist in four games. He was named to the tournament’s All-Star Team.
Fabbro is the second Vees alum to sign an NHL contract this season following Mat Robson who signed with the Minnesota Wild last week.
Should he play in an NHL game this season, he will become the 40th Vees alumni to appear in an NHL game.
