(Rochester, NY) – The Rochester Americans announced today that the team has signed defenseman Mac Bennett and forward Daniel Muzito-Bagenda to one-year American Hockey League contracts.
Bennett, 25, played in 35 AHL games last season with the St. John’s IceCaps, recording three points (1+2) and 30 penalty minutes. He also appeared in four games with the ECHL’s Brampton Beast. In 2014-15, the 6-foot, 189-pound native of Narragansett, Rhode Island, registered 12 points (4+8) and 10 penalty minutes in 59 AHL games with the Hamilton Bulldogs as a rookie. Prior to his professional career, Bennett played four seasons at the University of Michigan, where he served as team captain in 2013-14. In 136 career games at Michigan, he collected 65 points (14+51) and 53 penalty minutes. Bennett was originally selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round (79th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft.
Muzito-Bagenda, 20, appeared in 63 games with the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) last season, his first in North America. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound native of Umea, Sweden, recorded 37 points (20+17) and 36 penalty minutes to rank third on his team in goals. Muzito-Bagenda added 10 points (6+4) in seven playoff contests to rank second on his team in postseason scoring. Prior to joining Mississauga, Muzito-Bagenda recorded 35 points (10+25) in 37 games with MODO’s U20 team in Sweden during the 2014-15 season while also appearing in three professional games with MODO.
