Former Walleye forward Tyler Sikura signs NHL contract

Toledo Walleye forward Tyler Sikura closes in on Kalamazoo Wings goalie Joel Martin during a game in November, 2016. Sikura signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks today.

Former Walleye forward Tyler Sikura signed a contract with the Chicago Blackhawks organization Tuesday that runs through the 2018-19 season.

Sikura started his career in Toledo in 2015-16, and just two seasons later he has signed a contract with an NHL organization.

The 25-year-old played two seasons for Toledo, appearing in 115 ECHL games with the Walleye (2015-17). Last season, Sikura tallied 29 points with 13 goals and 16 assists in 39 games. He was then dealt to Manchester for defenseman Justin Agosta just prior to the trade deadline last March.

Sikura produced 11 points with five goals and six assists in 19 playoff games for the Monarchs. Sikura has since moved up to the American Hockey League, playing all of this season in Rockford.

In his first campaign with the Walleye, Sikura had 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists) in 68 games.

Sikura, a native of Aurora, Ont., currently leads the Rockford IceHogs with 16 goals in 57 games in his first season with the team. He has also chipped in with nine assists. Sikura recorded a career-long five-game goal streak with five goals from Jan. 6-13. He has also logged three multi-point games with Rockford this season.

Sikura had skated in 22 AHL games across parts of three seasons (2014-17) before this year.

He was second on the Walleye in scoring during the 2015-16 regular season as a rookie. He attended Dartmouth from 2011-15.