COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed 2001 draft pick Andrew Murray to a standard entry level contract, club President and General Manager Doug MacLean announced today. As is club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Murray, 23, appeared in 32 games for Bemidji State (CHA) last season, recording 16 goals, 22 assists and 30 penalty minutes, with a +11 plus/minus rating. Bemidji State finished the season 23-13-1 with a No. 15 ranking in the USA Today poll and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Murray was named College Hockey America's Player of the Year and Student-Athlete of the Year and also earned Third Team All-America recognition by U.S. College Hockey Online.

A native of Selkirk, Manitoba, Murray was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the eighth round, 242nd overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He appeared in 128 career games at Bemidji State over four seasons, totaling 46 goals, 69 assists and 131 penalty minutes.

Tickets for Blue Jackets pre-season games are currently on sale, while regular season games go on sale Friday, September 16. Tickets may be purchased at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, the Blue Jackets Zones at Chiller Dublin, Chiller Easton and Chiller North, all Ticketmaster ticket centers, by phone at (614) 431-3600 or via the internet at www.BlueJackets.com and ticketmaster.com. For information on full season tickets starting as low as $13 per game, mini-season ticket plans or group tickets, call (800) NHL-COLS.

-- CBJ --