VIDEO: RHS Grad J.T. Brown Makes NHL Debut

graduate J.T. Brown made his NHL debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Tampa Bay won the game against Winnipeg 3-2 in overtime.

Brown recorded more than 13 minutes of ice time in his debut, two shots on goal and no penalties.

The 21-year-old Brown was signed to a two-year deal with the Lightning on March 28 as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Brown was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2011 Frozen Four en route to helping the Bulldogs to a national championship. 

"We are very excited that he chose to sign with us," Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman was quoted as saying in a Fox Sports brief. "He's a smart player, very quick and fast, a very good skater and very competitive. He's got good skills and he really has a very good overall game. And he has a history in college of coming up with big goals. He scores a lot of important goals. And most of all, we like his hockey sense and competitiveness."

Brown, a 2008 RHS graduate who helped the Irish to a 20-8 record as a senior, will earn $925,000 over the course of his contract which runs through 2012-2013 while playing in the NHL according to a report in the Duluth News Tribune, $70,000 if in the minors.

Tampa Bay is currently 36-35-7 on the season with four games left in the regular season. They next play tonight at home against the Washington Capitals.