Toronto Marlies sign North Bay Battalion star Justin Brazeau

TORONTO – The Toronto Marlies have signed the second-leading scorer in the Ontario Hockey League this season.

North Bay Battalion overage winger Justin Brazeau inked a two-year American Hockey League contract with the Marlies on Thursday.

A 13th-round pick of the Battalion in 2014, Brazeau had a franchise record 61 goals and 52 assists this season in 68 games. The six-foot-six, 226-pound native of New Liskeard, Ont., finished four points behind Jason Robertson of the Niagara IceDogs for the OHL scoring title.

The Battalion say Brazeau’s contract has a base salary of US$70,000 a season and a $60,000 signing bonus each year.

Brazeau, 21, was a free agent after twice going undrafted in the NHL.

“I’m happy for Justin,” Battalion director of hockey operations/coach Stan Butler said in a statement.

“Any time a kid comes in as a 13th-round pick and works as hard as he did and accomplishes as much as he did, it’s a sign to the other players what happens when you work hard and develop.”