CONFIRMED DEAL: The Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL have officially signed a top experienced captain who formerly played for the Boston Bruins and Kelowna Rockets, but…

Kelowna Rockets captain Gabriel Szturc has earned himself an NHL contract.

Szturc has signed a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Lightning vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced Saturday, March 2.

The 20-year-old centre is in his third season with the Rockets in the Western Hockey League. He has the third most goals and points on the Rockets this season with 27 and 67, respectively. He has also accumulated 67 goals and 187 points in 176 career games with the Rocket.

Earlier this season, Szturc passed Vaclav Varada for the franchise record in points by a European player.

Born in Cesky, Cze, Szturc was selected by the Rockets 44th overall in the first round of the CHL import draft. He was passed over in the last two NHL entry drafts.

Szturc has played for Czechia at the IIHF World Junior Championship the past two seasons, and helped his country to a silver medal at the 2023 tournament when he notched five goals and eight points in seven games, good for second on his team for goals and tied for second in scoring

Szturc, who stands five-foot-11 and weighs 185 pounds, was invited to Tampa Bay’s training camp prior to the 2023-24 season.

The three-year contract will start in the 2024-25 season and end in 2026-27.