The Alaska Aces today announced they have signed rookie defenseman William Wrenn of Anchorage to an ECHL contract.

Wrenn, 21, is a second-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks and currently is in training camp with the Worcester Sharks, San Jose's American Hockey League affiliate. Wrenn is not under contract to San Jose.

Wrenn spent the last season and a half with Portland of the Western Hockey League, and last spring helped the Winterhawks to Game 7 of the Memorial Cup, which they lost to Edmonton.

Last year, the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder earned 3-13--16 totals and +20 in 60 regular-season games and 0-4--4 and +4 totals in 22 playoff games.

Prior to Portland, Wrenn played at the University of Denver. And prior to that, he played two years in USA Hockey's National Team Development Program.

With 12 defensemen in Worcester's camp, it's a decent bet that a rookie like Wrenn, particularly given he is not under contract, may not make the cut. And given San Jose has an ECHL affiliate in expansion San Francisco, seems likely the Aces have worked some kind of agreement with San Jose to allow Wrenn to play his first season of pro in his hometown.

On the other hand, San Jose still could sign Wrenn and keep him in Worcester.

In other Aces news, the club also announced that defenseman Corey Syvret has signed a contact.

The Aces thus have at least 22 players signed -- three goaltenders, eight defensemen and 11 forwards.

Still, all those guys won't be on the ice when the Aces open training camp Friday morning (10 a.m.) at Ben Boeke Arena. Besides Wrenn in Worcester, the following Aces are at AHL camps -- forwards Tyler Ruegsegger, Garry Nunn and Jordan Kremyr are at Abbotsford, Syvret is at Toronto and defenseman Kane Lafranchise is at Lake Erie.