Thu Jan 10 15:55:21 2008

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Blackhawks agree to extension with D Sopel

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Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks Thursday signed defenseman Brent Sopel to a three-year contract extension. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Sopel, who signed a one-year deal with Chicago as a free agent last September, has registered 10 assists in 33 games this season and currently owns a plus/minus rating of plus-10, which ranks third on the team.

Originally selected by the Canucks in the sixth round of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft (144th overall), Sopel's best season was in 2003-04 when he played in 80 games and tallied 10 goals and 42 points.

For his career, the 31-year-old has recorded 39 goals and 152 assists in 467 games while playing for Vancouver, the New York Islanders, Los Angeles and Chicago.