Ryan Duncan won the Hobey Baker award two years ago as the best player in college hockey but was never drafted by an NHL team. Now he's moving from the University of North Dakota to the AHL with a chance to dispel any notion that he's too small for the pros.

"The knock on me has always been my size, but I guess it's never really stopped me before," the 5-foot-6, 165-pound forward said Wednesday from Bridgeport, Conn., where he had just finished his first practice with the Sound Tigers. "It's not something I think about when I'm on the ice."

Duncan has been in Bridgeport since Monday, after signing an amateur tryout contract with the American Hockey League team affiliated with the NHL's New York Islanders. Duncan said an injury to another player opened up a spot on the roster for him.

The Sound Tigers have two regular-season games remaining, at home Friday and Saturday. The team has qualified for the playoffs.

"I thought I wasn't going to play anywhere, at first, then this opportunity came up," Duncan said. "I'm excited to be playing more hockey.

"Producing and winning speaks louder than anything," he said. "Regardless of how big I am, it's how I go out and perform (that matters)."

The Calgary, Alberta, native led the Sioux this season in points (39), goals (20), power-play goals (9), game-winning goals (4) and short-handed goals (2). He is the fourth UND player to lead the team in goals three different seasons, and only the fifth to amass 85 career goals and 85 career assists for a UND program that is a traditional NCAA Division I power and has sent numerous players to the NHL - players like Chicago's Jonathan Toews and New Jersey's Zach Parise.

Duncan shares the record for consecutive NCAA Division I games played with former teammate Chris Porter, at 175.

Duncan is the third senior on this year's UND squad to sign a professional contract since the end of the season. Defenseman Joe Finley signed an entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals and is playing with the AHL's Hershey Bears. Forward Andrew Kozek signed an amateur tryout contract with the AHL's Chicago Wolves.

Unlike Duncan, Finley and Kozek were drafted - Finley 27th overall by Washington in 2005 and Kozek 53rd overall by Atlanta the same year.

Duncan said the NHL draft is not his main motivation.

"There's always incentive. If you want to play this game, you've got to like what you're doing, you've got to have a passion," he said. "There's always motivation. You want to have a place to play next year."