After an impressive season in the American Hockey League, the Pittsburgh Penguins assistant general manager Chuck Fletcher announced that the organization would offer Lovejoy a contract that includes the possibility of playing in the NHL.
"I am definitely excited about going back to the Pittsburgh organization," Lovejoy said. "I really enjoyed my time this past year playing for Wilkes-Barre and am looking forward to going back. Pittsburgh was a situation that I felt most comfortable with; I know the coaches in Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre and know they like my game."
A one-year, two-way contract, like the one offered to Lovejoy, provides the stipulation that a player will be paid according to whether he plays in the NHL or the AHL. At the end of the year, the organization has the option to re-sign, trade or release the player.
The AHL is a professional hockey league that serves as the host to primary development programs for NHL teams. All 30 NHL organizations have affiliate programs in one or more of the AHL's clubs.
Unlike the NHL, the AHL is composed of four divisions instead of six within two conferences.
With the help of Lovejoy, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins won the Eastern Conference during the 2007-08 season.
Lovejoy appeared in 72 regular season games with the Penguins, accruing a total of 20 points from two goals and 18 assists.
He also appeared in all 23 post-season games, scoring two more goals and completing eight assists on the path to the Calder Cup Finals.
Lovejoy also had a team-best plus-16 rating, a statistic which measures overall defensive ability.
Before becoming a part of the Penguins organization, Lovejoy signed an amateur tryout contract with the Norfolk Admirals. He played five games with the team before signing with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as a free agent in the following year.
The Canaan, N.H. native, attended Deerfield Academy, where he was All-New England in hockey, soccer and lacrosse.
After playing 22 games for Boston College during his freshman year, Lovejoy transferred to Dartmouth.
Upon joining the Big Green ice hockey team, Lovejoy quickly became a vital member of the defensive unit during his sophomore year, scoring 13 points in 32 games.
Lovejoy also joined the Dartmouth men's lacrosse team, and played as a long-stick midfielder.
Lovejoy continued his success during his junior year, helping the Big Green to its first Eastern College Athletic Conference regular-season title with a total of 18 points in 32 games.
"The highlight of playing at Dartmouth was definitely winning the ECAC championship in 2006," Lovejoy told The Dartmouth in 2007.
Lovejoy's senior season was arguably his most successful. As the Big Green's top-scoring defenseman, he recorded seven goals and a total of 23 points in the 32 regular season games.
He was also a finalist for the Walter Brown Award, presented to the best American-born college hockey player in all of New England.
While the Big Green succeeded in splitting the Ivy League title during his senior year, Lovejoy was named second team All-Ivy and All-ECACHL third team.
He then graduated a term early in order to jump-start his professional career with the Norfolk Admirals.
