Former Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey defenseman Devon Toews has elected to forgo his senior season and sign an entry-level deal with the New York Islanders.

The junior defenseman played in 40 games this season for the Bobcats, tallying 30 points, and led Quinnipiac on a power play that scored 29% of the time.

This decision makes Toews the second Quinnipiac player to forgo their senior season to leave for the professional ranks.

The first player to leave was Bryce Van Brabant who signed with the Calgary Flames in 2014.

Van Brabant played in six games for the Flames in 2014 but now plays for their AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat, where he has notched seven goals and nine assists.

This season Toews was an ECAC Hockey Second Team Selection, which his head coach Pecknold believes, “[Toews] should have be an All-American.”

Toews finishes his career eclipsing over 100 games and scoring 67 points.

The accounting major was also a two-time ECAC Hockey All-Academic selection.

Toews will be remembered as one of the best players to skate at the High Point Solutions Arena.

Quinnipiac will sincerely miss their top defensemen, whose departure will make a significant change to the Bobcats’ blue line.

“I’m excited to announce that I have signed my first professional contract with the New York Islanders,” Toews said, according to the Quinnipiac Athletics release. “Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my hockey development, from past players and coaches to family and friends. Thank you to my teammates, coaches, support staff and, of course, the fans of Quinnipiac University for allowing me to be a part of your community for the past three years.”