By: Morey Hershgordon
Former Quinnipiac forward Sam Anas and defenseman Devon Toews have signed NHL contracts and will forgo their respective senior seasons in Hamden.
Anas signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild while Toews signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New York Islanders.
The All-American forward had 50 points (24 goals and 26 assists) this past season leading Quinnipiac to the NCAA title game before losing to North Dakota 5-1. For his career, Anas had 69 goals and 63 assists in 121 games in three seasons. He was a free agent.
“He’s a smart offensive player,” Wild assistant GM Brent Flair said in an ECAC Hockey press release. “He’s produced offensively at every level and finished in the top 10 of NCAA scoring this year. While undersized, Sam has a high compete level and knows his way around the offensive zone.”
The Abbotsford, British Columbia native registered a career high 30 points (seven goals and 23 assists) in 43 games for the Bobcats this season. Selected in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Islanders, Toews was a key member of the Bobcats blue line for the past three seasons. He tallied 12 goals and 55 assists during in his collegiate career.
“I’m excited to announce that I have signed my first professional contract with the New York Islanders,” Toews said in a Quinnipiac Athletics press 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.”
“We want to thank Devon for his contribution to Quinnipiac hockey – both on-and-off the ice,” Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold said in the release. “He is a phenomenal player and an even-better person. We wish him all the best as he pursues his career with the New York Islanders.”
