by Ryan Fay
The Dutchmen suffered a major loss on Tuesday.
Star forward Josh Jooris gave up his senior year of eligibility to sign with the Calgary Flames, just weeks after impressing in their development camp.
Jooris inked a two-year, two-way entry-level deal that is worth $832,500 per year in the NHL and $70,000 in the AHL, with a signing bonus of $92,500 each season. The average annual value is $925,000.
"Josh is a right shot center with size and skill,” Flames general manager Jay Feaster said in a release. “During our recent development camp he played an aggressive, up-tempo style and displayed good grit and a high compete level. Our staff felt strongly that we should attempt to get him signed, and we are pleased to welcome him to the organization."
The decision to leave Union a year early wasn't an easy one for Jooris, who is expected to compete in Flames main camp later this year.
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| Jooris (Union) |
"My time at Union has truly been the best of my life,” Jooris said in a release. “The people involved with my three years at school is what made this decision extremely difficult. I fully intend on completing my degree in the near future. Union has always upheld the importance of being a student first and an athlete second, and I truly value my education."
Union head coach Rick Bennett said Jooris called him on Monday night to break the news. The deal had already been done.
"He's living his dream now," Bennett said when reached by phone on Tuesday. "You wish him all the best. He was a great guy for us, a great person, and we always appreciated his time with us."
Jooris, 23, made the most of that time. He piled up 88 points (29 goals, 59 assists) in 117 games over three seasons with the Dutchmen, and finished fourth on the team this past year with 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists). He was Union’s active career leader in playoff scoring with 16 points (seven goals, nine assists), including a pair of goals in Union's 5-1 win over Boston College in the NCAA East Regional semifinal on March 30.
Losing a key offensive player so late in the summer wasn't the best timing for the program, which had already lost its top two scorers, Wayne Simpson and Kyle Bodie, to graduation.
"The timing absolutely stinks," Bennett said. "I wish I could sugarcoat it, but it stinks. It's awful tough to replace a player at this time, never mind one of your best players."
Jooris is the fourth Union player to leave early to go pro in the past three years, but the other three signed contracts within weeks of the season ending. Goaltender Keith Kinkaid signed with New Jersey following the 2010-2011 season, forward Jeremy Welsh signed with Carolina after the 2011-2012 season, and netminder Troy Grosenick agreed to terms with San Jose in April.
Kinkaid and Welsh have already had cups of coffee in the NHL. Bennett thinks Jooris could see that level as well.
"My thoughts are that he's probably going to be in the American Hockey League this year and he may get a call-up to the National Hockey League," Bennett said. "I hope he does, I really do. It would be great for him and his family."
