GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- University of North Dakota men's hockey forward Jonathan Toews (So., Winnipeg, Manitoba) signed an NHL contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, according to a Blackhawks news release that was issued Wednesday. Toews, an assistant captain at UND this past season, will forego his final two seasons of college eligibility at UND.
The 19-year old Toews, a first team All-American and second team All-WCHA player this past season, recently played on Canada's International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship gold-medal winning team. Toews scored two goals and had five assists in nine games at the World Championship. Toews also was a member of Canada's gold-medal winning teams in the past two IIHF World Junior Championships.
This year he became the first Canadian-born player to win gold medals at the World Junior Championship and World Championship in the same season.
Toews had 85 points (40 goals, 45 assists) in 76 career games at UND. Included were nine points (5 goals, 4 assists) in six NCAA tournament games. Toews helped the Fighting Sioux advance to the last two NCAA Frozen Fours. UND lost to Boston College in the semifinals both years.
For the Sioux this past season, Toews scored 46 points (18 goals, 28 assists) in 34 games. His 1.35 point per game average was fourth-best in the nation and his 0.82 assist per game average was ninth-best nationally. Toews had 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists) in his final 21 games this season after returning from the World Juniors tournament and was the WCHA player of the week on Feb. 13 after tallying four goals and two assists in a weekend series against Minnesota State.
In his freshman season, Toews recorded 39 points (22 goals, 17 assists) in 42 games. He was named the 2006 NCAA West Region's most outstanding player after scoring five points (2g, 3a) in UND's wins over Michigan and Holy Cross.
Toews was selected in the first round (third overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He is the highest-ever NHL draft choice from UND.
Toews came to UND after playing for two years at Shattuck-St. Mary's, a prep school in Faribault, Minn. Toews graduated from Shattuck-St. Mary's in 2005.
