This season, the Arizona State Sun Devils took a major step to becoming a hockey powerhouse by advancing to the NCAA Tournament faster than any team in history.
On Monday, ASU took another major step toward national prominence, as its star goaltender became the first-ever Sun Devil to sign an NHL entry-level contract.
Joey Daccord, a 22-year-old Massachusetts native, has signed a two-year deal with the Ottawa Senators, the Senators announced Monday. Daccord will join the Senators, who have four games left to play this season, in Ottawa on Tuesday.
All players who sign an NHL contract for the first time are required to sign an entry-level deal, with the possibility of earning a higher salary if called up to play for the NHL team.
Continuing to make history!
— x - Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) April 1, 2019
Congrats to @jdac35 on becoming the first Sun Devil to sign an @NHL contract! The @Senators got a good one! #BetheTradition #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/FLFkD5qi7Z
I am incredibly excited to announce I have signed an NHL contract with the @Senators. Thank you to @SunDevilHockey and @asucoachpowers for the amazing opportunity. Thank you to my family, my teammates and everyone that’s been a part of this. I’m a Sun Devil for Life. #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/EFeUEngcMk
— Joey Daccord (@JDac35) April 1, 2019
"It's an incredible honor and something I've worked towards my whole life and I couldn't have done it without Arizona State University, (ASU coach Greg Powers) and the entire staff at Sun Devil Hockey. I'm incredibly thankful for everyone that's been a part of this, including the Ottawa Senators organization," Daccord said in a statement.
"Joey came here to set a standard and he did that and more. Joey is a Sun Devil for life and we cannot wait to support him on his journey in the National Hockey League with the Ottawa Senators," Powers said.
Daccord was originally selected by the Senators in the seventh round of the 2015 NHL Draft. He is a finalist for the Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goaltender in college hockey.
This season, Daccord set a number of career bests, including 21 wins, seven shutouts, a 2.36 goals allowed average and a .926 save percentage. He recorded 36 saves in the Sun Devils' 2-1 loss to Quinnipiac in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
