TORONTO University of Denver sophomore forward Tyler Bozak (Regina, Saskatchewan) has decided to forgo his final two years of eligibility after signing a professional contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League, Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke announced Friday. Terms of Bozak’s two-year entry level contract were not disclosed.

 

“We are absolutely thrilled that Tyler has chosen to sign with the Maple Leafs today,” said Burke. “He is a young man that was coveted by a large number of teams in our league and it’s our goal to help him reach his potential with our organization. He’s a responsible player at both ends of the ice and he has shown the ability to put points on the board with his quickness at the collegiate level.”

Bozak finished his DU career with 57 points on 26 goals and 31 assists in 60 games. He recorded 23 points on eight goals in 19 games this season. Bozak missed 21 games after tearing his meniscus in his left knee, but returned to the DU lineup at the NCAA Tournament and had one goal and one assist in the Pioneers’ 4-2 loss to Miami on March 27.

 

In 2007-08, Bozak became the third DU freshman since 1986-87 to lead the team in scoring. Bozak tallied 34 points on 18 goals and 16 assists en route to All-WCHA third team and All-WCHA rookie-team honors. He tallied five power-play goals, six shorthanded goals and four game-winning goals in two seasons for the Pioneers, who posted a 49-26-6 mark and made two NCAA Tournament appearances during Bozak’s career.

 

“We are happy for Tyler and the decision he has made to join the Maple Leafs organization,” DU head coach George Gwozdecky said. “He is another talented Pioneer in a long line of former DU players, who have been given a great opportunity to pursue a professional hockey career. In his two years as a student-athlete at the University of Denver, his contributions helped secure our status as one of college hockey’s top programs. His personality, toughness, leadership and character will be missed on the ice as well as in our University community. I know that it has been his dream to someday play in the NHL and next September that dream will become reality. We are very proud of Tyler and wish him all the best."

 

Bozak joins Brett Skinner (2005), Matt Carle (2006), Paul Stastny (2006), Ryan Dingle (2007), Geoff Paukovich (2007), Brock Trotter (2008) and Chris Butler (2008) as Pioneers who left early to turn pro since 2005.