Point signs with Stars

Colgate hockey goalie Colton Point chose to forego his final two collegiate seasons and signed a professional contract with the NHL’s Dallas Stars. The deal became official Sunday.

The Stars drafted Point back in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, selecting him in the fifth round. But Point’s play during the 2017-18 season tipped the scales toward his professional career beginning sooner rather than later.

“Colton was a premier goalie at the college level,” Colgate head coach Don Vaughan said. “He gave us a chance to win every night. He worked extremely hard with our staff and as a result, his development was accelerated.

“Colton is a character person who has a bright future in the game, and we wish him nothing but the best.”

The North Bay, Ontario, native earned CCM/AHCA All-America Second Team honors after putting together one of the best seasons in Colgate history. He shattered program records with a .944 save percentage that ranked first nationally this season, and a 1.74 goals-against average.

The previous Colgate save percentage record of .930 was set in 1962-63.

Point is the first sophomore in program history to earn All-America status, and just the fourth Colgate goaltender selected. He tied the program mark with six shutouts in 2017-18 and set the game record formost saves (51) in a shutout, a 2-0 decision over Harvard.

Point also helped Team Canada win gold at the IIHF World Junior Championships, during which he posted a shutout win over Slovakia. Not surprisingly, Point earned 2017-18 Colgate Male Student-Athlete of the Year honors.

COURTESY OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Colton Point will forgo his final two seasons at Colgate University and sign a contract with the Dallas Stars.