Photo by: Rob Rasmussen / P8Photos.com
Tufto Signs One-Year Deal with NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning
3/31/2021 4:31:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
Bobcats' Senior Captain Becomes 20th NHL Contract After 47-Point Season
- LIGHTNING SIGN COLLEGE FREE AGENT FORWARD ODEEN TUFTO
HAMDEN, Conn. – Quinnipiac men's ice hockey senior captain Odeen Tufto has signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning, as announced by the organization on Wednesday, March 31.
Tufto is the second Bobcat from the 2020-21 squad to sign an NHL contract as DiLiberatore signed Monday with the Vegas Golden Knights. Tufto is the 20th Quinnipiac men's ice hockey player to sign an NHL contract in program history.
The 2020-21 season marks the second time in the past three seasons that two players signed NHL contracts right after the season when Brogan Rafferty '20 and Andrew Shortridge '20 signed with the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks, respectively.
Tufto will report to the Lightning's AHL affiliate, Syracuse Crunch, where he will play with former Bobcat captain Chase Priskie '19.
Tufto was the 2020-21 ECAC Hockey Player of the Year and an All-ECAC Hockey First Team pick, as well as an All-College Hockey News Second Team selection. Tufto was also a Hobey Baker Award Top 10 Finalist and a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award.
In his career, Tufto was also a two-time All-ECAC Hockey Second Team selection in 2018-19 and 2019-20, and 2017-18 ECAC Hockey Third Team and All-Rookie Team pick.
Tufto scored eight goals, led the nation with 39 assists and was second nationally with 47 points in one of the best seasons in program history. Tufto also led the nation with1.34 assists per game and 20 power-play assists, was second with 1.62 points per game and 22 power-play points while his 379 faceoff wins are third and .624 faceoff percentage is fourth.
He led Quinnipiac scoring in four consecutive seasons, the only men's ice hockey player in Division I program history to do so and one of two in program history to lead the team in assists all four seasons. Tufto is also one of two players in Division I program history to record three 40-point seasons and three 30-assists seasons.
Tufto finished his career as the program's all-time assists record holder with 129 assists, breaking the previous record of 125 held by Reid Cashman '07. Tufto also finished his career with 168 points, third in Division I program history and just one behind the record of 169 points held by Bryan Leitch '09 and Brian Herbert '03. Tufto is seventh all-time in program history in points.
Tufto's 39 assists in 2020-21 are the second-most in a season in program history, and he owns three of the top 10 assists totals in a season in program history. His 47 points are tied for eighth in a season in program history, and was the first Bobcat with at least 47 points in a season since Sam Anas '17 and Travis St. Denis '16 had 50 and 49 points, respectively, in 2015-16.
During Tufto's time with the Bobcats, Quinnipiac won two Cleary Cups as ECAC Hockey Regular Season Champions in 2018-19 and 2019-21 and reached the NCAA Tournament twice. Tufto also led Quinnipiac to the 2021 ECAC Hockey Championship game.
For more information on Quinnipiac men's ice hockey, visit gobobcats.com/mih and follow the team on Twitter and Instagram, @QU_MIH.
HAMDEN, Conn. – Quinnipiac men's ice hockey senior captain Odeen Tufto has signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning, as announced by the organization on Wednesday, March 31.
Tufto is the second Bobcat from the 2020-21 squad to sign an NHL contract as DiLiberatore signed Monday with the Vegas Golden Knights. Tufto is the 20th Quinnipiac men's ice hockey player to sign an NHL contract in program history.
The 2020-21 season marks the second time in the past three seasons that two players signed NHL contracts right after the season when Brogan Rafferty '20 and Andrew Shortridge '20 signed with the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks, respectively.
Tufto will report to the Lightning's AHL affiliate, Syracuse Crunch, where he will play with former Bobcat captain Chase Priskie '19.
Tufto was the 2020-21 ECAC Hockey Player of the Year and an All-ECAC Hockey First Team pick, as well as an All-College Hockey News Second Team selection. Tufto was also a Hobey Baker Award Top 10 Finalist and a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award.
In his career, Tufto was also a two-time All-ECAC Hockey Second Team selection in 2018-19 and 2019-20, and 2017-18 ECAC Hockey Third Team and All-Rookie Team pick.
Tufto scored eight goals, led the nation with 39 assists and was second nationally with 47 points in one of the best seasons in program history. Tufto also led the nation with1.34 assists per game and 20 power-play assists, was second with 1.62 points per game and 22 power-play points while his 379 faceoff wins are third and .624 faceoff percentage is fourth.
He led Quinnipiac scoring in four consecutive seasons, the only men's ice hockey player in Division I program history to do so and one of two in program history to lead the team in assists all four seasons. Tufto is also one of two players in Division I program history to record three 40-point seasons and three 30-assists seasons.
Tufto finished his career as the program's all-time assists record holder with 129 assists, breaking the previous record of 125 held by Reid Cashman '07. Tufto also finished his career with 168 points, third in Division I program history and just one behind the record of 169 points held by Bryan Leitch '09 and Brian Herbert '03. Tufto is seventh all-time in program history in points.
Tufto's 39 assists in 2020-21 are the second-most in a season in program history, and he owns three of the top 10 assists totals in a season in program history. His 47 points are tied for eighth in a season in program history, and was the first Bobcat with at least 47 points in a season since Sam Anas '17 and Travis St. Denis '16 had 50 and 49 points, respectively, in 2015-16.
During Tufto's time with the Bobcats, Quinnipiac won two Cleary Cups as ECAC Hockey Regular Season Champions in 2018-19 and 2019-21 and reached the NCAA Tournament twice. Tufto also led Quinnipiac to the 2021 ECAC Hockey Championship game.
For more information on Quinnipiac men's ice hockey, visit gobobcats.com/mih and follow the team on Twitter and Instagram, @QU_MIH.
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