Abbotsford’s Devon Toews earned an early Christmas present on Sunday - making his National Hockey League debut.
The Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association and Yale Hockey Academy product hit the ice with the New York Islanders as they defeated the Dallas Stars 3-1.
Toews recorded three shots and was a +1 in 18:05 on the ice in his big league debut.
He told media after the game that the first game felt good.
“Comfortable is probably a good way to put it,” he said. “[Defensive partner Luca] Sbisa is a great d-partner, I thought we complimented each other really well, and everyone is in the right spots and played a really tight game tonight.”
A good team win for @DevonToews6's #NHL debut!
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) December 24, 2018
Post-game interview: pic.twitter.com/7mC3wx9GjT
Islanders head coach Barry Trotz praised Toews’ poise and complimented the speed and intelligence he played with in his debut.
Toews, 24, was selected in the fourth round, 108th overall in the 2014 NHL draft. He played junior hockey with the Abbotsford Pilots and Surrey Eagles, before moving on to Quinnipiac University for three years.
He has spent the previous two seasons with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League.
Toews and the Islanders next host the Ottawa Senators on Friday, and then head to Toronto to battle the Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
.@DevonToews6 leads the boys out for warmups tonight in Dallas! #Isles pic.twitter.com/IBSjLubcEJ
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) December 24, 2018