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Sophomore Alex Foster is set to sign a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, and will forego his final two years of college eligibility at Bowling Green State University.

BGFalconfromCincy wrote:http://bgsufalcons.collegesports.com/sp ... 06aab.html

Sophomore Alex Foster is set to sign a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, and will forego his final two years of college eligibility at Bowling Green State University.

Man, wish he would stay on a while longer. Is this typical a player comes to college for a couple of years and then leaves for the NHL?

I hope this doesn't mean that he sees no upside in staying. Sheese, we're going to have to keep up big time recruiting player every single year to make up for losses like this.

Rats. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

Stupid LaMonta Stone.

falconboy... yeah, it is pretty typical, and in fact, many of the greats in BG hockey history have left after two or three years. I want to say Ellett, Galley (and maybe Blake?) are included in that group.

A big loss to our team for sure, but if he feels it's the best for him, then I wish him the best, and hope to add him to my "Falcons in the NHL" list soon!

TG1996 wrote:Stupid LaMonta Stone.

falconboy... yeah, it is pretty typical, and in fact, many of the greats in BG hockey history have left after two or three years. I want to say Ellett, Galley (and maybe Blake?) are included in that group.

A big loss to our team for sure, but if he feels it's the best for him, then I wish him the best, and hope to add him to my "Falcons in the NHL" list soon!

Blake skated three years. I don't believe he finished his final semester, if memory serves. He went pro, basically, right after the season ended.

I could be wrong.

I think someone on the hockey board said a few days ago said don't be surprised to see a lot of people leave the team this year because they have had it with coach P. Don't know how true that is but...one down.

Tricky_Falcon wrote:Don't know how true that is but...one down.

Foster seemed like a 50/50-ish shot to stay anyway, and he left because he signed a pro contract. If others start bailing, I'd start counting, but (without knowing the team) I'd chalk this one up to more "following the dream" than hating the coach.

Then again, if anyone is on the fence about the prospects for next season, and a leader like Foster is now out of the equation, it might push them to leaving as well.

That's too bad. I wish Alix all the best at the next level and hope he becomes a star in the NHL. It was a pleasure watching him these past 2 years at BG.
I'm really, really hoping Mats stays. If he goes too my optimisim for next year will take a dive.

ouch. that's bad news for bg and the league. just when i thought you guys were really building for next year. best of luck to foster and the team.

Talk on Maple Leafs Board

It wouldn't suprise me to see him play at least one NHL game before the end of the season. Even Friday or Saturday this week wouldn't suprise me. The Maple Leafs are fighting for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference right now. They are willing to take drastic measures to insure they can take over that spot before the end of the season. I'm willing to bet it's a pretty attractive deal to a 21 year old.

FROM Research On Ice, Wednesday March 8, 2006

It was four years ago when a young Alex Foster, the son of former NHL forward Dwight Foster (Detroit, Boston), burst onto the scene as a dynamic young forward for the USHL's Danville Wings. After two seasons in the USHL, Foster moved onto Bowling Green, where this year, he performed in a manner even those close to him might not have expected, as the 21 year-old sophomore put up 11 goals and 51 points in 38 games, leaving him tied (with Colorado College senior Brett Sterling) for fourth overall in NCAA scoring.

Foster's season ended last week as his Falcons were put away in two games by Nebraska-Omaha in the first-round of the CCHA playoffs, but his efforts had long been watched closely by several NHL clubs which were lobbying hard to sign him.

That opportunity came within the last week, as Foster signed a two-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs worth $850,000 per year--the maximum entry level contract allowed under the new NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement.


From Canton, Michigan--the Detroit suburb where his father settled after retiring from the NHL, Foster is expected to be playing this weekend for the AHL Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs' top farm club. Though he had offers from at least ten NHL clubs, Foster chose the Leafs after Toronto GM John Ferguson Jr. and his executive team granted Foster not only the $850,000 per year, but a signing bonus of $170,000 as well.

Foster was one of two highly regarded sophomore scorers this year at Bowling Green, as fellow second-year forward Jonathan Matsumoto finished tied for ninth in NCAA scoring with 20 goals and 48 points.

The above provided by Research on Ice Paul Shaheen Any one wishing to subscribe to the this news letter, the one time cost is $ 25.

Good news, bad news: We have all seen the bad news, and I heartily
agree. The good news says : Scott and Ron are recruiting the right kind of players. The NMU coach told a recruit " if you want to play pro do not go to BGSU; this disproves that theory.

Rob Blake left after his junior year. He has been on of BG's strongest supporters since then, I pray that Alex will remember us in the coming years.

My questions: the article says that he got a $ 170,000 signing bonus and $ 850,000 per yer; does Alex get $ 850,000 a year if he is playing in the AHL? How does that work?

Thanks for the info guys. It would be kind of hard to pass up that opportunity no matter how much you love BG.

Puckhead wrote: My questions: the article says that he got a $ 170,000 signing bonus and $ 850,000 per yer; does Alex get $ 850,000 a year if he is playing in the AHL? How does that work?

Without knowing if it was a one-way or two-way contract I can't tell you that for sure, but my best guess is that it's a two-way contract.
Two-way means that he will not get paid NHL money to play in the AHL, he'll get less. He'll get his NHL money in the NHL and something less to play with the Marlies.

If he did sign a one-way contract, then he'll get his NHL money to play in the AHL.

Tricky_Falcon wrote:Thanks for the info guys. It would be kind of hard to pass up that opportunity no matter how much you love BG.

Like I said in another thread, he saw that his value right now is the maximum allowed by the NHL. There is really no way for him to increase his value to an NHL team by staying.

Puckhead wrote:Good news, bad news: We have all seen the bad news, and I heartily
agree. The good news says : Scott and Ron are recruiting the right kind of players. The NMU coach told a recruit " if you want to play pro do not go to BGSU; this disproves that theory.

That's two sophmores in two years that have signed maximum allowable NHL contracts. I want to hear what he has to say now.

I wish Alex nothing but the best in his pro career!! This was an opportunity that he absolutely could not pass up (much like Sigalet last year). We will miss him greatly, but this will give others a chance to step up and prove themselves. I know for a fact that Alex will miss BG and that he really loved it here. He will not forget BG, no way!!! He's a great kid from a really good family. He deserves all the success in the world!!!

WAY TO GO, ALEX!!!