Winnipeg Jets officially announce the signing of Jacob Trouba

By Michael Caples –

(UPDATED 8:52 p.m.) The Winnipeg Jets have officially announced that they have signed Jacob Trouba to an entry-level contract.

Trouba, the club’s first-round pick (ninth overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft, will end his collegiate career after a single season with the Michigan Wolverines.

Hockey analyst E.J. Hradek first reported on the NHL Network today that the Wolverines freshman defenseman would be joining the Jets.

“It was tough to walk away from it, I had a great time this year but I feel like I’m ready for this,” said Trouba, via the Jets’ official website. “It’s a goal of mine and a dream come true and it’s a good opportunity. It’s definitely going to be a challenge, playing with bigger guys but it’s something that I need and I’m ready to take that challenge.”

Trouba, a Rochester native, was named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s best offensive defenseman after recording 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points in 35 games. Trouba was named to the CCHA All-Conference First Team, and was a finalist for Rookie of the Year.

A product of the Compuware AAA program, Trouba played two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor. He won gold with the U.S. World Junior team this January in Ufa, Russia, and was named the prestigious youth tournament’s best defenseman. The Rochester native was just the third U.S. player to be given the award, joining Erik Johnson (2007) and Joe Corvo (1997).

Trouba’s season came to a close when the Wolverines lost to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the final CCHA Championship game at Joe Louis Arena on March 24.