Minnesota State’s Kyle Peto, the team’s top-scoring defenseman a year ago, has opted to forego his final year of collegiate eligibility to sign with a European professional team.
The Mankato (Minn.) Free Press reported Peto’s departure, with Mavericks head coach Troy Jutting confirming that Peto had signed a contract with a team in the Finnish Elite League.
“I knew he was looking into opportunities and seeing what was out there,” Jutting told the Free Press. “I’m disappointed that he won’t be back to finish his degree.”
Peto tallied 8-21–29 in 38 games in 2005-06 for the Mavericks. The 23-year-old native of Lethbridge, Alb., finishes his Minnesota State career with 14 goals and 64 assists for 78 points, fourth all-time among MSU blueliners — in 111 overall games.
Peto, who redshirted his freshman year of 2002-03 at MSU due to an injury after just three games, would have been a senior this season. He is the second Maverick to leave early this offseason, following forward David Backes.
