Forward Andrew Rowe will bypass his final season at Michigan State after signing with the Philadelphia Flyers organization.
Rowe, an undrafted free agent, was an alternate captain as a junior, when he was second on the team with 17 goals and a plus-11 plus/minus rating.
Related link: Early departures in the 2010 offseason
“It was really a very tough decision to leave,” Rowe said in a news release. “Michigan State has been an unbelievable experience for me, and I have to thank coach [Rick] Comley and the rest of the MSU staff for giving me a chance to be here. However, this was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down, so it’s bittersweet. While I am excited about starting my professional career, I will miss the MSU hockey program, and I will always be a Spartan.”
Said Comley: “We wish Andrew well. He has grown tremendously over three seasons, and while I obviously would have loved for him to stay at Michigan State for his senior season, we also understand the tough decisions these juniors have to make. It’s not easy on them, and it’s not easy on us as a program. But, it’s the current state of the game.”
Michigan State has lost two juniors as early departures; team co-captain Jeff Petry signed immediately after the regular season. A second-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers, Petry signed with Edmonton and played the final weeks of the AHL regular season with Edmonton’s affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.
