Josh Jacobs is leaving Michigan State to join the Sarnia Sting

Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey
Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey

 

By @MichaelCaples –

The Michigan State hockey team will be without one of their best players when the puck drops on the 2015-16 season.

Shelby Township native Josh Jacobs, a New Jersey Devils second-round draft pick, has decided to join the OHL’s Sarnia Sting, eliminating his college eligibility after one season with the Spartans.

At a June 1 press conference, the Sting confirmed the addition of Jacobs to their roster.

 

“We’re very excited,” Sting GM Nick Sinclair said via the team’s official website. “He’s a high-end player that is going to play big minutes for our hockey team. He’s another big piece to the puzzle, as far as rounding out our back-end and being a guy that can play in a number of different situations. We’ve been trying to show him why the Ontario Hockey League is the best avenue for his professional career and build the relationship with him and his family over the last couple of years. We’re really excited that he’s going to be donning the Sting jersey in the upcoming season.”

The Sting’s official site also shared comments from Jacobs:

“Michigan State was a great place to play, but it just wasn’t the right fit for myself. I had an opportunity with the Sarnia Sting here to play in the OHL. Coming to Sarnia now, it’s a great feeling, it’ll be a fun year. I just can’t wait to come in, be a leader, and try to win a championship along with 20 other guys.”

“I believe I am a two-way defenceman. I like to join the rush if I can, but not let that take away from my defense necessarily. Love to move the puck, use my skating abilities and get pucks through to the net.”

From the Michigan State release on May 29:

“I informed Coach Anastos that I will be pursuing my professional hockey interests elsewhere next season,” Jacobs said in a release from MSU. “I’m very thankful to Michigan State University and the hockey community for everything over the past few years and I wish them nothing but the best going forward.”

From coach Tom Anastos:

“Josh has informed me that he has decided to leave school to pursue his professional hockey interests. We are certainly respectful of his decision, appreciate his contributions to our program, and wish him all the best in his hockey career moving forward.”

The news was first reported by the LSJ’s Chris Solari and confirmed via another source to MiHockey.

Last year, Jacobs recorded nine assists in 35 games and played a significant amount of minutes each game as a freshman defenseman.

He was a fourth-round pick by the Sarnia Sting in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.