Michigan State head coach Tom Anastos announced today that Josh Jacobs has decided to pursue his hockey career elsewhere and will not return to the team next season.

“Josh has informed me that he has decided to leave school to pursue his professional hockey interests,” Anastos said in a statement. “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 19-year-old appeared in all 35 games for the Spartans last season and registered nine assists and a -10 rating, which earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team.

“I informed Coach Anastos that I will be pursuing my professional hockey interests elsewhere next season,” Jacobs said. “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.”

This is a big blow to a promising Spartan team. Already gone on the backend are Ron Boyd and Brock Krygier, who transferred to Arizona State following his early graduation from Michigan State.

Jacobs’ 72 shot blocks ranked 12th nationally, which led the Spartans and also ranked second overall in the Big Ten. The second-round pick of the New Jersey Devils logged prime minutes and carried a heavy workload as a freshman playing in all situations for Michigan State.

The Michigan native will move on to the Ontario Hockey League to play with the Sarnia Sting.