Jim we hardly knew you. Gophers lose another player to the NHL.

Earlier this week there was an article posted in a Ottawa Citizen that stated that Gopher Forward Jim O'Brien was going to forgo his last three years of college eligibility and sign a professional contract with the Ottawa Senators. Gopher coach Don Lucia even went on record and said that There is nothing to that story," Lucia said. "Everybody else is coming back Well I guess even the head coach was in the dark: its official, Senators Sign 2007 First-Round Pick Jim O'Brien

OTTAWA - Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced today that the club has signed centre Jim O’Brien to an entry-level contract. He will be at the Senators training camp, starting on Sept. 13.

O’Brien, who recently attended the Senators’ development camp in late June and early July, was the club’s first pick, 29th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio. He was still recovering from April 30 surgery to fix an injury to his left shoulder and was unable to take part in any on-ice sessions during the camp.

In his freshman year with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2006-07, the 18-year-old was the youngest player in all of Division I college hockey. After scoring seven goals and adding eight assists in 43 games with the Golden Gophers, O’Brien then added seven points (three goals and four assists) in seven games as the United States captured the silver medal at the 2007 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in April. Team USA lost 6-5 in the final to Team Russia.

Minnesota took the 2006-07 WCHA regular-season conference title with 18 wins, seven losses and three ties. After defeating the North Dakota Fighting Sioux 3-2 for the WCHA Broadmoor Trophy Championship on March 17, Minnesota would eventually go on to lose 3-2 in overtime to the Fighting Sioux in the NCAA West regional final on March 25.

Prior to joining the Golden Gophers, O’Brien spent two seasons with the U.S. national team development program in Ann Arbor, Mich. In 2005-06, he recorded 17 goals, 24 assists and 76 penalty minutes in 51 games with the under-18 squad. O’Brien had three goals and one assists in six games as Team USA beat Finland 3-1 for the gold medal at the 2006 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. In 2004-05, O’Brien suited up with the under-17 team, posting 34 points (16-18) and 51 penalty minutes in 54 games.