Stoa gone.

Charley Walters “aka Shooter” is reporting that Minnesota forward Ryan Stoa is going to sign a professional contract with the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL. Personally, I can’t fault Ryan Stoa for signing a contract because he came back for a fourth year after sitting out his junior year with a knee injury and has probably accomplished everything he can at the collegiate level. Now we can still look at him as the villain because he will be playing for the hated Avalanche. This probably shouldn't come a surprise to anyone.

As expected, Gophers junior forward Ryan Stoa has agreed to a contract with the Colorado Avalanche, for two years, and won't be returning to the University of Minnesota hockey team for his senior season.

The deal is worth the maximum $850,000 per season as allowed by the league's labor agreement if he plays in the NHL. If Stoa plays in the minor leagues, he'll be paid the maximum $65,000 per season.

Stoa, who is from Bloomington, was on his way this morning to Denver, where he'll take a physical and return home Saturday.

Stoa, a junior who is a senior academically but sat out one season after knee surgery, is the first underclassman to leave the Gophers this season.

"It was his decision," Ryan's dad, Kevin, told Pioneer Press beat reporter Bruce Brothers. "It just went my so fast, we hardly had time to blink."

The Gophers have lost a number of top underclassmen to the pros in recent years, including Blake Wheeler, Erik Johnson, Kyle Okposo, Alex Goligoski, Danny Irmen, Ryan Potulny and Phil Kessel.

"I've always said, you have to be physically ready and mentally ready, and I think he is," Gophers coach Don Lucia told Brothers, likening Stoa's signing to Wheeler's last summer after his junior season.

Stoa led the Gophers in goals (24) and points (46) this season.

Bruce Brothers contributed to this report.