Two years ago, when Casey Bailey was a freshman on Penn State's inaugural Division I hockey team, the Nittany Lions played more than one-quarter of their games in exhibitions against college club teams.
Saturday, Bailey agreed to a two-year entry-level contract with the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 23-year-old winger from Anchorage parlayed an explosive junior season that made him a coveted Division I free agent into the fulfillment of his dream.
"It still hasn't really registered, and I'm still wrapping my head around it,'' Bailey said by cellphone from State College, Pennsylvania. "It's humbling, and it's an honor.''
Toronto did not release terms of Bailey's deal.
Bailey, whose season ended Thursday in a 3-1 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten quarterfinals, led the Nittany Lions in goals and points with 22-18—40 totals in 37 games. He leads the nation in shots on goal with 211 for an average of 5.7 per game, and is particularly adept at unleashing a wicked one-timer. He was voted All-Big Ten.
Bailey's goal-scoring capabilities and his size -- 6-foot-3, 205 pounds -- drew the attention of NHL teams. He said he narrowed his list of suitors to five or six before picking the Maple Leafs, who have struggled mightily this season and have begun rebuilding.
"Being a college free agent, you definitely have an advantage over a drafted guy to choose your own path if you get the opportunity,'' Bailey said. "It's a tough decision to make, but it's a good problem to have.''
Bailey on Saturday said he had agreed to terms to Toronto, but had not actually signed his deal. Details of when he will join the Maple Leafs were still being sorted out, Bailey said. The Toronto Sun reported he is expected to play at least one NHL game this season.
Fourteen Alaskans have played in the NHL, and four, all from Anchorage, currently skate in the league -- New Jersey Devils center Scott Gomez, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Carle, Columbus Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky and Anaheim Ducks center Nate Thompson.
Carle was the most recent Alaskan to transition from college hockey straight to the NHL. He played for the San Jose Sharks directly following his junior season at the University of Denver in 2006, when he won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey's best player.
Of those 14 Alaskans who have played in the NHL, seven went the college route and six developed their game in major-junior hockey. Barrett Heisten did both, playing at the University of Maine before switching to Seattle of the Western Hockey League prior to turning pro.
Bailey said he would never have landed an NHL contract without the support of his parents Dawn and Glen, older siblings Jessica and Kyle, and so many teammates and coaches along the way from minor hockey to major college hockey. Penn State's coach is former UAF bench boss Guy Gadowsky, and Bailey's linemates most of the season were center Taylor Holstrom and winger David Goodwin. Bailey said he also learned from NHL and minor-league players he trains with during the offseason at a facility operated by Alaska Aces assistant coach Louis Mass.
"I try to train with and learn from those guys when I'm home,'' Bailey said. "The hockey community is tight around the world, and it's definitely tight back home.''
Prior to college, Bailey played at West High, and also played competition hockey with the Alaska All Stars and Anchorage North Stars. He then played two seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League and one in the U.S. Hockey League before heading to Penn State.
Glen Bailey said the family was thrilled its youngest, who studies economics at Penn State, has ascended so close to the NHL.
"Never dreamed it, never thought it,'' Glen Bailey said. "It's crazy.''
Glen Bailey described his youngest child as very social and happy-go-lucky. He said his son dedicated himself to training last offseason, and that made a pivotal difference in his evolution from sophomore to junior. Casey Bailey earned 9-4—13 totals in 32 games a year ago before this breakout season.
"He's grown up so much,'' Glen Bailey said. "The change in him from his sophomore season to now, he's like a different kid.''
And now that kid is close to becoming the 15th Alaskan to play in the best hockey league in the world.
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockey-blog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr