Just two days after signing his PTO, Sam Colangelo makes his professional hockey debut and tallies two points

One week ago, forward Sam Colangelo (22) was a student at Western Michigan University and preparing for a tough NCAA Tournament-opening matchup against Michigan State University.

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After a crushing 5-4 overtime loss on Friday in which he scored off the rush with a quick snap shot, his season, and collegiate career with it, was over. 

He finished his senior season tied for seventh in the nation in goal-scoring with 24 goals and 43 points in 38 games, by far his best in the NCAA.

Colangelo then jetted off to San Diego, California, and signed a PTO (professional tryout) with the Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls on Monday. 

When the Gulls' Wednesday night lineup was released for their matchup against the San Jose Barracuda, Colangelo was set to make his professional hockey debut on the team's listed second line on the right wing of Andrew Agozzino (the team's leading scorer) and Pavol Regenda.

From the puck drop, Colangelo didn't look out of place in the AHL. Early in the game, he was making smart and efficient decisions with the puck on his stick. He was comfortable pulling pucks off the wall in the defensive zone and skating them to the red line before chip and chasing. When chasing, he was strong, got inside defenders to establish sustained pressure, and battled to keep cycles alive.

Midway through the game, he found the back of the net for his first professional goal. 

He was involved and low on the cycle until the puck went to the weak-side point. He fought to get to the high slot and after a point shot was blocked on the way to the net, he found a rebound, and skating away from the net, found enough space to get off a quick, potent, and accurate turnaround shot. 

Late in the third period, he would go on to add his first assist on the powerplay to tie the game at 5-5. 

He showed good poise to pull a clearing attempt off the wall before moving down the board with it and dishing it to the point. After receiving it back from the point, he was patient and unflappable as he waited for a seam to open before feeding it across the ice to the right flank. From there Sasha Pastujov made a perfectly deft pass to a wide-open Regenda on the back door.

The poise Colangelo showed on that assist was on display from him all game. He had a noticeable understanding of the time and space afforded to him in every situation when he had the puck on his stick. He computed plays at a high rate and instinctually knew when to hold on to or move pucks. 

He didn't shy away from the physicality of AHL hockey and initiated more contact than he received.

One thing he will have to adapt to is knowing where secondary pressure is coming from and develop the ability to read the next layer of a defense. 

In his first game in the AHL, Colangelo presented a high-motor and extended plays. He was given the left flank position on the team's second power play unit and was trusted to take the ice in 3v3 overtime for two shifts. 

The Gulls won 6-5 in a shootout.

The Gulls have nine games remaining on their schedule and their next matchup will be against the Tucson Roadrunners on Saturday.

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