Buffalo native Dennis Gilbert is going pro.
Gilbert, a former St. Joe's hockey standout, signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. He will immediately report to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League playoffs.
Gilbert just completed his junior year at Notre Dame where he had four goals and 10 points in 39 games.
Notre Dame reached the Frozen Four in each of the last two seasons, most recently falling to Minnesota-Duluth in this year's national championship game.
He was named Hockey East's Best Defensive Defenseman as a sophomore.
The Blackhawks drafted Gilbert in the third round of the 2015 NHL Draft.
