ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell men's hockey senior forward Nick DeSantis has signed a professional contract with the ECHL's Greensboro Gargoyles, the organization announced Friday afternoon.

DeSantis' signing with the Gargoyles, the affiliate of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes and AHL's Chicago Wolves, marks the third former Big Red player to sign professionally in the past two weeks, joining junior forward Jonathan Castagna (Calgary Flames) and junior defenseman Hoyt Stanley (Ottawa Senators), who both signed three-year, entry-level contracts on March 30.

In his senior season with the Big Red, DeSantis recorded eight points (4-4—8) in 33 of Cornell's 34 games. He recorded a goal and an assist in both meetings with St. Lawrence — on Dec. 6 in Canton and Feb. 27 in Ithaca. Three of his four goals were game-winners.

In 131 career games with the Big Red, DeSantis amassed 56 points (29-27—56), highlighted by a 20-point freshman season in 2022-23 (9-11—20). He posted identical 8-6—14 lines in each of his next two seasons. DeSantis finished his collegiate career with a plus-49 rating, one of just 11 active Division I players to reach that mark over the past four seasons.

DeSantis could make his professional debut as early as tonight when Greensboro (18-41-6-1) hosts the Worcester Railers (29-30-5-2) to begin a six-game homestand to close the 2025-26 campaign. The Railers' roster includes former Cornell defenseman Michael Suda '25. Puck drop inside First Horizon Coliseum is set for 7 p.m., with the game streaming live on FloHockey.tv.