Goaltender Dan Ellis has decided to forego his senior year of eligibility with the Mavericks to sign a professional contract with the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League UNO head coach Mike Kemp said Monday.

"We are very excited for Dan and we think he has all the tools to excel at the next level," Kemp said. "Having guys like Dan Ellis mature and develop in our program is very gratifying. We wish him the best."

Per NHL club policy, no financial terms of the three-year deal were disclosed.

Ellis, a 2nd round pick of the Stars in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, leaves UNO with a 53-50-12 career record over 118 games with a 2.69 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.

The Orangeville, Ontario native recorded seven shutouts in three years with the Mavs and holds every goaltending record at Nebraska-Omaha.

In 2001-2002, Ellis was the NCAA Division I saves leader with 1,098 saves. He earned CCHA All-Rookie team honors in 2001 and CCHA All-Conference second-team honors in 2002.

Ellis will report to Stars training camp, which begins on September 12 in Vail, Colorado.

The departure of Ellis leaves UNO with only one goaltender with collegiate experience. Senior Brian Haaland is 2-2-0 in nine career games with a 3.47 goals against average and a .888 save percentage. Nebraska-Omaha will also have redshirt freshman Kris Tebbs to contend for goaltending duties.

The Maverick hockey team opens the 2003-2004 season in the new 14,700-seat Qwest Center Omaha arena with an exhibition game against the University of Manitoba on October 5.