Massachusetts hockey forward Dans Locmelis has waived his final two years of college eligibility at UMass to turn pro. The Boston Bruins announced Tuesday afternoon via X that they have signed the Latvian 21-year-old to a three-year entry level contract, worth $860,000 annually.

Locmelis will now report to the Bruins American Hockey League affiliate the Providence Bruins for the remainder of the 2024-25 season on an Amateur tryout (ATO). He will join a Providence team that is 36-22-4 this season and has clinched a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

In two seasons with UMass, Locmelis totaled 15 goals and 32 assists for a total of 47 points in 70 games played. He had an impressive jump from his freshman to sophomore season, more than doubling his point total from 14 as a freshman to 33 as a sophomore.

Locmelis reached a new level of his game in the 2024-25 season playing with fellow Europeans Aydar Suniev and Daniel Jenčko. He didn’t miss a single game, playing in all 40 contests this season.

Although it is a big loss for UMass heading into next season, Locmelis is projected to be a part of the Latvian Olympic team next winter, where he would be forced to miss over a month of the college hockey season. He has had success at the international level for an up-and-coming hockey country in Latvia, playing as a member of the World Junior team in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Matt Skillings can be reached at [email protected] and followed on X @matt_skillings.