"Obviously, NHL players haven't gone in a while," Toews said. "So it's going to be a fun time, I think everyone's excited for it. So, in a month or so, it'll be more exciting for sure."

Toews, who hails from British Columbia, has previously praised the Quinnipiac coaching staff for their guidance and support.

“The coaches and staff at Quinnipiac helped me learn to trust the process of getting to where I wanted to go,” said Toews. “They believed I had the talent and motivation to play professional hockey and they really instilled the drive and work ethic it was going to take for me to make a career out of it."

Toews represented Quinnipiac for three years in Hamden, with his best coming in his third and final year when he earned 30 points in 40 games.

Toews was drafted by the New York Islanders during his second year on the Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey team.

After a few years of playing for the Islanders, he made the cross-country move to join the Colorado Avalanche in 2020. During the historic 2022 season, the team advanced to the highly coveted Stanley Cup playoffs and brought home the win.

“It was a great moment to win the cup and was even more special with family and friends around to celebrate with,” said Toews. “A few of my Quinnipiac teammates were in the building and got to experience some of the celebrations as well.”

Men’s Ice Hockey Head Coach Rand Pecknold said the entire Quinnipiac family is so thrilled for him.

“It's exciting,” he said. “He was a great player for the three years he was here, really developed not only as a player but as a person. He blossomed when he was here.”

However, Pecknold said as good of a hockey player Toews is, he’s an even better person.

“He will do well. He's not just on the team, he will be a big part of that team,” Pecknold said.

He was awarded the Quinnipiac Young Alumni Leadership Award in 2023 for his career accomplishments and years of philanthropic work in the community.

In addition to hockey-related philanthropy, he works with Freedom Service Dogs, a nonprofit group that provides training dogs to people in need, whether it be veterans with PTSD, young people with autism or individuals with physical challenges.

February is expected to be a memorable month for Toews. He and his wife, Kerry, who he met at Quinnipiac, are expecting their fourth child, with a due date just over a week before his scheduled first game at the Olympics.