It always nice to go home, or at least in the case of Maine forward Spencer Abbott to be as close to home and still have an opportunity to play in the National Hockey League.

Abbott, a native of Hamilton, Ontario, signed one-year entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

According to the Hamilton Spectator, Abbott will report to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League on Thursday.

“It’s something I never thought would happen,” Abbott told The Spectator about signing an NHL contract. “Especially growing up as a small guy who never got drafted anywhere.”

The Leafs were one of several teams after the dynamic scorer who became available after losing to Minnesota Duluth in the NCAA Northeast Regional on Saturday.

The Calgary Flames also offered the 23-year-old a contract.

Abbott, a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, won the Hockey East scoring title and led the nation in scoring as he recorded 20 goals, 39 assists for 59 points with a plus-17 rating in 39 games.

The 5-9, 170-pound forward piled up numerous awards this season, becoming only the fifth player from Maine to earn Hockey East Player of the Year.

Abbott was recently named the recipient to the Leonard Fowle Award, handed out annually as the Most Valuable Player in New England and the Herb Gallagher Award for the Top Forward in New England.

Abbott will finish his career at Maine with 54 goals, 92 assists for 146 points in 151 games.