One year after deciding over Easter break that he would return to Notre Dame for his senior season, forward Mario Lucia signed his first pro contract with his hometown Wild on Easter Sunday.

Lucia, raised in Wayzata and the youngest of Gophers men's hockey coach Don Lucia's four kids, signed his two-year, entry-level deal starting in 2016-17. He also signed an amateur tryout with the Iowa Wild that starts immediately. He'll fly to Des Moines on Monday, practice for the first time Tuesday and potentially debut Wednesday against the Manitoba Moose.

"It's a good opportunity to get my feet wet, meet the guys and get acclimated to the coaching staff," Mario Lucia said Sunday. "It'll definitely help show me how much work I have to do this summer and where I'm at right now with my game. It'll be a learning curve first going in.

"After the last game, I'll go back to South Bend and enjoy my last little bit of college, then have a good, hard-working summer so I can make a good first impression at training camp."

Lucia, 22, who could have become a free agent this summer, feels much more comfortable that he's ready to play professional this spring as opposed to last.

In 2011, the Wild traded its third- and fourth-round picks to the Vancouver Canucks so it could select Lucia, a Wayzata High School standout, in the second round 60th overall.

He made the CCHA All-Rookie Team in 2013 and finished his college career with 61 goals and 110 points in 151 games. He led the Irish with 21 goals during his junior season.

The Iowa Wild has nine games left this season. He'll graduate in May with a degree in management consulting.

"I've had an incredible experience at Notre Dame, but I'm really excited to get started here and begin the next journey of my life," Lucia said.