The Ottawa Senators signed defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Thursday.

Bernard-Docker will report directly to Ottawa following his required quarantine period.

The Senators selected the right-handed blue-liner 26th overall at the 2018 draft. He was their second of two first-rounders that year after taking Brady Tkachuk fourth overall.

"Jacob represents another key component of our future," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. "He's very mature for his age and already possesses great gap and stick detail within his game. He's an exemplary leader and a winner who we're looking forward to seeing in our lineup."

The 20-year-old recently wrapped up a three-year NCAA career at the University of North Dakota. He tallied 18 points in 27 games during his final season with the Fighting Hawks and was named NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year on March 10.

Bernard-Docker helped Canada capture a gold medal at the 2020 world juniors, collecting one goal in seven games.

The Senators have used at least one first-rounder on a defenseman in three straight years. After taking Bernard-Docker in 2018, they chose Lassi Thomson 19th overall in 2019 and used the No. 5 pick in 2020 on Jake Sanderson.

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