Rollie The Goalie Commits to BU

The Terrier have received a verbal commitment from one of the BCHL’s top goalies, Grant Rollheiser. The 6’4”, 195-lb. goalie from Chilliwack, B.C., is a first-year netminder for the Trail Smoke Eaters. Rollheiser's commitment was reported last night on Shawn’s Smoke Eaters Blog by Shawn Mullin, radio play-by-play voice of the Smokies. The blog also posted a link to an audio interview Mullin conducted with Rollheiser to discuss his decision. Some excerpts from the blog report:

Just talked with Grant Rollheiser who confirmed that he has committed to Boston University for next season. Congratulations to Grant who has worked his butt off to become one of the elite goaltenders in this league. Smokies fans should now take advantage of their last chance to see him in the Orange and Black during this playoff run. He's played incredible hockey in 2008, and Trail will try to ride that great goaltending and their veteran leaders to playoff succes this year.

I thought he was a model of consistency for most of this season while the whole team battled to find their identity. In the new year he's taken his game to the next level.

Rollheiser is a big, positional goaltender who makes the job look easy. That doesn't mean he's not making spectacular saves, but they just don't look that way because he's so poised and reads the play so well. In my opinion he's got the mental make-up of a top goalie.

Rollheiser says he has been told he'll compete for the starting job next season. Seems he fell in love with the city and the school on his fly down. There have been a ton of schools after Grant lately. Schools and NHL scouts as well. This is a special player. All the best to him, and lets hope his final games as a Smokie are successful.

Rollheiser currently is fourth among league goalies in save percentage and has a 3.19 GAA in 46 games for the fifth-place (Interior Division) Smoke Eaters, who earned a spot in the BCHL playoffs, largely due to Rollheiser’s recent efforts.

Two weekends ago, with numerous college and pro scouts watching, he stopped 74 of 75 shots in a pair of wins over Prince George (including a 46 save effort), earning BCHL Player of the Week honors. This past weekend, in Trail’s regular season finale, he made 44 saves in a 6-1 win over Salmon Arm.

A list of BU’s recruits for 2008 and 2009 is available on Chris Heisenberg’s Hockey Recruit site.

Check back later as one more verbal commitment will be posted as soon as it is confirmed.