NTDP standout goalie commits to BU--UPDATED

Terriers continue to strengthen their goaltending for the future, securing a commitment from highly sought after NTDP U17 netminder Jake Oettinger. A late 1998 birthdate who will be eligible for the NHL draft in 2017, Oettinger is likely to arrive at BU for the 2016-17 season. His strengths, according to Matt Grainda, USA Amateur scout for TheScout.ca, include excellent composure and great crease movement.

This past season, the 6-4, 200 lb., native of Lakeville, Minn., recorded a 2.57 GAA and a .916 save percentage in 29 games with the U17s.  Late in the season, Oettinger was promoted to the U18 team, winning his three starts with a 2.80 GAA and .889 save percentage and winning a gold medal in the World U18 Championships. 

Oettinger excelled in international competitions for the U17s. In the World U17 Challenge, he posted a 1.34 GAA and .934 save percentage to lead USA to a second-place finish. At the U17 Four Nations, he helped his team take a silver medal with a 0.50 GAA and .975 save percentage in two games.

The previous year, Oettinger was a standout in goal for Lakeville North with a 1.86 GAA and a .931 save percentage. He led the Panthers to the Minnesota large-school championship game, which they lost to Edina behind a pair of goals from fellow 2016 recruit Kieffer Bellows.

In May 2014, Oettinger was invited to attend USA Hockey’s prestigious Annual Warren Strelow Goalie Camp in Ann Arbor.

Last month, BU added a third goalie to the roster for next season, when New England Prep All-Star goalie Max Prawdzik of The Brooks School committed.

● Elite Prospects card
● USA Hockey feature
● Boston Hockey Blog report

98 G Jake Oettinger (@USANTDP) commits to BU. Huge add in net for Terriers, 6'3 MN native had a great year at NTDP with 2.57 and .916 SV%.

— Over The Boards (@OTBPuckWatch) June 7, 2015

►We have added a link to Chris Heisenberg’s 2016 NCAA Recruiting Page to the sidebar.

NHL Combine

Jack Eichel, AJ Greer and 2015 recruits Jordan Greenway and Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson participated in last week’s NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo and much of the media spotlight was on the Terrier freshman from N.Chelmsford, who led the nation in scoring and won the 2015 Hobey Baker Award.

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● NHL.com: Eichel bests McDavid at 2015 Combine (w/ video)

● NHL.com video interview with Eichel

● Greer talks with the Buffalo News about Eichel

● Eichel on Eichel (video)

● Bostonia: Freshman is talk of the sport

Looking back

Goalie Matt O’Connor, who signed a two-year contract with the Senators last month, was introduced to the Ottawa media at a press conference last week and talked about the key influences on his career. (video)

NJ.com spoke with newly named NJ Devils coach—and former Terrier—John Hynes about how the injury suffered by Travis Roy inspired him and impacted his career path.