The Vancouver Canucks have signed 2014 2nd round draft pick (36th overall) Thatcher Demko to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday.
Demko, a Hobey Baker finalist, was the winner of the 2016 Mike Richter Award for the best goaltender in collegiate hockey.
Max money on Demko's entry level contract. Won't join Utica for AHL playoffs. Will finish school.
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) April 20, 2016
He finished his junior year with Boston College by posting a .935 save percentage through 39 games. That had him tied for the fourth best save percentage in the nation, despite playing in a stacked Hockey East Conference.
Demko was also named to the AHCA/CCM Division I Second Team All-American in the East Region and led the nation with 10 shutouts. That ties the most shutouts by a DI goaltender and left him two shy of Cory Schneider’s record of 15 shutouts at BC over the course of his collegiate career.
He helped Boston College to a 2016 Frozen Four appearance, where they were beat by No. 1 ranked Quinnipiac in the semifinals.
Let's start the Markström/demko controversy tweets. I'm on the wagon hahahah
— Eddie Lack🇸🇪🇺🇸🇨🇦 (@eddielack) April 20, 2016
Demko could have returned to BC for another year, but joins a load of players who are exiting the team after a very good year. Steve Santini (New Jersey), Miles Wood (New Jersey), Alex Tuch (Minnesota) and Adam Gilmour (Minnesota) have all gone pro since the season ended.
UPDATE:
Vancouver President of Hockey Operations Trevor Linden said after the signing that Demko will be starting the 2016-17 season with the Utica Comets of the AHL.
Dustin Nelson is the News Editor for The Hockey Writers. He’s a contributor to Hockey Prospectus, Hockey Wilderness, and writes a column for Rotowire. He’s also written for Gone Puck Wild, Wild Xtra, InDigest, Electric Literature, The Rumpus, Tiny Mix Tapes, Prefix Magazine & other publications. Have a tip? Email him at dlukenelson[at]gmail[dot]com.
