EDMONTON -- Thunder Bay goaltender Ryan Fanti could be the city's next NHLer.
The University of Minnesota-Duluth netminder on Monday inked a two-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers, after the Bulldogs were eliminated from the chase for an NCAA championship.after falling 2-1 to Denver in their regional final on Sunday.
He'll join the Oilers American Hockey League farm team, the Bakersfield Condors, on an amateur tryout contract for the rest of the current season, with his two-year contract kicking in to start the 2022-23 campaign.
"I'm extremely honoured to sign my first NHL contract with the Edmonton Oilers," Fanti posted to his Facebook page. "Special thanks to my coaches, teammates, family and friends for all the continued support. To Duluth and Bulldog country, thank you for the best three years of my life. Excited to be an Oiler."
Fanti, named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference goaltender of the year, compiled a 31-19-6 record at UMD, along with a 2.01 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.
The 22-year-old had back-to-back shutouts to open the NCHC championship and was named tournament most valuable player.
He shut out Western Michigan to open the NCAA tournament, before the Bulldogs were ousted from Frozen Four contention, the first time they missed the championship since 2016.
Fanti, a graduate of the Thunder Bay Kings program, was also a two-time NCHC all-academic team selection.
He joins a franchise that has been searching for a long-term goaltending solution for several seasons.
