Starrett signs NHL contract with Edmonton
4/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force sophomore goaltender Shane Starrett has signed a two-year NHL entry level contract with the Edmonton Oilers, as announced today by the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club. He is the first Falcon to sign an NHL contact while still at the Academy.
In his two seasons with the Falcons, he played 70 games and had a career saves percentage of .924 with a career goals-against average of 1.96. Both his goals-against average and saves percentage are school records among goalies that played more than 35 games. He posted nine career shutouts, the fourth most in school history. He was named the team's MVP both seasons as he helped lead the Falcons to back-to-back trips to the Atlantic Hockey Final Four, including the 2017 conference championship.
As a freshman, he earned first-team all-conference honors and was an all-rookie team selection, Starrett earned five Atlantic Hockey weekly awards and two monthly awards. He ranked 11th in the nation with a 1.92 goals-against average, the second best in school history and the second best in the nation by a freshman that season. His .924 saves percentage that season was the fourth best in the nation by a freshman and is the third best in Air Force hockey history.
As a sophomore, he was a third-team all-conference selection. The MVP of the Atlantic Hockey Final Four, Starrett ranked in the top five in the nation in goals-against average (1.96), shutouts (5) and winning percentage (.778). His saves percentage of 925 ranked 12th in the nation and is the second best mark in school history. The goalie from Bellingham, Mass., was the MVP of the Ice Breaker Tournament and was a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award, given to the nation's top goaltender. Starrett was the conference goalie of the week three times and the Atlantic Hockey goalie of the month in February. He helped lead the Falcons to the Atlantic Hockey tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Championships. He made 22 saves in the win over eighth-ranked Western Michigan in the East Regional as the Falcons earned the second NCAA win in school history. In the Elite Eight, Starrett made 27 saves in a 3-2 loss to top-seeded Harvard as the Falcons' season came to an end with 27 wins, the second most in school history.
Air Force has never had a player who has played in the NHL. Three former Falcons have played in the American Hockey League, including Beau Bilek (1998-99), Brian Gornick (2005-06) and Greg Flynn (2009-10).
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