Philadelphia Flyers goaltending prospect Anthony Stolarz has left the University of Nebraska-Omaha and will join the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, the school announced Monday.
Stolarz, who was selected by the Flyers with the 45th overall pick in the 2012 draft, was in his freshman season with the No. 13 UNO Mavericks. He’s had trouble getting a regular starts behind typical starter John Faulkner, a senior who has been starting regularly since his freshman year. Stolarz had started just eight of the Mavs’ 22 games so far, compiling a 2-5-0 record, an .898 save percentage and a 2.56 goals-against average.
“I’m obviously disappointed by Anthony’s decision,” said UNO head coach Dean Blais in a press release. “He has been making a very challenging transition from the North American Hockey League to the WCHA, and we, as coaches, saw good progress from him in the first half of the season. But ultimately, it’s his decision where he wants to play, and we wish him the best in the next chapter of his career.”
If he does wind up in London, he’ll join the best team in the OHL in the midst of a 22-game win streak — and earning starts might be even harder to come by. The Knights already have two goaltenders on the roster, Jake Patterson and Kevin Bailie. The latter is in his final OHL season, but Patterson has a few more years under his belt. Both goaltenders have split time so far this season, with Patterson seeing 21 stars and Bailie seeing 27.
All in all, I’m not sure how I feel about this move. Stolarz must think that going to London will be a good career move, but I think I would have rather seen him try and improve in Omaha despite the adversity he’s faced thus far this season. He would have had three years ahead of him as the starting goaltender for the Mavs beginning next year, and that chance isn’t as guaranteed in London.
