Alex Stalock has made his last save for the University of Minnesota Duluth.
The 2008-09 All-American goaltender made it official today (April 13) when the San Jose Sharks announced that he had signed a National Hockey League contract, thus bypassing his final year of collegiate eligibility.
Stalock, the Sharks fourth round pick (112th selection overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, closed out his most prosperous year with the Bulldogs last month by backstopping them to the finals of the NCAA West Regional and corralling AHCA/Reebok All-America West Team honors in the process. This past winter, he posted a 2.13 goals against average, a .924 save percentage and five shutouts (all single-season club records) in 42 appearances. He also held the title as the WCHA's goals against average leader in 2008-09 -- just the second Bulldog to ever do so -- with a 2.39 mark in league play en route to being selected to the All-WCHA first team. Stalock wound up logging more crease time (2,533:39) than any other netminder in the country as a junior and placed 11th nationally in saves percentage and 13th in goals against average. The South St. Paul, Minn., native received the WCHA Final Five Most Valuable Player award after allowing just one goal in three games and posting back-to-back shutouts (a UMD first) against North Dakota and Denver while leading the Bulldogs to their first league playoff championship title in 24 years. In addition, Stalock established a career high for wins by going 21-13-8, just the seventh time in school history the 20-victory plateau has been eclipsed.
A starter in 78 of 79 games over the past two seasons (including all 56 league engagements), Stalock exited the Bulldog holding down the No. 1 spot on the team's all-time charts for goals against average (2.48), save percentage (.910) and shutouts (nine). Voted to the WCHA All-Rookie Team three years ago and UMD's Most Valuable Player last winter, Stalock played in 101 games -- 100 in a starting role -- during his three seasons at UMD and compiled a 39-44-17 overall record.
“Alex has had great success over the last few seasons under the guidance of head coach Scott Sandelin and the Minnesota Duluth hockey program,” said Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson “We welcome Alex to the Sharks organization and look forward to helping him further develop his skills as a professional hockey player.”
Stalock becomes the fifth Bulldog since 2007 to leave school early for the professional ranks, joining winger Mason Raymond (with Vancouver in 2007) and defensemen Matt Niskanen (Dallas in 2007), Jason Garrison (Florida in 2008) and Evan Oberg (Vancouver in 2009).
