Yorkton Terriers netminder Ryan Ouellette is one of two SJHLers selected to play in the CJHL Top Prospects Game on January 14th at the Dave Andreychuk Arena in Hamilton.
Ouellette has been the top goalie in the SJHL since his return from the NAHL’s Minnesota WIlderness earlier this season and has posted a 13-2-and-1 record with a 2.05-GAA and a blistering .945-SPCT despite playing on a team that focuses more on offense than defense as he’s faced more than 35 shots in 9 of his 16 starts and he’s faced more than 40 shots six times.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to get views from schools for the future. It feels great to be recognized, especially as an American I feel like it’s rare but it’s a great feeling,” says Ouellette, who is in his second SJHL season after making a rather quiet debut last year before exploding in the playoffs and leading the Terriers to a quarter-final upset of the Nipawin Hawks and then he went toe to toe with SJHL Playoff MVP Joel Grzybowski in the semi-finals when he allowed just 2 goals on 83 shots in games two and three as the Terriers eventually bowed out to the eventual Canalta Cup winners.
Ouellette definitely feels more familiar with the league in year two. “I feel like me getting comfortable in the league already having a year under my belt has helped me get a routine on game day and that routine brings consistency.”
Being an American and being, possibly, the top Junior ‘A’ goaltender in Canada should mean Ouellette ends up committed to an NCAA program in the near future. “I’ve had some talks and it’s an exciting time for me, but I also have always thought about maybe going into the US military may be a good path as the majority of my family has already served.
