Swayman Becomes Just The Second UMaine Goalie To Reach Vezina Finals
The Bruins netminder and former UMaine All-American posted a career-high 31 wins to earn his first Vezina nod.
Jeremy Swayman, who once anchored the net for the University of Maine, has been named one of three finalists for the NHL's Vezina Trophy, handed out each year to the circuit's top goaltender. The recognition marks the Boston Bruins goalie's first turn as a Vezina finalist and makes him only the second UMaine product ever to reach that shortlist.
Playing in 54 games, the 27-year-old finished with a 31-18-4 record, a career high in wins, while his goals-against average settled at 2.71 and his save percentage reached .908. He held opponents to two goals or fewer in 31 outings, including seven of his final 12 starts, a stretch that helped the Bruins lock up the Eastern Conference's first wild-card playoff berth after sitting out the postseason the previous season.
Boston picked Swayman in the fourth round of the 2017 draft, 111th overall. During his college career he claimed the Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in the sport and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. Also nominated this season are Ilya Sorokin, netminder for the New York Islanders, and Andrei Vasilevskiy, goalie for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Only one other UMaine goalie, Ben Bishop, has reached the Vezina finals, three times, without ever winning. Alfie Michaud, the assistant coach who worked with Swayman at UMaine, called the nod "a feather in his hat."
This story was first reported by Bangor Daily News.
