Osaer Pursues Pro Career
The Ferris State University men's ice hockey program recently announced that goaltender Phil Osaer (Livonia, Mich.), the school's all-time leader in both goals against average (2.18) and save percentage (.916), has decided to forego his senior season and pursue a career in professional hockey.
"We're excited about this opportunity for Phil and certainly wish him the best," said FSU head coach Bob Daniels. "From a team standpoint, it's difficult when you lose one of your top all-time goaltenders at the end of the summer and it's an obstacle we will have to overcome. Unfortunately for us and others, events such as these are occurring more frequently in college hockey."
A seventh-round selection (203rd overall) by the St. Louis Blues in the 1999 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft, Osaer inked a three-year contract with the Blues. He will begin the 2001-02 season at one of their minor league affiliates – the Worcester (Mass.) IceCats of the American Hockey League (AHL) or the East Coast Hockey League's (ECHL) Peoria (Ill.) Rivermen.
"This is a dream come true for me and an opportunity I couldn't pass up," said Osaer. "I'm excited about being able to chase a boyhood dream of mine although I'm going to miss everyone at Ferris State. Their (St. Louis) organization considers me a potential NHL prospect and that's what kind of sold me on signing. I figured if I didn't sign with them then someone else might and the opportunity wouldn't be there next season."
A 2000-01 All-Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Second-Team selection, Osaer registered a 9-12-3 mark in net this last season to go along with a 2.36 goals against average and a .909 save percentage in 25 games. The 2000-01 FSU Most Valuable Player, Osaer ranked 11th nationally in goals against average a season ago and finished third among the CCHA's overall goaltending leaders in that statistical category. He was honored as the CCHA's Defensive Player-of-the-Week last season (2/10) for his performance in a two-game home series against Bowling Green State.
For his three-year career, Osaer posted a 24-22-6 record with 3,197 minutes played in 59 contests. He established school single-season records in the 1999-00 campaign for goals against average (2.18) and save percentage (.915) while notching a personal season-best 13-8-2 record in 25 appearances. His goals against average (.236) and save percentage (.909) from a season ago presently ranks second and third highest, respectively, among the Bulldogs' career single-season goaltending leaders.
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