The NHL’s Seattle Kraken on Sunday called up former University of Maine goalie Victor Ostman.
The move marks his first stint in the NHL after completing his college career at UMaine last season. Ostman signed a free-agent, two-year entry level contract with the Kraken last April. Ostman’s move is likely meant as a temporary one on Seattle’s roster, according to CBS Sports.
Ostman has posted an 18-7-4 record playing this season for the Kansas City Mavericks, Seattle’s minor league team in the ECHL. In that time, he also has produced a 2.44 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
He has not played for the Kraken’s top minor league franchise, the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League.
The 24-year-old Ostman was an All-Hockey East second team selection in 2022-23 when he registered a 14-12-4 record, a 2.21 GAA and a .918 save percentage.
He lost the starting job to freshman Albin Boija last season but wound up playing in the NCAA Springfield Regional in place of Boija because of illness. Ostman made 15 stops in the 3-1 loss to Cornell.
Ostman concluded his UMaine career with a 35-38-7 record, a 2.82 GAA and a .905 save percentage. He had five shutouts. His 2,193 career saves are fourth-most in program history.
His elevation to the Kraken would enable the NHL team to be compliant under league roster guidelines since its back-up goalie has been designated for assignment to Coachella Valley, presumably so he could get playing time during the current NHL hiatus for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
The tournament will involve NHL players representing the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden. Games will be held from Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston.
Ostman is the sixth former Black Bear to land on an NHL roster this season. The others are Boston Bruins Goalie Jeremy Swayman, Nashville Predators center Gustav Nyquist, Calgary Flames winger Ryan Lomberg, Minnesota Wild wing Devin Shore, Las Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Ben Hutton.
