Michael Garteig caught the attention of NHL scouts this season when he carried the Quinnipiac University Bobcats on his back and got them to the Frozen Four NCAA final.
The Vancouver Canucks obviously liked what they saw in the 24-year-old goaltender from Prince George. The Canucks announced Friday they've signed him to an entry-level contract.
"Michael Garteig has cemented himself in the history of our program and college hockey," said Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold, on the Bobcats website. "He came in and knew what he had to do to be great, and he was just that. His work ethic and overall talent will help him to be successful in his professional career. We're thrilled for Michael, and wish him all the best with the Vancouver Canucks."
Garteig's final NCAA season was one of the record books. He finished with a 32-4-7 record, 1.91 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage with eight shutouts, establishing Quinnipiac record for wins and shutouts in a season. In a three-season NCAA career he posted a 78-25-16 record in which he broke career Bobcat records for wins (78), shutouts (19) and goals-against average (1.96).
The younger son of Leslie and Paul Garteig ranks 15th all-time in the NCAA's Division 1 for career wins and he became only the fourth player in NCAA history to put up 19 shutouts. The two-time All-ECAC award winner was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as U.S. college hockey's most outstanding player. He was the East Coast Athletic Conference's goalie of the month in October, November and December and was NCAA player of the month in November.
He made 34 saves to preserve a 3-2 win over Boston College in the Frozen Four semifinal, April 7. The Bobcats went on to lose 5-1 to North Dakota two days later in the championship game.
Garteig played his minor hockey in Prince George and started his junior career in the BCHL with the Quesnel Millionaires and Prince George Spruce Kings. The Spruce Kings traded him to Powell River in 2009 and after one season as a backup goalie he took his team to the BCHL final in 2011. He finished his junior career in 2011-12 as a 20-year-old with the Penticton Vees. That season, the Vees won 42 consecutive games and rode the momentum all the way to the Royal Bank Cup national junior A championship.
