Photo Credit – Chad Goddard:
Okotoks, AB ? The Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) are proud to announce that 1999 born goaltender Ashton Abel (Fort McMurray, Alberta) has committed to the Boston University Terriers, effective December 27, 2019.
Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the Terriers play in the NCAA?s Hockey East Conference under second year Head Coach Albie O?Connell. The Terriers have won 14 Conference Championships, participated in 36 NCAA Tournaments, 14 appearances in the Frozen Four and are five time NCAA Champions with their most recent title in 2009.
Abel, 20, in his final season with the Oilers has a record of 20-3-1 in 26 appearances for the Oilers during the 2019-20 AJHL Season. He is sporting a 2.16 goals against average, a .910 save percentage, along with three shutouts.
In the 2018-19 season, as a member of the Calgary Mustangs, Abel in 32 games played had a record of 17-11-4 with a 2.88 GAA, a .909 save percentage and two shutouts, while going 2-3 in the Inter Pipeline Cup playoffs.
Oilers Head Coach / General Manager / Director of Hockey Development Tyler Deis says Ashton has been given a unique opportunity to strong program in the State of Massachusetts.
?Ever since we acquired Ashton, all he?s done is give us a chance to win every game with his calm demeanor,? he says. ?The work he has put in during the first half of the year has put us in a great spot for the remainder of the 2019-2020 season. We understand that this early commitment is the opportunity of a lifetime for Ashton. As coaching staff and a development program, our job is to help our players reach the next level of their playing careers, we couldn?t be more excited for what lies ahead for Ashton.?
Abel becomes the first Oiler in franchise history to commit to Boston University, where notable alumni include Jack Eichel (Buffalo Sabres), Dante Fabbro (Nashville Predators), Ryan Whitney, Chris Drury, Keith Tkachuk, and Tony Amonte have played.
The Oilers would like to congratulate Ashton and his family on his achievement and thank them for their dedication to our program and the Foothills community both on and off the ice.
Abel is the seventh Oiler on the 2019-20 roster committed to an NCAA Division I Institution along with:
- Carson Dyck (Penn State University)
- Louis Jamernik (University of North Dakota)
- Dylan James (University of North Dakota)
- Brett Moravec (University of Wisconsin)
- Eric Parker (Bowling Green University)
- Jack Works (University of Denver)