Fresh off his best season in college hockey and a nomination for the Mike Richter Award as the best goaltender in the NCAA, Quinnipiac University netminder and Vernon Vipers alum Andrew Shortridge has signed a one-year entry-level deal with the San Jose Sharks.
The 23-year-old led all of college hockey with a .940 save percentage in his junior season and his 1.51 goals-against average was tops in the ECAC Hockey conference and second-best in the NCAA. He also recorded four shutouts. Shortridge won the Ken Dryden Award as the top goaltender in his conference, was named an ECAC Hockey First-Team All-Star and is also a strong contender for the Richter Award which will be announced on Apr. 12.
After winning their opening game of the NCAA tournament 2-1 over Arizona State, the Bobcats were eliminated after they lost their second game 3-1 to Minnesota-Duluth. Only days later, it was announced that Shortridge was signing with San Jose. The Eagle River, Alaska native has reported to the Sharks’ AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.
“I can’t thank everyone enough that helped me develop into who I am today,” Shortridge said in a release from Quinnipiac. “On the other hand, I couldn’t be more excited to join the Sharks organization and I look forward to continuing to develop.”
He finishes his three-year collegiate career with 42 wins, a .924 save percentage and a 1.93 goals-against average with 10 shutouts in 78 appearances.
The 6-foot-4, 185-pound goaltender played 44 games for the Vipers in the 2015-16 season, winning 19 times and finishing the year with a .915 save percentage and a 3.15 goals-against average with two shutouts.
