© Pierre Bourgault/Club de hockey Canadien inc.

BROSSARD, Quebec — Jacob Fowler is as excited about his potential to one day play for the Montreal Canadiens as they are to have him as their top goalie prospect.

“It sends chills down my spine just thinking about it,” said the 19-year-old during the Canadiens development camp in July. “So, I attempt to not dwell on it too much. Instead, I just return to school and focus on my responsibilities there.”

Fowler, who was picked in the third round (No. 69) of the 2023 NHL Draft, is set to return to Boston College for his second year. His freshman year performance was outstanding, with a record of 32-6-1, a goals-against-average of 2.14, a .926 save percentage, and three shutouts. This broke the NCAA record for the most wins by a player in their first year.

“This kid is extremely focused and possesses all the qualities you’d look for in a goalie,” said Jeff Gorton, the executive vice president of hockey operations for the Canadiens. “He has the ideal size, speed, and mental strength. Nothing seems to faze him. I believe his goal should simply be to keep playing.”

It’s advantageous for the Montreal Canadiens that he attends Boston College and participates in one of their top programs. He plays regularly and competes against extremely high-level competition.

Fowler, who was named the USHL Goaltender of the Year with Youngstown in the 2022-23 season, narrowly missed winning a national title in his first collegiate season. He made 32 saves in a 4-0 victory over Michigan in the Frozen Four semifinal, but then lost 2-0 to Denver in the final.

Fowler expressed, “If you’ve followed my progress, you’d notice my game has become significantly calmer this year. As we approached the end of the season, specifically during the Hockey East championship and the regional conclusion of the Frozen Four, I felt incredibly calm and comfortable. Even when playing in the national championship, it didn’t feel like it was the pinnacle of the season. Looking back, I couldn’t have asked for a better sentiment.”

“So, I believe that for me, it’s about going back and doing everything possible away from the rink to ensure I’m ready, not just for one game, but for the rest of my career afterwards.”

Fowler’s performance in the development camp clearly demonstrated to the Canadiens his seriousness about taking on feedback to improve his performance. His commitment to putting in the necessary work to achieve their shared positive outcomes was also evident.

Gorton said, “When we first drafted him, his biggest challenge was adapting to professional training, particularly in terms of nutrition. However, the progress he’s made in this area from one year to the next has been impressive.”

He’s significantly more fit and faster off the ice. Our trainers have noticed considerable changes in his body at this year’s development camp compared to last year. It’s quite remarkable. He’s always eager to do whatever is asked of him.