One of the concerns about goalie Jacob Fowler heading into last year’s NHL Draft in Nashville was his weight.
Fowler was coming off a season with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms in which he posted a 27-9-4 record, a 2.28 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage and was named the league’s top goalie. During the playoffs, Fowler had an 8-1 record, a 1.36 GAA and a .952 save percentage, as the Phantoms won the Clark Cup.
Last season, as a freshman at Boston College, Fowler had a 32-6-1 record, a 2.14 GAA and a .926 save percentage as the Eagles won the Hockey East championship and he was named the league’s top goalie.
“He’s certainly a kid who has to be aware of his diet and know what he’s eating and putting in his body,” Mike Ayers, the associate coach and goalie coach at Boston College, said when asked about Fowler in a recent phone interview. “But, at the same time, it doesn’t hinder his ability to move in the net and his work ethic is off the chart.”
Ayers added that the team nutritionist at Boston College did a great job with Fowler, who was listed at 6-foot-1 and 223 pounds when the Canadiens opened their development camp Tuesday at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard.
“I think this year was a big step in my development taking the NCAA route,” Fowler said Tuesday. “For me, it was about more my off-ice and physicality, trying to get a little bit faster and a little bit stronger. Really fortunate to have the staff that we had at BC this year. It really helped me get to the level I wanted to be after my freshman year. I got a big summer getting ready for next year.”
Fowler said he noticed a difference during the physical testing players went through on the first day of development camp.
“The pull-ups, I think I did three or four more this year (than last year) so that was a big jump,” he said with a smile. “I think being at BC our strength coach is awesome and this summer all my numbers in the gym have been going way up and the weight and the body fat’s been going down. So that’s kind of what you want to build and keep building to be a pro.”
Fowler helped Boston College reach the NCAA championship game at the Frozen Four tournament last season before losing 2-0 to Denver. He will return to Boston College next season looking to win the championship.
“This year was big for my development when it came to adjusting to the NCAA style,” Fowler said. “I think my game got a lot calmer this year if you watch my progression. I think turning toward the end of the season when it came time for the Hockey East championship and the regional into the Frozen Four, I felt way more calm, way more comfortable.
