Canucks sign 20-year-old goalie Thatcher Demko to entry-level contract

Boston College goalie Thatcher Demko makes a save on a shot by Quinnipiac during the second period of an NCAA Frozen Four semifinal men's college hockey game on April 7, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (Chris O'Meara / AP Photo)

VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Canucks have signed goalie Thatcher Demko to a three-year entry-level contract, the club announced Wednesday.

The Boston College product was selected 36th overall by Vancouver at the 2014 NHL draft.

The 20-year-old Demko had a stellar 2015-16 campaign with the Eagles as a junior, posting a 27-8-4 record with a 1.88 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.

His 10 shutouts set a new school record and rank as the second highest total in U.S. college hockey history for a single season.

The San Diego native was among the three finalists nominated for the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in the NCAA after helping lead Boston College to the Frozen Four tournament for the second time in three seasons.

The six-foot-four, 210-pound Demko -- who won the Mike Richter Award as the NCAA's top goalie earlier this month -- had the option to return to Boston College for his senior year.

That scenario could have seen him play the 2016-17 campaign with the Eagles and then possibly decline to ink a deal with the Canucks in order to become an unrestricted free agent in August 2017, but Demko instead decided to sign with Vancouver and will begin his professional career in the fall.

Canucks general manager Jim Benning said during a press conference last week that he was confident Demko would agree to terms in the near future despite not having direct contact with the player throughout the season.

Benning said he met with Demko's parents during the Frozen Four in Tampa, Fla., adding that all signs pointed to a deal getting done.

Vancouver finished an abysmal 28th in the overall standings this season, missing the playoffs for the second time in three years.

It's likely that Demko, who has attended the club's prospects camp the last two summers, will spend next season in the AHL with the Utica Comets before getting a chance to compete for an NHL job at training camp in 2017.

Canucks No. 1 goalie Ryan Miller will be almost 37 when his contract expires after the upcoming season. Current backup Jacob Markstrom will be 10 years younger, but also eligible for unrestricted free agency barring an extension.